Scenes & Characters from Indian History as Described in the Works of Some Old MastersCharles Herbert Payne H. Milford, Oxford University Press, 1925 - 251 pages |
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Common terms and phrases
Abdur Razzak Abul Fazl Agra Akbar Alexander ambassador amongst army arrived Aurangzeb Babar Bairam Khan battle Biana Bijanagar Bombay Brahmans brother brought Buddha Calicut called captain captain-major chief Christians coast commanded court Danaik death Delhi desired elephants Emperor enemy father favour Firishta fortress four gold guard hand Hemu Hindu Hiouen Thsang honour Humayun India Jahangir Jarric Kabul Kalikot Khusru King Siladitya king's kingdom kotwal Kumara Raja Lahore letter Majesty Malabar Master Memoirs miles Mirza Mogul Moors Muhammad Muhammadan Mun'im Khan Naranji Pandit Nayars nobles officers ordered Oxinden palace passed Paulo da Gama Persian person Portugal Portuguese Porus present prince Rahiri Relaçam river Roteiro royal rubies rupees says seated sent Shah Jahan ships side Sikandar Shah Sivaji stones Tardi Beg Khan Tavernier thousand horse throne told took translation troops Vasco da Gama vide Vijayanagar visited word writer Zamorin
Popular passages
Page 89 - At the main entrance rises a pillar of bronze as high as a mast, on the top of which was perched a bird, apparently a cock. In addition to this, there was another pillar as high as a man, and very stout. In the centre of the body of the church rose a chapel, all built of hewn stone, with a bronze door sufficiently wide for a man to pass, and stone steps leading up to it. Within this sanctuary stood a small image which they said represented Our Lady. Along the walls, by the main entrance, hung seven...
Page 30 - All the outside courts, in which are the priests' chambers, are of four stages. The stages have dragon projections and coloured eaves, the pearl-red pillars carved and ornamented, the richly adorned balustrades, and the roofs covered with tiles that reflect the light in a thousand shades, these things add to the beauty of the scene.
Page 86 - We put on our best attire, placed bombards in our boats, and took with us trumpets and many flags. On landing, the captain-major was received by the alcaide, with whom were many men, armed and unarmed. The reception was friendly, as if the people were pleased to see us, though at first appearances looked threatening, for they carried naked swords in their hands. A palanquin was provided for the captain-major, such as is used by men of distinction in that country, as also by some of the merchants,...
Page 174 - ... and weapons in their hands, and on their heads headpieces after the manner of their doublets, quilted with cotton. The war-elephants go with their howdahs (castellos) from which four men fight on each side of them, and the elephants are completely clothed, and on their tusks they have knives fastened, much ground and sharpened, with which they do great harm.
Page 91 - Many other saints were painted on the walls of the church, wearing crowns. They were painted variously, with teeth protruding an inch from the mouth, and four or five arms.
Page 30 - The day is not sufficient for asking and answering profound questions. From morning till night they engage in discussion, the old and the young mutually help one another. Those who cannot discuss questions out of the Tripitaka are little esteemed, and are obliged to hide themselves for shame. Learned men from different cities, on this account, who desire to acquire quickly a renown in discussion, come here in multitudes to settle their doubts, and then the streams [of their wisdom] spread far and...
Page 232 - Mansabdars flock thither from all parts, well mounted and equipped, and splendidly accompanied by four servants, two behind and two before, to clear the street for their masters. Omrahs and Rajas ride thither, some on horseback, some on majestic elephants ; but the greater part are conveyed on the shoulders of six men, in rich...
Page 30 - Moreover, the whole establishment is surrounded by a brick wall, which encloses the entire convent from without. One gate opens into the great college, from which are separated eight other halls, standing in the middle (of the Sanghdrdma).
Page 72 - The whole roof and walls of the apartments were covered with plates of gold inlaid with jewels. Each of these plates was about the thickness of the back of a sword, and was firmly fixed with nails of gold. On the first stage the King's royal seat was placed. This was formed of gold and was of large size.
Page 96 - Lord of many countries and the possessor of great wealth of every description, exceeding that of any king of these parts ; that for a period of sixty years his ancestors had annually sent out vessels to make discoveries in the direction of India, as they knew that there were Christian kings there like themselves. This, he said, was the reason which induced them to order this country to be discovered, not because they sought for gold or silver, for of this they had such abundance that they needed...