freely canvassed and censured by every rascal.  This course of proceeding is unchangeable, except when prevented by the sickness of the king, or in consequence of his getting drunk, which must always be known.  Thus, though all his subjects are slaves, he lives in a state of reciprocal bondage, being so tied to the observance of these hours and customs, that if he were unseen one day, and no sufficient excuse given, the people would mutiny; and no excuse will sanction his absence for two days, unless the gates are opened, and he be seen by some for the satisfaction of the rest.  Every Tuesday, he sits in judgement at the jarneo,[196] where he attends to the complaints of his meanest subjects, listening patiently to both parties; and where likewise he sometimes sees, with too much delight in blood, execution performed on offenders by his elephants. Illi meruere, sed quid tu ut adesses?

[Footnote 195:  in subsequent passages, this is called the Jarruco.—­E.]

Before going to the durbar, I had required to be allowed the customs of my own country, which were freely granted.  At the durbar, I was led directly before the king, at the entrance of an outer rail, where two noble slaves came to conduct me nearer.  On entering the outer rail, I made a profound reverence, at my entry within an interior rail I made a second reverence, and a third when I came directly under where the king sat.  The place in which the durbar is held is a great court, to which all sorts of people resort.  The king sits in a small raised gallery; ambassadors, great men belonging to the court, and strangers of quality, are within the innermost rail directly under him, that space being raised from the ground, covered overhead with canopies of silk and velvet, and laid underfoot with good carpets.  The meaner men, representing what we would call gentry, are within the outer rail; the common people being on the outside of all, in a base court, so that all may see the king.  The whole of this disposition hath much resemblance to theatrical representation.  The king sitting as in a gallery, the great men raised as actors on a stage, and the vulgar below in a pit gazing at the show.  The king, on my presentation, interrupted the dull formality of my interpreter, bidding me welcome to the brother of the king my master.  I then delivered a translation of the king’s letter, and then my commission, on both of which he looked curiously; and afterwards on my presents, which were well received.  He asked some questions; and, with a seeming regard for my health, offered to send me his own physicians, advising me to keep the house till I recovered strength, and that I should freely send to him in the meantime for any thing I needed, with assurance that I should have whatever I desired.  He dismissed me with more signs of grace and favour, if I were not flattered by the Christians, than ever were shewn to any ambassador from the Turks or Persians or any other nation.