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.]

At this place I had an excellent opportunity of learning the docility and almost reasoning wisdom of the elephant, which certainly is the most sagacious and most docile of all animals, approaching even to human reason, and far exceeding all other beasts in strength.  When used for war, the Indians fix great pack-saddles on their backs, resembling those used in Italy for mules of burden, but vastly larger.  These saddles are girt round their bellies with two iron chains, and on each side is placed a small house, cage, or turret of wood, each of which contains three men.  Between the two turrets an Indian sits on the back of the animal, and speaks to him in the language of the country, which the creature understands and obeys.  Seven men, therefore, are that placed on the back of each elephant, all armed with coats of mail, and having lances, bows, darts, and slings, and targets for defence.  Also the trunk, snout, or proboscis of the elephant is armed with a sword fastened to it, two cubits long, very strong, and a handbreadth in width.  When necessary to advance, to retreat, to turn to either side, to strike, or to forbear, the governor or conductor of the elephant sitting on his back, causes him to do whatever he wills, by speaking in such language and expressions as he is accustomed to, all of which the beast understands