It is not permitted to any nayre to assume arms, or to enter into any combat, till he has been armed as a knight.  When a nayre becomes seven years old, he is set to learn the use of all kinds of weapons, their masters first pulling and twisting their joints to make them supple, and then teaching them to fence and handle their arms adroitly.  Their principal weapons are swords and targets; and these teachers, who are graduates in the use of the weapons, are called Panycaes, who are much esteemed among the nayres, and all their former scholars, however advanced in life or however high their dignity, are bound at all times to give them due honour and reverence when they meet; likewise, every nayre is obliged to take lessons from these professors for two months yearly, all their lives:  By this means they are very skilful in the use of their weapons, in which they take great pride.  When a nayre desires to be armed as a knight, he presents himself before the king, accompanied by all his kindred and friends, and makes an offering of sixty gold fannoms [55].  On which he is asked by the king if he is willing to observe and follow the laws and customs of the nayres, to which he answers in the affirmative.  Then the king commands him to be girt with a sword, and laying his right hand on his head, utters certain words as if praying in so low a voice that he is not heard.  The king then embraces the young nayre, saying aloud in their language, “Take good care to defend the Bramins and their kine.”  On this the nayre falls down and does reverence to the king; and from that time he is considered as a knight, or member of the fraternity of nayres.  When any of the nayres enters into the peculiar service of the king or of any individual noble, he binds himself to die with and for him, and they keep their oaths.  For, if their master should happen to be slain in any war or otherwise, they will fight till they are all slain; and if they cannot accomplish their purpose at the time, or happen to be absent at the slaughter of their master, they go afterwards in search of the person who has done the deed, and never leave off till they are themselves slain.

The Malabars are much given to soothsaying, and have lucky and unlucky days.  They worship the sun moon and stars, the fire, cows, and the first thing they meet on going out of a morning, believing every manner of vanity.  The devil is often in them, but they say it is one of their gods or pagods, as they call him.  But whosoever or whatsoever it may be, it constrains them to utter terrible words, which are believed by the king.  When the devil enters into a nayre, he goes with a naked sword before the king, shaking and trembling and giving himself many wounds, saying, “I am such or such a god, and am come to tell thee such and such a thing,” crying out, and behaving himself like a madman or one possessed.  If the king makes any doubt of what he says, he continues to roar still louder and to