113 Then a cook, who is a Brahmin, brings in a large pot of boiled rice and puts a small spoonful of it into the middle of the bowl. It sticks together in one lump and is so dry, that it seems as though is it raw; and then after the rice he brings in many saucepans with delicacies, each of which he puts into a separate little pot. Then the king starts eating with his right hand, taking handfuls of rice without a spoon. He helps himself to all the delicacies, which he mixes with the rice, and he will not touch anything he is going to eat with his left hand. He is given a silver water jug, and when he wants to drink, he picks it up with his left hand and holding it up in the air, he tips the water from up high and lets it fall into his mouth, without touching the jug with his lips. Everything he eats, be it meat, fish or vegetable or any other kind of food is so heavily spiced with pepper, that nobody from our country could eat it. He never wipes his hand while he is eating, he does not even have a towel or cloths to do so, but washes them when he has finished. If certain respected and close Brahmins happen to be there when it is time for his meal, he orders them to sit on thefloor to eat, a little way away from him. They place some Indian fig-leaves in front of them, which are very large and stiff. He orders that food be put on them, as it was for him, and if they do not want to eat, then they have to leave, because nobody can be in the king’s presence while he is eating; those that stay must eat, except for two or three who wait on him, as I have already mentioned; when he has finished eating, he goes back to his dais and starts chewing betel again. When the king goes out for pleasure or to pray to some idol, all the nearest nairs are called, as well as the ministers and gentiles. The king goes out in a litter carried by two men, with silk cushions to lean on. The litter is made of silk cloth and sits on a bamboo cane with many precious stones. The canes are as thick as a fat man’s arms, with some twists in them, which they start shaping as soon as they sprout. Two
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