_ 59 _ you to a land where there is so much wealth". It was such a surprise for us to hear him speak, as we never dreamed that there would be anyone so far from Portugal who could understand our language. This city of Calicut is inhabited by Christians who are dark-skinned men. Some sport ample beards and long hair, some have their heads shaved, others have them close-cropped and yet others wear a topknot as a sign that they are Christians, and moustaches with their beards. They have their ears pierced and have a lot of gold in the holes. They walk about naked from the waist up. Down below they wear very fine cotton skirts. Those who dress this way are the most revered, as the others dress as best they can. The women of this country are generally ugly with small bodies. They wear a lot of golden jewellery round their necks and many bracelets on their arms, and on their toes they have precious stones. All these people are good-natured and gentle, as far as we can see; at first sight, the men are ignorant and greedy. At the time that we arrived at this city of Calicut, the king was fifteen leagues from it. The captain-major sent two men there entrusted with saying that an Ambassador of the King of Portugal was there bringing letters with him
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