a forgotten empire-vijayanagar-第67节
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； and now for these forty years thou hast been governor in this kingdom； which thou gavest me； yet I am under no obligation to thee for that； because in doing so thou didst act in a way contrary to thy duty。 Thou wert bound； since thy lord the King my brother commanded so； to put out mine eyes； yet thou didst not carry out his will nor obey him； but instead thou didst cheat him and the eyes of a goat were put out； wherefore； since thou didst not fulfil his command； thou wert a traitor； and thy sons with thee for whom I have done so much。 Now I have learnt that my son died of poison given to him by thee and thy sons； and for that ye are all here made prisoners。〃 With these words he arose and laid hands on them and seized them； and in doing so called for aid from many Portuguese who were then in the country with horses； asking them to come to his aid； and after he had seized the men； father and sons； they remained three years in prison。 And he made minister a son of Codemerade； the same who had killed the son of King Narsymga in the city of Penagundy in the garden by treachery； by command of the King his father； as has already been told in this history。＇576＇
And soon afterwards Danayque； son of Salvatinica； escaped from prison and betook himself to a mountain range in which dwelt nobody but robbers and highwaymen； and in this there was a fortress where dwelt a captain； his relative； who received him and helped him in all that he could； and from there he made such war on the King Crisnarao that he was driven to send against him much people； and as captain of the army he sent his minister Ajaboissa； who invested the place on all sides and took him therein and brought him prisoner to the King。 After he had so come the King commanded him to be brought before him； with Sallvatinica his father and another brother of his who was kept in the prison； and he sent them to the place of executions and there had their eyes put out； for in this country they do not put Brahmans to death but only inflict some punishment so that they remain alive。 So he put them in prison again； and there Timadanayque died； and Salvatinica his father remained in the prison with his other son Gamdarja。＇577＇
CHAPTER 19
How the Ydallcao came against Rachol； and did not dare to await the King； and fled。
At this time the Ydallcao collected his army and formed afresh his forces of cavalry and elephants； and marched upon Rachol which remained under the king of Bisnaga。 Hearing this news； Crisnarao； without even telling any one； ordered to saddle a horse； and he rode at full speed in the direction of Rachol where already the Ydallcao was； but as soon as his enemy was aware of the coming of the King he fled。 On the road King Crisnarao bought six hundred horses from the Portuguese at the rate of 4 3/4 for 1000 pardaos。＇578＇ And from Rachol he sent a message to the Ydallcao saying that he had already twice broken his oath and his word； and that as he had not fulfilled the promise he had made he would make war on him in such fashion as that by force he should become his vassal； and that he would not let him alone till he had taken from him Billgao。＇579＇
As the winter had now begun the King could not then go forward； and so he went to Bisnaga to make ready for this war； and he commanded to prepare a large force of artillery； and sent an ambassador to Goa to ask for the help of the Governor。 He promised him that after taking Billgao he would give him the mainland； for this city of Billgao is fifteen leagues from Goa； and its captain is lord of the mainland of Goa。 Goa is the frontier or boundary of his city of Billgao； and there is one of his captains at a fortress called Pomda which is three leagues from Goa by the mainland； who also receives the revenues and has command over several villages； and in like manner these and others have captains appointed by the Ydalcao； who is lord of the whole land。＇580＇
While Crisnarao was thus making ready he presently fell sick of the same illness of which all his ancestors had died； with pains in the groin； of which die all the kings of Bisnaga。
Now this King Crisnarao； when he was young and growing up in this city of Bisnaga； had an intrigue with a courtezan for whom he had much affection； and who was called Chinadevidy； and for the great love he bore her he promised many times that if ever he became King he would marry her； and though he said this in jest； it afterwards became true； so the history records。 For when raised to the throne and taken away from the things he had done when a young man； he still did not forget the affection he felt for this woman； but used secretly to leave his palace and go to her house。 And this was discovered one night by his minister Sallvatinica； who watched him until he had got into the woman's house； and he rebuked him much for it and brought him back to the palace。 Then the King told him how well he loved her； and that he had promised to marry this woman and was determined to do so in any case； and the minister； seeing how he was bent on it； gave way to his wish； saying that he would accomplish it in such a way that His Highness would not be blamed for it。 In order to do this he sought for him a very beautiful woman of the family of the kings of Narsymga； and after he had married him to her； at the end of the wedding ceremonies； he put this woman and the other in a house； to which he had added a tower very lofty and large； and in which he lodged her。 Afterwards the King married many other wives； for these kings hold it as a very honourable thing to have many wives； and this King Crisnarao married four； and yet he loved this one better than any of the others。 This King built a city in honour of this woman； for the love he bore her； and called its name Nagallapor and surrounded it with a new wall which is one of the best works that he has in his kingdom； and he made in it a street very long and large with houses all of masonry。 In order to people this town he ordered all the chiefs of his kingdom to build themselves palaces therein； and so they did。 This town has one principal street； of length four thousand and seven hundred paces＇581＇ and of breadth forty； which is certainly the most beautiful street it is possible to see； and he made and finished this town without stinting any expense on it。 It now yields forty…two thousand PARDAOS of duties for things which enter into it； the duties in this land being very great； since nothing comes through the gates that does not pay duty； even men and women； as well as head…loads and all merchandise。
This King also made in his time a lake for water； which lies between two very lofty SERRAS。 But since he had no means in the country for making it； nor any one who could do it； he sent to Goa to ask the Governor to send some Portuguese masons； and the Governor sent him Joao della Ponte；＇582＇ a great worker in stone； to whom the King told how he wanted the tank built。 Though it seemed to this man （MESTRE； modern MAISTRY） impossible to be made； nevertheless he told the King he would do it and asked him to have lime prepared； at which the King laughed much； for in his country when they build a house they do not understand how to use lime。 The King commanded to throw down quantities of stone and cast down many great rocks into the valley； but everything fell to pieces； so that all the work done in the day was destroyed each night； and the King； amazed at this； sent to call his wise men and sorcerers and asked them what they thought of this thing。 They told him that his idols were not pleased with this work； it being so great and he giving them nothing； and that unless he spilled there the blood of men or women or buffaloes that work would never be finished。 So the King sent to bring hither all the men who were his prisoners； and who deserved death； and ordered them there to be beheaded； and with this the work advanced。 He made a bank across the middle of the valley so lofty and wide that it was a crossbow…shot in breadth and length； and had large openings；＇583＇ and below it he put pipes by which the water escaped； and when they wish so to do they close these。 By means of this water they made many improvements in the city； and many channels by which they irrigated rice…fields and gardens； and in order that they might improve their lands he gave the people the lands which are irrigated by this water free for nine years；＇584＇ until they had made their improvements； so that the revenue already amounts to 20；000 PARDAOS。
Above this tank is a very large ridge all enclosed； and in the middle some very strong gates with two towers； one on one side and one on the other； and within are always posted 1000 men on guard。 For through this gate all things must enter that come into the two cities； since in order to enter the city of Bisnaga there is no other road but this； all other roads meeting there。 This gate is rented out for 12；000 PARDAOS each year； and no man can enter it without paying just what the renters ask； country folk as well as strangers。 In both these cities there is no provision or merchandise whatever；＇585＇ for all comes from outside on pack…oxen； since in this country they always use beasts for burdens；＇586＇ and every day there enter by these gates 20
