ousand houses.  They were
built within high water mark, and raised on posts.  When the tide was
full, the people communicated by boats going about from house to house.

Soon after they dropped anchor, the Rajah, who was a Moor, of
considerable power, sent handsome presents on board, and invited the
Captains to visit him.

On landing, the Spaniards found two elephants, covered with silk
trappings, ready to conduct them to his palace.  In front of it a feast
had been prepared, consisting of meat, fowl, and fish, placed on the
floor, round which they sat on mats.  The natives, after each mouthful,
sipped arrak from porcelain cups, and used golden spoons to eat their
rice.  The feast being over, it was announced to the Captains that the
Rajah was ready for them.  On their way they passed through a large
saloon, in which were a number of courtiers, and from thence into an
anteroom, where three hundred guards, armed with poniards, were drawn
up.  At the farther end of the apartment was a curtain of brocaded silk,
and on this being pulled aside, the Rajah, a stout man of about forty,
was seen seated at a table, with a little child by his side, and chewing
betel, while behind him stood his female attendants, who were supposed
to be the daughters of the chief men and to govern his household.

As the courtiers--who were naked, with the exception of a piece of
ornamented cloth round their waists--approached, they raised their
hands, clasped, three times over their heads; then, lifting up their
feet one after the other, they kissed their hands before speaking.  They
wore numerous rings on their fingers, and daggers with gold hilts set
with gems.  The Rajah, as the gifts of the Spaniards were presented to
him, bowed slightly, and returned others of brocade and cloth of gold
and silver.  While in his presence the explorers observed the way in
which suitors made their petitions, none being allowed to address him
personally.

The suitor, having arrived at an outer chamber, presented his petition
to a courtier, who repeated it to