[Footnote 72: The walnuts of this author must have been cocoa-nuts, perhaps converted to walnuts by erroneous translation.--E.] [Footnote 73: This singular passage probably means, that the country is defended by a great number of forts and garrisons, as indeed we know that the interior table land of southern India is thickly planted with _droogs_ or hill forts, which must then have been impregnable.--E.] [Footnote 74: Probably meaning Nairs or Rajputs, who are reckoned of a high or noble cast, next to the Bramins--E.] [Footnote 75: This is a most astonishing error, as Narsingapoor is above 100 miles from the nearest coast.--E.] Departing from Narsinga, and travelling 15 days to the _east_[76], we came to the city of _Bisinagar_, or Bijanagur, which is subject to the king of Narsinga. This city stands upon the side of a hill, and is very large, and well fortified, being surrounded by a triple wall, eight miles in circuit. The district in which it stands is wonderfully fertile, and produces every thing requisite for the necessities, and even the delicacies and luxuries of man. It is likewise a most convenient country for hunting and hawking, having many large plains, and fine woods, so that altogether it is a kind of earthly paradise. The king and people are idolaters; and the king has great power and riches, maintaining an army of 4000 horsemen, although it may be noted that a good horse in this country costs four or five hundred gold coins called pardaos, and sometimes eight hundred. The reason of this high price is, that these horses are brought from other countries, whence they can procure no mares, as the exportation of these is strictly prohibited by the princes of the countries whence the horses are procured. He has likewise 400 elephants to serve in his wars, and many of those swift running camels which we commonly call _dromedaries_[77]. [Footnote 76: Bijanagur is 175 miles directly _north_ from Narsingapoor.--E.] [Footnote 77: In modern language the term dromedary is very improperly applied to the Bactrian, or two-hunched camel, a slow beast of burden. The word dromedary is formed from the Greek _celer_, and only belongs to a peculiar breed of camels of amazing swiftness.--E.]