But because the island of Goa, and the surrounding country, now under the power and influence of the Portuguese, were anciently an appanage of the kingdom of Dealcan or Decan, whereof we have often spoken, it will not be out of place to tell something of what I have heard at Goa of that kingdom.

It is now a hundred and ten years and more the Portuguese have held the Island of Goa, for the recovery whereof out of their hands the kings of Dealcan have done all they could by force of war; they have even laid siege to it twice, with two very powerful armies composed each of 200,000 men, and each siege lasted nine entire months. And the King of Dealcan used to say blusteringly, that to fill up the river, and make a passage for his army to the said island, he needed nothing but the alpargues, or shoes, of his own people. And indeed, he did nearly fill it up with earth and stones in one place, and thereby got the means of carrying over a certain force of men; but they met with a handsome reception and repulse from the Portuguese. But what astonished the king most was the cannon of the Portuguese, which was of considerable weight, whilst he had none.