Part III. Travels into ^/^^ I N D I E S. ' 103 
ft — . ^ , — , 1^ 
After them comes the Ow»r<? on Horfe-back, with thirty or forty Foot- 
men about him , fome making way , others carrying Lances , and fomc 
with fine Napkins driving away the FHes. One of them holds an Umbrel- 
lo over his Mafters head , another carr^^s the Tobacco-Pipe , and others 
Pots full of water in hanging Cages of Caiîss. The Valanquin carried by four 
Men 5 comes next with two other Porters for change ^ and all this pomp is > 
brought up by a Camel or two , with Men beating of Timbals on their 
backs. 
When the Omra pleafes, he takes his Taîanquin , and then his Horfe is led 
by him. The Vdanquin is fometimes covered with Silver, and its Canes or 
Bamhotts tipt with Silver at both ends \ the Lord is to be feen lying in it, hold- 
ing Flowers in his hand , fmoaking Tobacco , or elfe chewing Beth and A- 
reca , (hewing by that foft and effeminate Pofture a moft fupine diflblute- 
nefs. All (who have-anv confiderable Pay, whether Moors or Gentiles ) 
imitate the Gentiles , and are carried through the Town in Palamjuins well 
attended ; and the Dutch Interpreter at Bagnagar (who is a Gentile,) goes 
at prefcnt with fuch an equipage, fave only that inftead of Camels , he hath 
a Chariot ^ but (at leaft) there is not a Cavalier, but hath his "Umbrello 
bearer, his two Flie-drivers, and his Cup-bearer. 
The Betle (which thefe Gentlemen chew in their Falanquin ) is a Leaf not 
unlike to an Orange-Tree Leaf, though it be not fo broad -, the Stalk of it 
being weak, it is commonly planted near the Areca-Trce^ to which it clings -, 
and indeed, the Indians never take Betle without an Areca-Niit, and they are 
fold together. The Areca is very high, and much like to an ordinary Palm- 
Tree -, it carries its Nuts in clulters , and they are as big as Dates , and in- 
lipid. This Betle and Areca keep all the Indiam in countenance, and they 
ufe it in the Streets and every where. They pretend that it is an excellent 
thing for the Stomach, and for the fweetnefsof Breath. 
All that are called Omrasnt Golconda, have not the ability of thofe whofe 
Train and Equipage I have now obferved -, there are thofe who being not fo 
rich, proportion their Train to their Revenue ; befides, the quality of Omra 
is become fo common, and fo much liberty allowed to take that Title, that 
the Indians who guard the Caftle and the outfide of the Kings Palace , to the 
number of a Thoufand , muft needs be called Omras alfo,though their Pay 
be no more than about a Crown a month : But in fliort , fome of the great 
Omras are exceeding rich. There was the Omra, or rather the Emir Gemla , Emiy-Gemlal 
the Son of an Oyl-man of Iffahan, who had the wealth of a Prince : He left ^'^ ^^-GemUt 
the Service of the King of Golconda, went over to the Mogul, and died Go- 
vernour ofBengala. It is well known, that he had a defign to make himfelf 
King of Bengala , where he was very powerfiil, and that he only waited for 
a favourable occalion to get his Son from the Court of the Great Mogul,where 
he was detained as an hoftage. He had twenty Mans weight of Diamonds , 
which make Four hundred and eidit Pounds of Hollands weight ^ and all 
this Wealth he got by the Plunder he formerly made in Carnates , when he 
was at the head of the Army of the King of Gokonda , at the time when 
that King (in conjundion with the King of Viz^iapour ) made War againft 
the King of Bifnagar. This General took a great many places there in a 
^hort time, but tlie Fort of Guendicot ftanding upon the top of an inacceffi- cuendicot^ 
ble Rock , put a full ftop to his Conquefts. The Town is upon the fide of 
the Hill \ one muft (in a manner) crawl up to come to it, and there is no 
way to enter it but by one narrow Path. Mir-Gemla being unable to force 
it, made ufe of his cunning and Money, and fo managed thofe (whom the 
Naique fent to him to negotiate a Peace,) that he wheedled out the Gover- 
nour, under pretext of entring into a League with him for great Defigns -, 
but no fooner was he come to the place of meeting , but the Omrama.àt fure 
of his Perfon, contrary to the Promife he had given , and kept him con- 
fl:antly with him till he put him in poflTcffion of Guendicot, This place is 
within ten days Journey of St. Thomas^ upon the main Land. 
I had been two months in the Countrey when Winter came on -, it began Winter in gjA- 
in June by Rain and Thunder , but the Thunder lafted not above four ^o'"^^- 
days , and the Rain poured down with great ftorms of Wind till the mid- 
P die 
