_ 69 _ We then set out with the captain in the direction of the lodgings, accompanied by an enormous crowd of people. The rainfall was so heavy that the streets were flooded. The commanded was carried in a palanquin on the shoulders of six men and we travelled so much through the city that the captain became fed up and complained to a high-ranking Moor, who was the king's factor, and who was accompanying him to his accommodation. The Moor took him to his own house, to an inner courtyard that had a brick dais, on which many enormous carpets like those of the king were spread. Above them some large iron lamps were lit with oil or butter. Each one had four wicks, which gave plenty of light. They are accustomed to carry these oil lamps as torches. The Moor had a horse brought for the captain to go to his quarters but it came without a saddle, and the captain did not want to ride on horseback. So we went in the direction of the lodgings, in which when we arrived there were already some of our men with the captain's bed and a lot of clothes that he had brought to give as a present to the king. On Tuesday the captain had these things to send to the king, namely: twelve rolls of striped cloth, four
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