_ 61 _ On the day the message arrived, the captain decided not to go because it was late. The following morning, which was Monday, 28 May, the captain went to speak to the king and he took with him thirteen of his men, of whom I was one. All of us went very well dressed, and we took bombards in our boats, some trumpets and a lot of flags. As soon as the captain stepped ashore, the alcaide came with many armed and unarmed men to receive him with great friendliness and hospitality, just like men who were delighted to see him. At first sight they seemed menacing because they carried their naked swords in their hands. The men brought the captain-major some litters, in which the important people of that country are normally carried. If any of the merchants want to use them they have to pay the king a certain amount. The captain got into one of them and six men carried him on their shoulders. We then left with a crowd of people following, bound for Calicut, and from here [Panarani] we went [first] to another town called Capua. There they lodged the captain in the house of a dignitary and they had food cooked for us, consisting of rice with butter and excellent boiled fish, but the captain declined to eat. After we had eaten, the captain went to board a ship in a nearby river which flowed along the coast between the sea
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