Nor is it counted any shame or disgrace, to be a niggard and sparing in dyet; but rather a credit even to the greatest of them, that they can fare hard and suffer hunger, which they say, Soldiers ought to be able to endure.
[How the great men eat.] The great ones have always five or fix sorts of food at one meal, and of them not above one or two at most of Flesh or Fish, end of them more pottage than meat, after the Portugal fashion.

The rest is only what groweth out of the ground.

The main substance with which they fill their bellies is Rice, the other things are but to give it a relish.
[Discouraged from nourishing Cattel.] If these people were not discouraged from rearing and nourishing of Cattle and Poultry, provisions might be far more plentiful.

For here are many Jackalls, which catch their Hens and some Tigres, that destroy their Cattle: but the greatest of all is the King; whose endeavour is to keep them poor and in want.

For from them that have Hens his Officers take them for the Kings use giving little or nothing for them; the like they do by Hogs.