r three； and others have no more than one。 These troops have their captains； and each captain goes with his guard to mount guard at the palace according to order and custom； the king has in his guard five hundred horse； and these watch outside the palace armed with their weapons。 There are two watches inside； and people with swords and shields。
The king； then； being in his new city； as I have said； Christovao de Figueiredo begged him of his kindness that he would permit him to be shown the palace of the city of Bisnaga； forasmuch as there had come with him many Portuguese who had never been in Bisnaga； and they would rejoice to see it； in order to have somewhat to tell of on their return to their own lands； whenever God should take them there。 The king at once commanded that they should be shown certain of his residences； for that of his wives no one ever sees。 As soon as we had returned to the city of Bisnaga； the governor of that place； who is called Gamdarajo； and is brother of Salvatinica；＇457＇ showed us the palace。
You must know that on entering that gate of which I have spoken； by which the ladies serving the king's wives make their exit when they come to the feast； opposite to it there is another of the same kind。 Here they bade us stand still； and they counted us how many we were； and as they counted they admitted us one by one to a small courtyard with a smoothly plastered floor； and with very white walls around it。＇458＇ At the end of this courtyard； opposite this gate by which we entered； is another close to it on the left hand； and another which was closed； the door opposite belongs to the king's residence。 At the entrance of this door outside are two images painted like life and drawn in their manner； which are these； the one on the right hand is of the father of this king； and the one on the left is of this king。 The father was dark and a gentleman of fine form； stouter than the son is； they stand with all their apparel and such raiment as they wear or used to wear when alive。 Afterwards； wishing to pass in at this door； they again counted us； and after they had finished counting us we entered a little house which contained what I shall now relate。
As soon as you are inside； on the left hand； are two chambers one above the other； which are in this manner： the lower one is below the level of the ground； with two little steps which are covered with copper gilded； and from there to the top is all lined with gold （I do not say 〃gilded；〃 but 〃lined〃 inside）； and outside it is dome…shaped。 It has a four…sided porch made of cane…work＇459＇ over which is a work of rubies and diamonds and all other kinds of precious stones； and pearls； and above the porch are two pendants of gold； all the precious stonework is in heart…shapes； and； interweaved between one and another； is a twist of thick seed…pearl work； on the dome are pendants of the same。 In this chamber was a bed which had feet similar to the porch； the cross…bars covered with gold； and there was on it a mattress of black satin； it had all round it a railing of pearls a span wide； on it were two cushions and no other covering。 Of the chamber above it I shall not say if it held anything because I did not see it； but only the one below on the right side。 In this house there is a room with pillars of carved stone； this room is all of ivory； as well the chamber as the walls； from top to bottom； and the pillars of the cross…timbers at the top had roses and flowers of lotuses all of ivory； and all well executed； so that there could not be better； it is so rich and beautiful that you would hardly find anywhere another such。 On this same side is designed in painting all the ways of life of the men who have been here even down to the Portuguese； from which the king's wives can understand the manner in which each one lives in his own country； even to the blind and the beggars。 In this house are two thrones covered with gold； and a cot of silver with its curtains。 Here I saw a little slab of green jasper； which is held for a great thing in this house。 Close to where this jasper is； I。E。 underneath some arches where is the entrance into the palace； there is a little door closed with some padlocks： they told us that inside it there was a treasury of one of the former kings。
As soon as we left this house we entered a courtyard as large as an arena for beast…fights； very well plastered； and almost in the middle are some pillars of wood； with a cross beam at the top all covered with copper gilt； and in the middle four chains of silver links with hooks which are caught one into the other； this serves for a swing for the wives of the king。 At the entrance of this courtyard on the right hand we mounted four or five steps and entered some beautiful houses made in the way I have already told you for their houses are single…storeyed houses with flat roofs on top； although on top there may be other houses； the plan is good； and they are like terraces。 There is a building there built on many pillars； which are of stone…work； and so also is all the work of the roof； with all the rest of wood （MANERIA）； and all the pillars （with all the other work） are gilded so that they seem as if covered with gold。
Then at the entrance of this building in the middle nave； there is； standing on four pillars； a canopy covered with many figures of dancing…women； besides other small figures＇460＇ which are placed in the stone…work。 All this is also gilded； and has some red colour on the under…sides of the leaves which stand out from the sculpture。 You must know that they make no use of this building because it belongs to their idol and to the temple。 At the end of this is a little closed door where the idol is。 Whenever they celebrate any festival of this idol； they carry it on a golden throne and put it underneath that canopy which is made for that purpose； and then come the Brahmans to perform their ceremonies there； and the dancing…girls come to dance。
Descending from this building； we passed on the left side of the courtyard； and we entered a corridor which runs the whole length of it； in which we saw some things。 On entering the corridor was a cot suspended in the air by silver chains； the cot had feet made of bars of gold； so well made that they could not be better； and the cross…bars of the cot were covered with gold。 In front of this cot was a chamber where was another cot suspended in the air by chains of gold； this cot had feet of gold with much setting of precious stones； and the cross…bars were covered with gold。 Above this chamber was another； smaller； and with nothing in it save only that it was gilt and painted。 Passing this chamber； along the same corridor in front was a chamber which this king； commanded to be made； on the outside were figures of women with bows and arrows like amazons。 They had begun to paint this chamber； and they told us that it had to be finer than the others； and that it was to be all plated with gold； as well the ground below as all the rest。 Passing this corridor and mounting up into another which is higher； we saw at one end three caldrons of gold； so large that in each one they could cook half a cow； and with them were others； very large ones； of silver； and also little pots of gold and some large ones。 Thence we went up by a little staircase； and entered by a little door into a building which is in this manner。 This hall is where the king sends his women to be taught to dance。 It is a long hall and not very wide； all of stone sculpture on pillars； which are at a distance of quite an arm's length from the wall； between one and another is an arm's length and a half； perhaps a little more。 These pillars stand in that manner all around the building； they are half…pillars （？）＇461＇ made with other hollows （？） all gilt。＇462＇ In the supports （or pedestals） on the top＇463＇ are many great beasts like elephants； and of other shapes； it is open so that the interior is seen； and there are on the inner side of these beasts other images； each placed according to its character； there are also figures of men turned back to back； and other beasts of different sorts。 In each case from pillar to pillar is a cross…bar （the architrave） which is like a panel； and from pillar to pillar are many such panels； there are images of old men； too； gilded and of the size of a cubit。 Each of the panels has one placed in this way。 These images are over all the building。 And on the pillars are other images； smaller； with other images yet more subordinate； and other figures again； in such a way that I saw this work gradually diminishing in size on these pillars with their designs； from pillar to pillar； and each time smaller by the size of a span as it went on； becoming lost； so it went dwindling gradually away till there remained of all the sculptured work only the dome； the most beautiful I ever saw。 Between these images and pillars runs a design of foliage； like plates （A MANEYRA DE LAMINES）； all gilt； with the reverses of the leaves in red and blue； the images that are on the pillars are stags and other animals； they are painted in colours with the pink on their faces； but the other images seated on the elephants； as well as those on the panels； are all dancing women having tattle drums （tom…toms）。
The designs of these panels show the positions at the ends of dances in such a way that on each panel there is a dancer in the proper position at the end of the dance； this is to teach the women； so that if they forget the position in which they have to remain when the dance is done； they may look at one of the panels where is the end of that dance。 By that they keep in mind what they have to do。
At the end of this house on the left hand is a painted recess where the women cling on with their hands in order better to stretch and loosen their bodies and legs； there they teach them to make the whole body supple； in order to make their dancing more graceful。 At the other end； on the right； in the place where the king places himself to watch them dancing； all the floors and walls where he sits are covered with gold； and in the middle of the wall is a golden image of a woman of the size of a girl of twelve years； with her arms in the position which she occupies in the end of a dance。
They did not sho