, the officers
and crew were attired in their best, while the guns were got ready to
fire a salute. At length signs were perceived that the great person was
coming off.

Three large canoes, each of which contained some of the chief people of
the kingdom, approached. Canopies were spread from one end of the
canoes to the other, of fine mats supported on a framework of reeds.
The occupants were attired in white linen or cloth of Calicut, each
person seated in order according to his rank, the white heads of some of
them showing the wisdom of the King in employing grave and reverend
councillors. Besides them were a number of young, handsome-looking men,
who, also attired in white, stood under the canopy, but showing, from
the places they occupied, that they were of inferior rank. Round them,
again, were arranged soldiers, neat and orderly, with their arms
brightly polished. On the galleries on the outside of the state barge
sat the rowers, in three ranks, each canoe having eight. At the head of
the canoe sat two men, one holding a drum and the other a brass
instrument, with which they struck time to direct the rowers. In the
bow also was a handsome brass cannon of about a yard in length, and each
man, except the rowers, had his sword, dagger, and shield, some of them
carrying other weapons, such as guns, lances, bows, and darts.

As these magnificently equipped barges came near the ship, they rowed
round and round, one following the other, the chief persons in them
bowing low as they did so, in token of homage. They then put the former
envoy on board, who signified that the King was coming, and desired that
a hawser might be sent to the barges, in order that they might tow the
ship into a better berth.

As the _Golden Hind_ went gliding on, the King himself came off in a
handsome barge, richly ornamented, accompanied by six grave and ancient
fathers, and as he approached he also bowed towards the ship in a far
more humble way than could have been expected. He was a tall, very
corpulent man, of a pleasant and handsome countenance. So great was the
respect shown him, that even the chief councillors did not speak to him
except on their knees. Drake, wishing to do all the honour in his power
to the King, and highly pleased at the confidence he exhibited, ordered
the ordnance to be fired, the trumpets to sound, and the band to strike
up a lively tune.

This delighted the King so much that he requested the band to