THE KINGDOM OF BENGAL 283
of Bengal, where we were received by the inhabitants
with much rejoicing. On landing, they took me with
them to salute the king, who is not, however, the great
king of Bengal, but a petty king of this province, or
rather a governor, with the title of king, as is generally
the case in those parts. The great king of Bengal lives
higher up the country, thirty or forty leagues off. On
being presented to this petty king, he received me with
great kindness, and gave me my full liberty, saying that
if I would remain with him he would do great things
for me: and, indeed, he bade bring me raiment and
food day by day in great abundance. But after a
month's sojourn there I found a ship of Calicut, whose
master asked if I would go with him, saying that the
Hollander's ships often came to Calicut, and there
might be some in which I could get a passage to France,
since I was minded to return thither; whereto I gladly
agreed, seeing I had no other aim but that, and on that
score I declined all other favours. I therefore took my
leave of the king, which was granted me without dif-
ficulty.
I was so short a time in Bengal, that I cannot record
many of its characteristics; however, here is what I
picked up.
The kingdom of Bengal is of great extent; it lies
in the middle country of the Indies, and is said to be
four hundred leagues in length, so the king is the most
puissant prince in India, after the grand Mogor. About
the time I left, the Mogor had declared war against
him, and the king was preparing to receive him with
