The king, called Sultan Aladin, is said to be an hundred years old, yet is a lively man, exceedingly gross and fat.  In his young days he was a fisherman, of which there are many in this place, as they live mostly on fish.  Going to the wars with the former king, he shewed himself so valiant and discreet in ordering the king’s gallies, that he acquired the royal favour so much as to be appointed admiral of all the sea-force, in which he conducted himself so valiantly and wisely, that the king gave him one of his nearest kinswomen to wife.  The king had an only daughter, whom he married to the king of Johor, by whom she had a son, who was sent to Acheen to be brought up as heir to his grandfather.  The king who now is, being commander in chief by sea and land, the old king died suddenly; on which the present king took the child under his guardianship, against which the nobility protested:  but, as he had the command of the whole armed force, he maintained his point, putting to death more than a thousand of the nobles, raised the rascal people to be new lords, and made new laws.  Finally, the young prince was murdered, and he proclaimed himself king, in right of his wife; on which there arose great wars between him and the king of Johor, which continue to this day.  He has held the kingdom by force these twenty years, and seems now secure in his usurped and ill-got power.

The king’s court, or residence, is situated upon the river, about half a mile from the city, having three inclosures, and guards, before any one can come to him, and a wide green between each guarded inclosure.  His house is built like all the rest, but much higher, so that he can see, from where he sits, all that come to any of his guards, yet no one can see him.  The walls and covering of his house are made of mats, which are sometimes hung with cloth of gold, sometimes with velvet, and at other times with damask.  He sits on the ground, cross-legged, like a tailor, and so must all do who are admitted into his presence.  He always wears four crisses, two before and two behind, richly ornamented with diamonds and rubies, and has a sword lying in his lap.  He is attended by at least forty women; some with fans to cool him, some with cloths to wipe off sweat, others to serve him with aquavitae or water, and the rest to sing pleasant songs.  He doth nothing all day but eat and drink, there being no end of banqueting from morning till night; and, when ready to burst, he eats areka betula[40], which is a fruit like a nutmeg, wrapped in a leaf like tobacco, with sharp-chalk [lime] made of the shells of pearl oysters.  Chewing these ingredients makes the spittle very red, causes a great, flow of saliva, and occasions a great appetite; it also makes the teeth very black, and the blacker they are is considered as so much the more fashionable.  Having recovered his appetite by this means, he returns again to banqueting.  By way of change, when his belly is again gorged, he goes into the river to bathe,