and doing of Penance Out of the City Cambaya saith Peruschi go many Heathens in Pilgrimage to the River Ganges in Bengala sometimes to the number of forty or fifty thousand all those accounting themselves happy that have been bath'd in the foremention'd Stream and they certainly believe they shall be sav'd if on their Death-beds they can but get some of the Water of the Ganges to drink Since the Benjans have a peculiar Opinion of the Creation and Original of Men and differ in this point from the Brahmines notwithstanding they account them to be their Teachers it will not be amiss to declare the same as it is taken out of their Law-book call'd Shaster The Opinion of the Benjans concerning the Creation God seeing himself alone he studied after what manner he might manifest to others his Splendor and Power for he foresaw that his Greatness and Glory would remain obscure and never be known if he did not communicate them to Mortals The most convenient means therefore to attain to this his desire was to Create the World and all the Creatures which are in the same And in order hereunto he first made the World beginning with the four Elements which were to be the Foundation thereof viz. the Earth Air Water and Fire which in the beginning being mix'd together were separated after this manner First he blew on the Water with a large Sarbatane or the like Instrument which thereupon bubling up came to be a great Body in the form of an Egg which by degrees extending became the light and clear shining Firmament of Heaven which surrounds the whole World This separation being made the Earth remained mix'd with a Matter like Sediment of Water of which God afterwards made a round Ball and call'd the Lower World of which the firmest part became Earth and the other being the weakest the Sea both which making the exact Figure of a Globe God plac'd the same in the midst of the Firmament which surrounds the Sea and Earth After this God Created a Sun and Moon which he placed in the Firmament to make a distinction of the Times and Seasons And by this means the four Elements which before were confusedly mix'd together were separated and distinguish'd and each confin'd to its proper place The Elements thus setled each perform'd its Office The Air fill'd all things that were empty the Fire by its Heat gave warmth to all and the Earth and Sea produc'd their several Creatures God giving a generative Power to all to multiply and increase according to their several kinds And thus the great World being perfected was divided into four Parts viz. East West North and South This World was to last four Ages and to be inhabited by divers sorts of People which were to be produc'd from four Men and four Women as we will instantly relate God having thus created the World and the Creatures he proceeded to create Man and thereupon commanded the Earth to produce that excellent Creature out of its Bowels First it put forth the Head and soon after all the other Parts into which God breathing Life the Lips grew red the Eye-lids open'd and made two sparkling Stars to appear the other Parts of the Body began to move and his Senses with Wisdom knew their Creator and worshipp'd him And because this Creature which was made for Society should not be alone God gave him a Woman for his Companion which resembled him as well in his Sense Reason and Spirit This first Creature was call'd Pourus and his Wife Parkoute they liv'd together like Man and Wife and fed upon the Fruit of the Earth without killing any living Creature These two Persons living thus together begat four Sous the first whereof was call'd Brammon the second Kutterey the third Schuddery and the fourth Wyse These four Brothers were of different Constitutions the four Elements giving to each a different Temper Brammon having participated of the Earth was Melancholly Kutterey being hot of Temper had a Warlike Spirit Schuddery being of a cold moist Constitution was of a meek Spirit and Wyse being of an angry Disposition had a quick Wit Moreover God endu'd Brammon according to his Nature with Wisdom and through him publish'd his Laws and Commandments for he judg'd his reserv'd Life and serious Countenance most fit for that purpose and therefore he gave him a Book wherein was set down how he would be serv'd and which also treated of other things concerning Religion God also according to the Constitution of Kutterey gave him Power to rule Kingdoms with a Scepter to keep the People in awe and make the Commonalty work and labor for the Publick Good And as a sign of this Power God gave him a Sword in his Hand the proper Instrument of his Victory and Dominion Schuddery according to his natural Inclinations God judg'd fit for Traffick whereby he might furnish all parts of the Earth with such things as they stood in need of by means of Navigation and as a Token of what he was appointed for as also to mind him of his Employment God gave him a pair of Scales with a Bag full of all sorts of Weights as proper Instruments of his Calling Wyse according to his Disposition God endu'd with a Genius of inventing all manner of Mechanical Arts giving him a Bag full of Tools and Instruments for the working of such things withal as his Fancy should direct The World being thus far compleated God gave not Pourous and Parkoutee any Daughters lest Works which hitherto he had preserv'd from all Uncleanness might be defil'd by the incestuous Conjunction of the Brothers with the Sisters wherefore God being willing to preserve the Innocence and Holiness of their first Parents resolv'd to ordain such means for the propagating Mankind as might correspond with the Work of the Creation by making four Women for the Sons of Pourous anst Parkoutee whereof one was sent to the East another to the West a third to the North and a fourth to the South that being thus separated one from the other the Propagation of Man kind might be the sooner compleated in all Parts of the Earth The eldest Son of the first Man call'd Brammon became Great being highly esteem'd by his other Brothers as well for his Age as his great Merits but especially for the Converse he often held with God concerning Religion and the manner of Worship wherein he instructed his Brethren reading the Book which was given him by God containing the Secrets and Manner of worshipping him with great Care and Reverence God revealing himself to him very often in Person And as God had created Man in a pleasant and delightful Place situate in the Belly and Navel of the Earth where the Sun makes no Shadow at Noon so he resolv'd to send the Brothers which were come from the Centre of the World to the Circumference thereof to People it Wherefore he commanded Brammon to take the Book wherein were written the Laws of God
God had wholly destroy'd the Family of the Kutteries therefore he resolv'd to renew the same by a Prince and ordain'd that the Kings for the future should be Extracted out of the Family of the Brahmines the chiefest whereof that were then living having been preserv'd by Wistney were call'd Ducerat The first Child which was born after this universal Destruction was ordain'd to be the Race of Kings and Princes who being zealously brought up manag'd both the Affairs of State and Religion Governing the People with great Wisdom and Piety according to their several Tribes perform'd many heroick Acts and was a Protector of all Brahmines and other Spiritual Persons His Name was Ram and by his Just and Pious Life attain'd to that Dignity that his Name is to this day exceedingly honor'd amongst them for in their usual Salutations they with a loud Voice cry Ram Ram that is I wish you Health and all Happiness 'T is certain many Just and Pious Kings Reign'd after him but as all things do daily degenerate so in process of Time receding farther and farther from their original Purity they grew proud and ambitious insomuch that they acted daily contrary to the Commandments comprehended in the Book of Bremaw These hainous Enormities did once more so highly incense the Almighty that he gave Power to Ruddery to open the Earth that it might swallow them up alive except a few of each of the four Tribes which he preserv'd to re-people the World anew with And in this manner ended the third Age of the World Soon after God commanded that the World should be re-planted by those that were preserv'd which was one Kysteney or Kistna who was a famous King Wise and Religious and one of the most comely Persons of the former Age. He propagated Religion with great Zeal insomuch that during his Life there was great Reformation amongst the People and very hopeful beginnings of Piety and Honesty When by Kysteney's coming Wistney's time was expir'd God as they relate took him up to Heaven there being no further need of his Service here below because there would be no other World after this fourth Age which now in being will according to the Opinion of the Brahmines last much longer than any of the former and that after its ruine Ruddery will be taken up to Heaven likewise They call these four Ages by four several Names viz. the first Kurtain the second Dnauper the third Tetrajos and the fourth Kolee The manner of destroying this last Age will as the Brahmines relate be much more terrible than any of the former to wit by Fire at what time Ruddery will gather all his Powers together as absolutely necessary for the execution of so grand a Destruction The Moon will shine red the Beams of the Sun will be like the Flames of burning Brimstone Thunder and Lightning will make a dreadful noise the Sea will change into all manner of Colours and Fire and Smoke will cover the surface of the Earth the four Elements of which the Heavens were first made will maintain War against one another and the World being thereby utterly destroy'd will resolve into its first Primordia The World will be destroy'd by Fire as they suppose for this reason That it must be extinguish'd by that which gave it beginning and because it consists of Earth Water Air and Fire therefore it must be destroyd by these four Elements for the former Ages on which this Opinion is grounded were destroy'd the first by Water the second by Wind and the third by Earth therefore the fourth and last must be consum'd by Fire This being finish'd Ruddery shall carry all humane Souls up to Heaven there to rest in the Bosom of the Almighty but all Bodies will decay for they deny the Resurrection of the Body affirming That Heaven is too pure a Place for such gross and unclean Bodies The Kingdom or Territory of Chandish or Sanda THe Kingdom or Territory of Chandish otherwise call'd Sanda is by Robert Covert call'd The Land of Heathens or Countrey of the Great Can of Canouwe formerly the Overseer of the Great Mogol's High-ways Jarrick calls this Country or a great part of it The Kingdom of Brampour or Brampore or Barampour from its Metropolis It borders in the West on the Kingdom of Surratte in the South at Dekan having the Dukedom of Parthapsha between in the North at the Provinces Chitor and Malway and in the East at Berar A certain English Writer borders the same on the one side upon the Kingdom of the Benjans from which it is separated by the Tynde or Tasy and on the other side upon the Country of Bulloits having the great Stream Andre between and is suppos'd to lie in 28 Degrees Northern Latitude Terry affirms this Kingdom to be a mighty and populous Country and the South part of the Mogol's Dominions It is divided in the middle by the River Tynde or Tasy which makes the Country conveniently pleasant and fruitful about those Places through which it flows though for the most part it is a barren unwholsom sandy and dry Tract of Land the Metropolis thereof is call'd Brampore or Barampour by Herbert and Jarrick Breampour and lies in 28 Degrees and 3 Minutes Northern Latitude 220 Miles Eastward from Surratte 420 from Asmeer and 100 from Agra Herbert holds the same to be the ancient City Baramatis of Ptolomy and signifies Brachmans Pous or The City of the Brachmans because it was formerly and is still to this day an University of the Brahmines Jogues or Gymnosophists The City lies low in a healthful and spacious Plain it hath many Streets but very narrow their Houses are indifferent handsom though low Purchas renders the same to be a very fair City much bigger than London and the most famous and richest which the Mogol possesses On the North-East side of the City is a large strong Castle or Fort on the Banks of the Stream Tapy This City was formerly the Metropolis and Residence of the King of Dekan who was in process of time driven from thence Not far from thence is a Garden or Chan Channa in which are many delightful Springs and Fountains The City is for the most part inhabited by Benjans Before the Town in the River Tapa stands an Elephant most curiously Carv'd of Marble which the Benjans worship Anno 1600. the Great Mogol Ekbar after having conquer'd the Kingdom of Dekan made himself Master of this City Brampour which was then desolate and deserted by King Miram who was fled to the Fort Syr which for its Situation and Strength is the most considerable of all the Country and impregnable for it lies on the top of a high Mountain and is three Leagues in circumference surrounded with three Walls which are so made that the one may conveniently defend the other for though Ekbar besieg'd King Miram with a hundred thousand Men yet he could not conquer the same by Force but only by Policy and Treachery In
Flesh In which Point of Religion they agree with the Benjans Most of their Liquor is Water because their Law forbids them to drink any Liquor made by the Fire but they have free leave to drink of the Juice of the Grape or any other Wines tapt out of Trees but not to that excess as to inebriate themselves which nevertheless oftentimes happens amongst them in private but if it be discovered either in Men or Women they are sorely punished and if they do not heartily repent at least seemingly and do Penance they are banished and disown'd by their Tribe As to what concerns their Fasting after each Fast-day they eat but once for five days after in commemoration that God rested five days after each of his Labors If they at any time eat Flesh or Fowl they carry a piece thereof to their Eggaree or Temple as an Offering to beg pardon of their Gods and to testifie the dissatisfaction which they have in being forc'd to kill his Creatures for their Food The Description of the People The shape of their Bodies is of a middle size their Faces are pale and generally fairer than ours in Europe especially the Women which exceed all other Women of these Countreys in beauty The Men wear great round Beards long black Hair on their Heads and are generally hook-nos'd which makes them to be known amongst thousands of People yet there are some that wear short Hair with a Lock onely on the top of their Crown There are few amongst them that serve other People alledging That if any one dies in another Man's Service it will be very difficult for him to go to Heaven as having sinned against God wherefore those that serve are accounted unclean and Unbelievers They are for the most part a covetous and hard People very deceitful in their Dealings but no way inclin'd to Whoring or Theft meek and compassionate in their Conversation They dwell in very dark Houses meanly furnish'd in one Street or Ward by themselves They have no supreme Governor amongst them Their several Feasts They have six Festival Times in a year which by virtue of their Law they are oblig'd to maintain in commemoration of the six days wherein God created the World and for the Benefits which they receive every Month from God Each of these Feasts lasts five day The first of these Feasts call'd Meduserum begins on the fifteenth of â—ere or February in commemoration that God made Heaven and appointed it to be a Place of Bliss and Happiness for the reception of all such as fear him The second Feast call'd Petusathan begins on the twenty sixth of Sheruar or April in commemoration that God made Hell for the Devils and bad Angels and to deter Men from living wickedly The third call'd Yatrum begins on the twenty sixth of Nahar or May in remembrance that God created the Sea and Earth and made them fit for the production of such Creatures as preserve the Life of Man The fourth nam'd Medearum begins on the sixteenth of Foz or July in remembrance that God made Trees and Plants whose Fruits serve for the Sustenance of Mankind The fifth call'd Homespotamadum begins on the thirteenth of Spindamud or August in commemoration that God created Beasts Fowls and Fishes for the Food of Man The sixth call'd Medusan begins on the thirteenth of Ardehert or December in token of joy that God about that time created a Man and a Woman from whom the whole Earth was peopled The Original Fire-worship Amongst all things which they possess nothing is of such veneration amongst them as the Fire on which their Belief is grounded and which they worship and herein they differ from all other Sects This worshipping of Fire hath its original from one Zertoost their Law-giver who as their Tradition goes ascended to Heaven and brought down a portion of Fire which God gave him together with the Book of their Laws They alledge moreover that Zertoost ascending to Heaven saw not God in his full glory but that he spoke with him over a great Fire out of which God gave him the said portion and also endued him with some of his Divine Power They say likewise That the Fire which he brought out of Heaven was a living Fire which could not be extinguish'd by any means and therefore that it had Divine Worship ascrib'd to it But it is not certainly believ'd amongst them that the foremention'd Fire hath hitherto been preserved however they are permitted to make another Fire of severall Materials which they are to keep always burning and to worship according to the Commands of their Law Their Ceremonies of Fire-worship Their grand Ceremonies of Fire-worship are at present perform'd in Surratte on a Place call'd Nuncery where the chief Priesthood of this Sect reside and according to their relation have kept the Fire constantly burning above two hundred and fifty years This Fire is by them in their Language call'd Antisbehur that is Sacred Fire The worshipping of this Fire which the Distoor or Herbood that is the High-Priest keeps so carefully that he never lets the same go out is perform'd in the following manner As often as the Persians meet to worship the Fire the Distoor or Herbood tells them That the Fire was given from God to Zertoost as a part of his Power and Glory and that he had also given him a Law which taught him to worship the same and was confirm'd by many Miracles therefore they must esteem it sacred and holy and worship and reverence the same as being a part of God himself and of the same Essence and likeness with him or at least differing little from him that they must love all things that resemble the as the Sun and Moon which were made of the same and are two testimonies of God and would come to be Witnesses against them if they neglected this their Duty to which they were so strictly commanded Moreover he admonishes them to worship God and beg pardon of him if accidentally they should spill any Water in the foremention'd Element of Fire which being so useful for Mankind might thereby happen to be extinguish'd and not to spit in the same or throw any unclean thing into it to make it burn They therefore keep always Fire in their Houses and will never blow out a Candle Lamp or any other Light or quench Fire with Water though their Houses should be all in a Flame but endeavour to smother the same with Earth for they account it an ill omen and a sign of God's anger when the Fire in their Houses chances to go out and they be forc'd to fetch Fire out of other Houses to kindle it again The initiation of their Children As to what concerns the Initiating of their Children so soon as a Child comes into the World the Daroo or Priest goes to the Parents House and having enquired into the Hour and Minute of the Infants Birth he first erects a Scheme
From the Mouth of Pontus to the Mouth of Maeotis Eratosthenes reckons XV. XLV or 1545 Miles which together comes to XLI LXXXIV or 4184 Miles But Artemidorus and Isidorus reckon the Whole with Aegypt as far as Tanais LXXXVIII or 8800 Miles Pliny himself by whom all these Authors are quoted in more express Terms affirm'd the Length of Asia to be LXIII DCC Miles which to hold proportion with the former Numbers can be but 7050. However here the Plinian Interpreter forgetting himself suffers it to run on to 630750 perhaps because of the DCC that comes after the LXIII But this as it would exceed the Proportion formerly observ'd so it would bring back that Contradiction to common Sense and Reason which he seem'd before to endeavor to avoid The Breadth from the Aethiopick Sea to Alexandria XVIII LXXV or 1875 Miles reckoning the Miles as the manner then was by so many thousand Paces Strabo speaking of the Mountain Taurus running through the midst of Asia from West to East and measuring the Length of Asia by it affirms the Length of the Mountain to be 45000 Furlongs which comes to 5625 Italian or English Mile Matthias Quadus though he almost follows the Words of Strabo yet he makes a longer Mount Taurus for he accounts the Length of it 58060 Furlongs that is 7257 of our Miles and four Furlongs over and without particularizing the Breadth affirms it to exceed the Breadth of Europe and Asia put together Mercator extends the Length of Asia from the most Western Meridian passing through the 57th Degree of Longitude to the most Eastern passing through the 178th Degree including 121 Degrees which reduc'd to Miles comes to 7260. The Breadth he reckons from the Aequator to the 80th Degree of Northern Latitude which amounts to 4800 Miles Cluverius allots to Asia between the Hellespont and Malacca the farthest Emporium of India the length of 1300 German Miles which is of our Miles 5200 And for Breadth between the Mouth of the Arabian Gulph and the Promontory Tabis which is at the Streight of Anian 1220 German Miles which is of our Miles 4880. With this Measure Golnitius and Lucas de Linda exactly agree Martiny determines the Extent of Asia from West to East that is from the Archipelago to the Chinese Ocean to be 1750 Leagues from South to North that is from Malacca to the Sea of Tartary 1550 Leagues P. du Val accounts its Length from West to East that is from the most Western Parts of Anatolia to the Eastern Parts of China 2500 French Leagues the Breadth not comprehending the Isles 72 Degrees that is 1700 of the same Leagues and all under the Septentrional Temperate Zone except some Peninsula's which are found in the Torrid Zone Now to reduce all these several Computations to one Standard viz. of our own Miles there will be no great difference among the three Moderns last mention'd provided we reckon in Martiny's Account three Leagues to a Mile and in P. du Val's two French Leagues to a Mile according to which Reckoning all the Modern Accounts come short of the Ancient which is the more strange in regard late Discoverers have penetrated into such remote Easterly Parts of Asia as were altogether unknown in Strabo's Pliny's or Ptolomy's time and therefore may well be suppos'd to have stretch'd it to a far greater extent But some Mistakes may possibly arise from our not exactly enough accommodating of the Ancient Numbers or Measures to our own as may evidently appear by the vast Error that might easily have slipt from an inanimadvertency of Pliny's Numbers Of the Lakes or Seas of Asia THE greatest Lake if it be not more properly call'd a Sea not onely of Asia but generally so reputed of the World is the Hircanian Lake which contains in Length 270 German Miles in Breadth above 100 and although there be no visible Entrance of any other Sea into it yet in regard its Waters are generally Salt it is suppos'd to communicate with the Ocean or some other Sea by certain Subterraneous Passages as undoubtedly it partakes also of several great Rivers since in many Places it hath Fresh Water and abounds with some sorts of Fresh-water or River Fish The Ancients believ'd this to be a Bay of the Scythian Ocean but Herodotus one of the most ancient of the Greek Writers as also Aristotle and Diodorus were of a different Opinion affirming it to be a particular Sea by it self as being no where mix'd with the Ocean And Ptolomy for that Reason would rather have it call'd a Lake than a Sea to which Opinion of his many other Writers have given their Suffrage However it hath commonly had in times past the Appellation of The Caspian Sea and at present is term'd Mare di Sala or The Sea of Sala The next great Asian Lake is call'd Lacus Asphaltites or The Lake of Brimstone the same which in Holy Writ is call'd Mare Mortuum or The Dead Sea in regard the Water remains fixt and immovable in so vast a Circuit Upon this Lake stood the Cities of Sodom and Gomorra Admah and Zeboim the two first whereof are mention'd in Sacred Scripture to have been destroy'd by Fire from Heaven whereupon it hath been also known by the Name of The Lake of Gomorra And if the fore-mention'd much more this may be term'd a Lake in regard it is but very small in respect of that Over this Lake like as over that of Avernus or Aornus in Campania no Birds endure to fly neither are any Fish able to live in it by reason of the evil and noxious Savour and intollerable Stench of the Water which is not mov'd or stirr'd by any Wind because the Bituminous Quality thereof resists by condensing the Surface of the Water which is so thick that the heaviest Creatures are born upon it without swimming But it is not Navigable by any Ships both in regard of the thickness and immovableness of the Water and the noisomness of the Lake to all Passengers The next is the Lake or Sea in Persia call'd El-Catif The fourth is the Lake of Genesareth otherwise call'd Tiberius and by some The Sea of Galilee The fifth is the Lake Samochonites between which and that of Gennesareth the River Jordan flows Of the Chief Rivers of Asia THERE are many Rivers of Principal note in Asia as Euphrates Tigris Jordan Indus Ganges Ob c. Euphrates riseth in Great Armenia and is call'd by the Inhabitants generally Phrat But in its Progress through several Countries it changeth its Name for some space from its first rising it is call'd Pyxirates towards its entrance into the Mountain Taurus Omira again coming forth from out of the said Mountain it takes the Name of Euphrates afterwards it toucheth upon Mesopotamia on the Left Hand and Syria Arabia and Babylonia on the Right and then divides it self into several Arms one whereof takes its Course to Seleucia and falls into the River Tigris another runs through Babylon and loseth
each side of this Structure is forty Foot of Ground in which are ten eight-square Ponds which are each half a Fathom deep to serve the House with Water This Edifice is not cover'd with Tyles but with Lome and chopt Straw or Chaff which being temper'd together and bak'd becomes so hard that no Water will soke through but runs off into Gutters join'd to the Wells On this Roof as also on those of all other Houses stands a Marble Pillar of about three or four Foot long and one thick On the top of the Seraglio you have a Prospect of the whole Garden as also a cool walking-place in the hot Summer Nights This Garden affords all sorts of European Fruits but especially Pears and Grapes of divers sorts beautiful to the Eye and very large also Pistacho's Almonds and Filberds Sixty or seventy Paces from the Haram appears a square Fountain with a handsom Ascent each Square is about a hundred Foot long and Wall'd with Marble also fill'd with Water in which are kept two Pleasure-boats for the Women to recreate themselves with All the Walks are on both sides Hedg'd in with Province-Roses out of which they Distill abundance of Rose-water and send it in great quantities to Ormus and India and other remote Countries In this large Garden are abundance of great Pheasants Woodcocks and other Fowls which are there as in a Cage breeding and hatching up their Young Ten Leagues from Schiras is a Village call'd Maragaskan otherwise Mardash it lies in 28 Degrees and 48 Minutes Northern Latitude four League North-West from the Village Mahin between which the Way is very straight pleasant and delightful being overgrown with Grass This Village contains about two hundred Houses so inclos'd with Trees that at a distance it appears to be a Wood divided into several small Parks The Air thereabouts is very temperate and the Water good and fresh besides which all sorts of Provisions very cheap Near Mardash at the end of a neighboring Plain nigh the Foot of a high Mountain not far from the Brook Sirt may be seen the Ruins of an old Castle in the Persian Tongue call'd Tzehilminar that is Forty Towers though at this Day only thirty of them remain viz. nineteen high ones and eleven broken ones but as Della Valle affirms there are not above twenty which may be true and the Place not misnam'd for though now so few remain without doubt there were more at first the Persian word Thehil signifying Fort and Minar A Tower Joseph Barbaro affirms that the Towers before mention'd are as big as three Men can Fathom and as Mandeslo relates consists of black and white Marble The Persians relate that this Edifice was erected by a King call'd Tzemshied Schach famous for Wisdom but Olearius questions that Others say That King Solomon built it and some believe that Darius was the Founder thereof and that Iskander which is Alexander the Great ruin'd it But Aelian ascribes the erecting thereof to King Cyrus The Foundation or Platform of this Structure is about eighty Yards being cut out of an intire Rock of Marble They ascend the same on four pair of Stairs consisting of ninety five Steps cut out of white Marble On the top not far from the Stairs appear four Pieces of a broken Wall that seem to have been two large Gates on the first two are cut two great Horses with strange Furniture and on the other two are other kind of Beasts with Bodies like Horses but Heads like Lyons with Crowns upon them and Wings at their Shoulders Not far from hence on the right side stand the thirty foremention'd Pillars A little distant from these Towers and somewhat higher were two indifferent large Chambers of which are remaining some of the Doors and Windows which are of Marble as also the Walls which are so polish'd that one may see their Face therein as in a Looking-Glass Farther in on the side near the Doors are all manner of ancient Shapes and Figures hewn in Stone and bigger than the Life some sitting others standing with long Hair broad Beards and long Coats down to their Feet with wide Sleeves a Sash about their Middle and strange round Caps on their Heads Not far from these Chambers stands a square Pillar with a great polish'd Stone in the top which some judge to be a Jasper on this also as on several other Columns are strange Characters Engraven which none can Read All that remains of the Relicks or Ruins of ancient Persepolis we find very well describ'd in Mr. Herbert wherefore we shall give you the Description in his following words The Ribs or Ruins of Persepolis saith he are at this Day call'd Chill-Manor or Chehel-Manor that is Forty Towers in the Idiom of Persia and might more properly have said Hashtot-Manor or Eighty Towers for so many are easily told two Yards out of the Ground and if from so many Pillars as are perfect and lofty then may they say Nouzda-Manor or Nineteen Towers at this Day no more standing one excepted at the East below above a Bowe-shot thence The whole Basis is cut by incredible toil out of the solid Marble Rock twice the compass of Windsor Castle ascended by fourscore and fifteen easie Steps dissected from the durable black Marble so broad that a dozen Horses may go abreast the Perpendicular is two and twenty Geometrick Feet and where the Stairs are not the Rock is precipitious near the highest Step is the Entrance into the Palate the Breadth is visible in despight of Flame and Weather on one side of the Gate stands a monstrous great Elephant on the other a Rhinoceros the distance is about twenty Foot the Portraicts are cut out of the shining Marble ten Yards high either of them fixt and perpetual A few Paces thence are of like Work Bulk and Matter two gallant Towers and to finish the Porter's Lodge near them is another Ruine a Pegasus an Invention of the Sculptor to illustrate his Art And being past this Portal the Apollo opens a fair even Ground deplorable in many Ruins a hundred white Marble Pillars whole and broken dignifying this once most excellent Structure Upon many of these white Marble Pillars the Storks have builded their Nests where the rage of Wind and Weather is more offensive to them than any dread they have of the People who inhabit near them In all unseasonable stormy or cold Weather they forsake the Region and fly where the Sun can comfort them The Persians have many superstitious Stories concerning them and suppose them as else-where I have noted the Emblems of Piety and Gratitude The Pillars which are at this day standing but seem to groan under the Tyranny of Time are betwixt fifteen and twenty Cubits and rise beautifully in forty Squares or concave Parallels every Square having full three Inches whereby the Circuit may be gather'd Most excellent is the Matter most elegant the Work and no less commendable the Order and Shape how they are
According to Olearius Kirman is a great Countrey and lying between Farsi and Sagistan extending Northerly to the Sea and the Isle of Ormus Beyond Kirman Northerly lies a great Desart but Southward towards the Sea Kirman hath much till'd Land and many fine Towns the Names whereof are Bersir Bermasir Bem Chabis Tzirefft and Gamron which lying near the Sea is often call'd Bender or Bander Gamron that is The Haven of Camron for Bender in the Persian Tongue signifies a Haven This Town of Gamron or Bender Gamron by Della Valle call'd Cambru lies in 27 Degrees of Northern Latitude West-South-West about three Leagues from the Isle of Ormus being formerly a little Village inhabited by Fishermen who came thither for its convenient Situation near the Persian Gulf. But since the conquering of the famous Isle of Ormus and driving the Portuguese from thence Gamron being frequented by the English Hollanders and Moors Vessels grew to a handsom Town and is enlarg'd daily by the Merchants and Travellers which come thither in November for then the heat of the Weather is over either from the Court at Ispahan or other adjacent Cities The Houses are built having the Foundation three or four Foot deep in the Sand of Free-stone Manner of bâ—â—lding their Houses joyn'd together after this manner They take Clay chopt Straw and Horse-dung beaten together with salt Water and making Cakes thereof dry the same in the Sun then they lay Brambles or Straw on the Ground to cover them over which again they lay Cakes and so a Layer of Btambles and a Layer of Cakes till it rises to the heighth of a Man and then set fire on the Heap which when extinguish'd they mingle and beat together with salt Water and daubing the Materials therewith make a good Mortar which grows as hard as Flint upon this Foundation they raise their Walls of square pieces of Clay dry'd in the Sun after the manner of our Bricks and then laid in moist Clay in stead of Mortar they likewise make square Pillars of the same Clay after the same manner for Supporters of the inner Roofs and that the Rain may not soke through the Walls they daube them all over with the beforemention'd hard Plaister which makes them seem to be built all of Stone With this Mortar also they make handsom Arches Their Rooms of Office are even with the Ground and for want of Stone unpav'd Over these are their Lodgings open round about for coolness The Streets are very crooked narrow and dirty The chiefest Houses as those of the Sultans the English and Hollanders Store-houses stand on the Shore against which the Sea oftentimes beats with great violence yet they are very convenient to lade and unlade Goods The Ships Ride about a Cannon shot from the Land in five or six Fathom Water There are also many little Huts of Boughs and Date-tree Leaves which are much us'd here and because there are no hard Stones hereabouts and the Timber extraordinary scarce many stately Houses have been pull'd down on the Isle and the Materials thereof carry'd away to build Houses on the Main On the East side of the Countrey stands a Fort built after the ancient manner with Towers Upon the Shore also about a Gun-shot from the Water is another Fort built of Free-stone surrounded with a dry Trench a low Vaumure and on the West side a Stone Redoubt of sufficient Strength against any sudden Onset Description of the Village Cambru The great Village Cambru according to Della Valle stands upon the Sea-shore in 27 Degrees of Northern Latitude The Streets are generally very narrow and the Bazars on Shops but indifferently furnish'd with Wares The Walls of the Houses are of Lime or Clay and may rather be call'd Barns than Houses being nothing but large and inclosed places cover'd with a Roof for a shelter in bad Weather and to keep off the heat of the Sun which in these Countreys is very powerful Here is a general Toleration of Religion for besides the Mahumetans there are abundance of Jews Banians from India and many other People of divers Beliefs The Fort Cambru There is a Fortress in a low Tract of Land near the Sea and not far from it the Fort of Cambru which being square is encompass'd with a double Wall the first hath no Redoubts nor Flankers but the outmost hath some Sconces and Curteyns sufficient to bear Musquet-shot The inner Wall is somewhat higher and hath several little round Turrets built at certain distances one from another between each of which lies a great Stone which in time of need may be thrown down on the Enemy Over the Gate appears a square place like a Gallery full of Port-holes through which the Soldiers with Musquets defend the Passage to the Gate Outermost is abroad and deep Moat fortifi'd with Half-moons and Breast-works but so weak that they may be batter'd down with a small Field-piece On the Shore of Cambru lie abundance of Sea-Cockles by which the Coast may easily be known The Ferry from Cambru to Ormus is not above a days Sailing in Vessels as big as Sloops by the Persians call'd Cuibet The Portuguese in former times had another Fort near the Shore which the Persians after their Conquest pull'd down but they built the foremention'd Fort in stead thereof farther up in the Countrey and afterwards in the Year 1623. in January they rais'd another on the Shore in the same place where that belonging to the Portuguese stood finding that so far up into the Countrey unable to defend the Ships and Haven which is much frequented from several Places in Persia India and Arabia There is also a Governor of the Town and another of the Fort and a Judge call'd Cadhi Once a year commonly there happens an Earthquake in Cambru which often overturns several Houses In the Way from Schiras to the Haven of Cambru whither the English come yearly with the Caravan to ship their Silks are the following Places viz. the Burrough of Passa the Plain of Gigangli the Village Haian Havask the Caravansera of Mamui the City Passa Tambustan or Temerista the barren place between the Mountains Seciah that is The three Pits because of certain Pits there and beyond that the Village Zirevan some Leagues from which the Way parts into two the one runs to the City Darabghierd and the other to Dechair a Village a days Journey beyond this parting of the Road. The many Dates and other Trees which grow in Darebghierd make it seem a very pleasant Place which extending a great way hath abundance of Inhabitants There is nothing remarkable in the same but a Brook which running through the Market makes a standing Pool in the middle However it is very eminent for its Antiquity and Name which it hath preserv'd to this day viz. from the ancient Persian King Darius who built it and call'd it Darab according to the Name which this Place bears viz. Darabghierd or Darabkera
they inflict on Malefactors they account the bereaving them of their Sight the worst which they do after this manner viz. They drive four Stakes into the Ground to which they tie the Malefactor's Hands and Feet in such a manner that he is no way able to stir then they take two sharp Plates of Iron about the bigness of a Shilling made fast to two Irons which have one woodden Handle which making red hot they put them upon the Malefactor's Eyes so bereaving him of his Sight with the greatest torment imaginable which appears sufficiently by the sad effect thereof for the whole Face and Breast swell putting the Malefactor into such a condition that it renders him uncapable of eating in three or four days after They also cut off their Criminals Hands with a red hot Iron thereby to prevent the effusion of Blood and with a Stick take away the Marrow from the Bone that the Flesh may not putrifie If the Crime be small and any one be apprehended for stealing of a Cow he is bound to restore fifteen times the value thereof before he can be freed of which the King receives one third part the Court of Judicature another and the injur'd Person the rest If the Offender be not certainly known then they lay a Cross in the bottom of a Kettle of Water which they hang over a Fire till it boyls and then force the suspected Person to put his naked Arm into the same and pull out the Cross which done they put his Arm into a Bag and Sealing up the same let it remain on three days after the expiration whereof they open it and if no signs of scalding appear then the accused Person is released When the Evidence is not clear and the Crime but small they cause the Person whom they suspect to swear by the Images of their Saints They also make suspicious Persons to fight one with another after this manner viz. They run a Tilt at each other and he that is first wounded is punish'd as Criminal How they determine Difference The Mengrelians have no written Laws yet what they follow are justly executed In Matters which are of no great difficulty the Prince himself is the Judge and decides the fame either at his Table when he is Hunting or in any other place where he is when it is brought before him but Matters of consequence are heard and determin'd after this manner The Parties concern'd chuse each of them an Arbitrator to whom they refer the Controversie these also chuse a Solicitor they often meet in the Fields under a Tree where the Plaintiff appearing first makes his Demand and then gives room to the Defendant to whom the Solicitor declares his mind whereupon the Defendant also with the same freedom gives his Relation then the Plaintiff is call'd again and the Solicitor acquaints him with the Defendant's Answer to his Demands and if after this both Parties are silent then the Judges pass Sentence They also maintain another Custom in their Differences which is never to go directly to the Person of whom they demand any thing but always to make use of a Friend in such a Case The People formerly acknowledged the Patriarch of Antioch but now him of Constantinople yet they have two Patriarchs of their own Countrey whom they call Catholicks the one from Georgia and the other from odisci He of Georgia hath under him the Provinces of Cardueli Gaghetti Baratralu and Samsche he of Odisci the Territories of Odisci Imereti Guriel the Abcassians and Suaniers The Wealth of their Patriarchs These Patriarchs have almost as great a Revenue as the Prince himself for he continually visits his substitute Places and in stead of taking care to preserve his Flock he fleeces them by his frequent Visits for whenever he comes all are oblig'd to make him great Presents neither doth he make any Man a Bishop without a Reward of five or six hundred Crowns The Grand Visier gave him for one days Service eighty Crowns yet he was not satisfi'd for not long after the same Visier lying sick sent for him who return'd Answer That it was not worth his while to go to him since he gratifi'd him so ill at first yet at last upon promise of a more noble Reward he went to him Every three or four years the Patriarch carries all the Money which he hath thus gotten to the holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem verily believing that by these Offerings he shall purchase for himself an entrance into Heaven Bishopricks in this Courtrey There were formerly twelve Bishopricks in this Countrey of which there are now but six remaining the other six being turn'd into Abbacyes The first Bishoprick call'd Andra lies at the River Carax the second Moquis the third Bedias the fourth Kiais so call'd from the Mountain Kiais near which it lies the fifth Scalingicas hath a Cathedral which is Dedicated to our Saviour and is the Burying-place of the Princes of the Countrey the sixth is Scondidi the Church whereof is Dedicated to All Saints The Bishopricks translated into Abbacyes are Chiaggi Gippurias Copis and Obbugi where formerly the Princes were bury'd but since carry'd to Scalingicas the fifth is Sebastoli ruin'd by the Floods the sixth Anarghia was formerly call'd Heraclea The Bishops are richer than any Lords of the Countrey some of them having three or four Wives nay more It hapned some years since that a Bishop being in Love with a Woman he sold her Husband for a Slave to the Turks that he might with the more freedom enjoy her And notwithstanding these Extravagancies yet because they keep their Fasts very strictly they account themselves better than the Prelates of the Roman Church They believe that there is no Sin but what may be wash'd away by the Satisfaction of good Works neither do they Pennance but very seldom but when they find their Consciences troubled for some hainous Crime which they have committed then they make a Present to the Church believing that so their Sin is expiated ThePriests veyr ignorant The Abbots and Priests are no whit better than the Bishops but generally more ignorant for the Priests are forc'd to say Mass in the Georgian Language because they understand not so much as their A B C. This Ignorance being common amongst all their Clergy hath made them lose the form of the Sacraments They never Baptize their Children till they are three or four years old How they Baptize when carrying them into a Cellar which is the place where this Ceremony is perform'd the Priest clad in his Vestments consecrates a great Vessel full of Water according to the direction of the Greek Liturgy out of which he onely reads what is written in the fame not once offering to do what it directs or commands which he leaves to his Clerk to perform who then taking a little of their Mirom or consecrated Oyl marks the Child therewith in the Forehead with a Cross If the
or Chalk of burnt Oyster-shells for the Betel being chew'd alone is bitter therefore to take away that bitterness they mix the same with Areka and a little Chalk and esteem the same thus prepar'd of a pleasant taste Some also put a Juyce call'd Cate amongst it which with them is an excellent Remedy against sore Gums The Juyce of Cate how made The Juyce Cate is extracted out of a Tree about the bigness of an Ash with Leaves like those of the Tamarisk having many Thorns and said to blossom but bearing no Fruit. The Wood is very strong hard close and heavy and not subject to rot whether it stands in the Air or Water wherefore the Inhabitants call it Hacchie that is Semper vivens of which by reason of its hardness they make great Pestles to stamp their Rice in Wooden Mortars six Foot in circumference This Tree grows for the most part in Cambaya especially in and about the Towns Bacaim Manora and Daman as also on the Main Land of Goa and in many other Places though not in such abundance as in those foremention'd from whence the Juyce Cate is carried in great quantities to China and Malacka Carri'd much to China because it is much used there with Betel but to Arabia and Persia in lesser quantities as a Drug The manner of extracting this Juyce is thus The Boughs of the Tree being cut small are decocted in Water then stamped and made up into Cakes with the Meal of Nachoani which is a small black Seed of taste like Rye and good to make Bread and the Saw-dust of a kind of black Wood which are dried in the Shade that the Sun may not attract their Vertue Very Physical It is an excellent Remedy not onely to preserve the Gums and fasten the Teeth but also to stop a Flux and to cure sore Eyes Thought to be the Lucium of the ancient Greeks and Romans Garcias will have this to be the Lucium of the ancient Greeks and Romans for the manner of extracting it is by all described to be the same with theirs and judg'd to have one and the same operation with the Cate. This Juyce hath received the Name Cate from the Arabians Persians and other People of Asia because the greatest quantity thereof is used in Malacka where it bears the same denomination except that the last Letter E changed into O makes it Cato Noble-men mix their Betel with Burnean Camphir Calamback or Aloe-wood Musk and Ambergreece The general use of Betel The Betel being thus prepared is of an extraordinary pleasant taste and by its being perfum'd causes a sweet Breath and for that reason is constantly chew'd by the Inhabitants as also others according to their Estates and Quality though some chew their Areka with Cloves and Cardamom The Kings and Princes use also Pills of beaten Areka Cate Camphir and Aloe-wood which they chew with Betel in stead of Areka When they use their Betel they first nip out the Veins in the Leaves then they roul up the Ashes of burnt Oyster-shells and the bruis'd Areka in a Betel Leaf which they put into their Mouthes and chew The first Moisture being red like Blood they spit out that its acrimony may not prejudice their Mouthes the rest they swallow and some which account it an excellent Medicine for the clensing of the Brain swallow the first also The redness of the Moisture is occasion'd by the Ashes the Juyce of the Betel being of it self green It also makes the Lips and Teeth red and black if too much used which the Indians extol as much as we white Teeth The Kings themselves present these Leaves by their Servants to their Nobles and others Those who go to travel have Silk Bags full of Betel given them Neither doth any Friend go from the other without a Present of Betel that being a Farewel-Gift Brindones a Fruit. In several Parts of India grows a certain Fruit call'd Brindones and by Linschot Brindoins which is a little reddish on the outside but blood-red within and of a very sowre taste yet many People are much pleased with it and the Dyers make great use of it The Ambare Tree The Ambare is a large thick Tree with Leaves like those of the Walnut of a pale green and interlac'd with many Veins The Flowers are small and white the Fruit about the bigness of a Walnut with a smoother Shell of a strong scent and a firm and well-rellish'd Pulp The Canarians call this Tree Ambare the Portuguese the Fruit Ambares the Persians Ambereth the Turks Aarab And all use the Juyce thereof among their Meat instead of Verjuyce The ripe Fruit being also eaten with Salt and Vinegar causeth an appetite The Indians look upon the same as an excellent Medicine against the Rising of the Gall. The Fruit being pickled up in Salt and Vinegar keeps good a long time Texeira tells us that this Tree loses its Leaves so soon as any Water falls on the same and that the like of it is not in all India The Amba Tree Another Fruit-tree by the Persians and Turks call'd Amba in Canaria Ambo and by others Mangas grows also in several parts of India It is a large spreading Tree like our Oaks having many great and crooked Boughs The Blossoms or Flowers are yellow growing in clusters and the Fruit is for the most part bigger than a Goose Egg. It s Fruit Medicinal The Mangas or Amba is the best Fruit that grows in India the same Tree producing Fruit different in Colours for some are of a pale green others yellow and a third reddish which are of a very pleasing smell but of a bitter taste and is accounted a good Medicine against the Worms The green Fruit is very sowre and if eaten raw hurts the Teeth wherefore many make a Pap thereof which mix'd with Sugar tastes like scalded Goosberries And thus prepar'd it fortifies the Stomach cools the Inflammation of the Blood Liver and Reins The immoderate use of it breeds the Flux The ripe Fruit not onely changes its green colour into yellow but also loses its cooling quality becoming sweeter and more moist wherefore if any eat thereof immoderately he is certain to have the Bloody Flux Acosta tells us That this Fruit is sometimes cut into Slices steep'd in Wines and so eaten It is also preserv'd with Sugar that so it may keep the longer and sometimes opened in the middle with a Knife and stuff'd full of Ginger Garlick Mustard-seed Salt Oyl and Vinegar Before this Fruit is fully ripe it hangs from April till November upon the Tree according to the nature of the Soil and situation of the Place The Carandas The Carandas is a Tree about the bigness of a Crab-tree hath the same sort of Leaves and abundance of Blossoms The Fruit also resembles a Crab which ripe some eat with Salt but generally they pickle them green in Salt and Vinegar and eat
Husband which last word Husband she repeated five times whereupon they answer'd This shall be done in the other Life then she immediately dy'd and the Sun arose the next day as before Liverty given to Women A Woman may Dress her self when her Husband is from home or be merry during his absence but she must die with her Husband or presently after and in confirmation of this some Brahmans maintain that the Women ought to hold their Husbands in so great esteem that they must be the first thing in their thoughts and spend their whole time in studying how to oblige them telling them that though they spend their time without one thought of God yet it is no sin especially if they will die with them A Brahman's Funeral When a Brahman is dead and his Body brought to the place where it is to be burnt they wash their Hands and lay each a little Rice on the Deceased's Mouth which done they wash their Hands a second time then a Beteani which is a Perrea one of those which beat on small Drums when a Corps is to be burn'd goes thrice about the Body which is laid on a Pyle of Wood and afterwards makes an Oration to the People after his manner speaking earnestly in the Name of the Deceased alledging that he Governs over all young and old rich and poor and that those which do good in their life-time shall be requited after their Death and those that do ill shall meet with the same But all the Bodies of the Brahmans are not burnt but some are bury'd Likewise the Bodies of the Wistnowa's and Smarta's are always burnt but those of the Seivia's and Sanjasies are bury'd The two first give this Reason for the burning of their Bodies viz. because the Fire purifies the Souls from sin for those that have serv'd Wistnow never so faithfully are not wholly free from sin and therefore must on necessity be purifi'd by Fire The Defunct whether those which are to be bury'd or burnt are in some places clad in rich Apparel as if living and sitting in a Sedan and so carry'd to the place of Interment the Sedan being open before that the Corps may be seen behind follow several Persons carrying Vessels of Oyl which are to be thrown into the Fire with the Body A Woman may not Marry after her Husbands Death A Woman is not permitted to Marry after her Husbands Death but the Man may neither will any Marry her because she would be accounted Dishonest to have had two Husbands These severe and strict Laws prove very prejudicial to young Widows who being cautious to preserve their Reputation by continuing single do privately prostitute themselves to People of another Religion or to any else others on the contrary abhorring so wicked a Life suffer themselves to be burnt with their Husbands dead Body which is done after this manner How she is burnt with his Corps As soon as the Breath is departed out of the Man's Body if his Wife hath resolv'd to follow him at his death they immediately make ready all Necessaries thereto belonging for then the Woman cannot go back from her word of recall her promise if she be a Brahmans Wife she is carry'd to the Funeral Pyle in a handsom Sedan under a Canopy accompany'd by all her Friends who encourage and extol her resolution present her with Betel and delight her Ears with the noise of Cymbals and Drums The Settrea's and Soudra's mix their Betel which they give to the Woman with a certain Powder which takes away all apprehensions of fear and makes them courageous and bold but this is never done by the Brahmans they being not permited to force perswade or use any means to a Woman to gain her consent to be burn'd If she be of the Family of the Settrea's or Soudra's then she carries a Lemmon in one Hand and a Looking-glass in the other but if of the Brahmans or Weinsja's Tribe onely a few red Flowers such as they strew in the Pagodes on their Idols and have already been Offer'd to them Coming to the place where her Husband is to be burn'd she first go's to a Pool of Water to wash her self giving away her Jewels if she hath any after which a Brahman says a Prayer this done and the Woman having put on a yellow Garment she goes with great joy to the place from whence she is to leap into the Fire which is made of glowing Coals in a deep Pit and that she may not be terrifi'd with the sight of the Fire they put Mats quite round to prevent her looking into it At the side of the Pit is a little rising Ascent made on which she sits down against the Mats and takes leave of her Relations and Friends who still encourage her Undertaking Lastly having thus taken her leave she throws a Pilang or Pestle with which she us'd to stamp Rice a small Ricepot and the like Kitchin Utensils over the Mat into the Fire poures also a Pot of Oyl over her Head and Body whereupon the mat being taken away she suddenly leaps with the Pot of Oyl into the Fire round about which stand divers People with great pieces of Wood in their Hands which they throw upon her as soon as she is in the Fire and cover her therewith above a Man's heighth Thus the Women of the Settrean Weinsja's and Soudrean Tribes come to their ends but those of the Brahmans endure far greater pain viz. they leap not into the Fire but are laid on a Pyle of Wood by their dead Husbands as if they were to sleep by them then they lay over them a great heap leaving onely their Heads bare on which they pour Oyl and other such combustible stuff Not allow'd amongst the Mahumetans This Burning is not allow'd in those Countreys which are under the Mahumetans unless the Governor of the Countrey gives consent thereto who first examines the Person whether she be willing which if he find then he gives permission Neither is this Custom at all observ'd except amongst People of great Quality who are more exact in preserving their Honor than other People for Noblemens Wives account it a great testimony of their love and fidelity to their Husbands to be burnt with their dead Bodies Others are carry'd on Horseback about the Towns in State with a Lemmon in one Hand and a Looking-glass in the other in which they look as they ride and in a mournful tone sing certain Elegies whil'st many other Men and Women follow them on foot over her Head they carry an Umbrella after the Custom of the Countrey and before her walk several beating on Drums In all their Passage they shew a pleasant and undaunted Countenance not shedding one Tear expressing more sorrow for the death of their Husbands than their own and seeming more joyful to go to him in the other World than sorry to leave this But some chuse to be burnt alive with him after
this manner Some bury'd alive The Preparations for the burning and burying of Women after their Husbands Death are one and the same the difference onely consisting in he Burning it self After the Woman hath wash'd her self she steps amongst the noise of Pipes Drums Cornets and the like to the Grave in which her Husband lies bury'd where setting her self down on a Bank of Earth she embraces her dead Husband which done they begin to fill the Vault or Grave throwing the Earth in when the Earth begins to come up to her Chin two of the attendant Officers hang a Cloth before the Mouth of the Grave and give her a Cup full of Poyson which immediately changes her Countenance and suddenly after they break her Neck Their Alms and other Works done for the benefit of the Deceased The Heathens also believe that they are able to perform many works which may extend to the benefit of the Deceased and to that purpose they give Alms to those that request it of them make Tampandals or Cisterns of Water near the High-ways where Travellers may always have cold or warm Water and sometimes Canje which is Water boyl'd with Rice and Beans gratis which in all Cases is very beneficial to the living and a very necessary Business in these Countreys for by this means Travellers which are become faint through the exceeding heat of the Sun are reviv'd and refresh'd They also build Temples or Pagodes on the Graves of their deceased Friends though they never worship any Images in the same because they account those peaces unclean and though there are Images in some of them yet they are not set up to be worshipp'd as other Idols but onely to represent the Person that lies bury'd there They also make Wells and Ponds of Water in the behalf of the Dead which are common for all People Outward signs of their Mourning Their outward signs of Sorrow and Mourning are these When the eldest Person of a Family dies all the Friends and Relations shave off their Beards and chew no Betel in ten days neither do they cat above once a day But if a younger Person dies then those that are older though his near Relations never mourn Wherefore the Men mourn not for their Wives because they are always younger than themselves Their manner of Mourning But the Soudra's mourn as well for young as old and not onely shave off their Beards but also the Hair of their Heads leaving onely one Lock on the Crown about which they tie a Cloth not wearing their usual Cap in three days They also abstain from Betel though not so long as the Brahmans but only three or four days Upon the decease of a Child the Soudra's shave not off the Hair of their Heads but onely eat no Betel for three days When any one dies in a Noblemans House all the Slaves must shave off their Beards in sign of mourning If a Husbandman dies out of the Family Walala or Ambria then twelve several sorts of People come and shew Reverence to the Dead viz. 1. The Brahmans which serve the Pagodes 2. The Bateani or Perrea's which beat the Drums at Funerals 3. The Pannejawa's which play on long Cymbals 4. The Smiths 5. The Joyners 6. The Goldsmiths 7. The Laundrers 8. The Barbers 9. The Poumale Andi which carry Flowers to the Dead 10. The Canacapule or Secretaries 11. The Salewadi 12. The Caicullen or Dauncers whose Wives are common Strumpets as hath been mention'd before This Order in former times was very strictly observ'd but is of late not much regarded for the Brahmans Canacapule and Andi are grown to such a degree of Greatness that they never go to shew Reverence as do the other nine Every one that comes receives as a Reward a Cloth which they tie about their Heads letting it hang down on their Backs at the receipt whereof they fall with their Faces on the ground near a place where Nili or unthresh'd Rice is given out for Alms. Description of their Funerals Before we conclude the manner of these Indian Funerals it ought not to be omitted what Peter Delia Valle says concerning them viz. That they keep not their dead Bodies above twenty four Hours in the House but burn them with the following Ceremonies The Corps is laid naked on a Pile of Wood made like a Bed with the Face towards the nearest Water then they cover the Private Parts of the Corps with a piece of Wood taken from the Pile rub the Hands and Feet of the Defunct with Oyl and put a Cole into his Mouth All things thus being ready they kindle the said Cole and then the Pile of Wood first under the Deceased's Head sprinkling Water round about the Pile still laying up the Fire again as it falls down and letting the Ashes of the Body remain in the same Place and sometimes also the Bones though but half burnt The Relations and Friends of the Deceas'd in the mean time fill the Air with their Lamentations The Bodies of Noblemen and those that are rich are burnt with sweet-smelling Wood as Sandal Aguilla Brava and the like but those of mean Persons with ordinary Wood. Children under two years of age are not burnt but buried The various Diet of their several Sects The Settreaes and Soudraes eat Fish Flesh and whatever else is set before them except Beef from which all the four Chief Tribes viz. Brahmans Soudraes Setteraes and Weinsjaes abstain insomuch that they would rather starve than kill a Cow or eat of the Flesh The Boti as also the Weinsjaes or Benjans will not eat of any thing that ever had Life and much less kill any Creature believing they should commit a great sin if they should so do They also abstain from Herbs that are of a reddish tincture reason of their resemblance in colour with Blood for to shed Blood they account one of the greatest sins that can be committed They kill no living Creatures but buy them to set at liberty They often buy Birds and other Creatures that are kept in Cages with considerable Sums of Money as also those that are taken by Huntsmen whether Moors or Christians for no other end but to preserve them from death and give them liberty From this Custom which is very common amongst them hapned once a pleasant Quarrel viz. A Christian A pleasant quarrel between a Christian and an Indian clad after the Indian fashion bought some Birds to eat of a Bird-catcher who by his Garb taking him to be an Indian open'd his Cage as soon as he had receiv'd his Money and let them flie whereupon the Christian contesting would have the Birds deliver'd to him or his Money and in short the Bird-catcher though he lost his Birds was forc'd to repay the Christian his Money in the presence of all the Spectators to their no little laughter There is great deceit in this kind of dealing For many poor People of a
Kings of the Countrey or famous Heroes who for their heroick Exploits were very highly reverenc'd amongst them honoring them as the Greeks and Romans did Jupiter and Mars Mahumetanism professed in some places These divine Heroes are not all one and the same but very different for those on the main Land of India which is under the Great Mogol's Jurisdiction are quite contrary to those in the Kingdom of Coutzyn and in the Countreys lying near the Sea as also others in Pegu Siam China and Japan This is to be concluded from the several Names that differ exceedingly which possibly may arise from the several Languages us'd in the various Countreys where they are worshipped yet nevertheless these Demi-gods are but the same as he who anciently by the Egyptians was worshipp'd by the Name of Osyris was by the Greeks reverenc'd under the Name of Bacchus Their high esteem of Ramna The number of these ancient Heroes amongst the Indians is almost infinite amongst others one nam'd Crusen is highly esteem'd by them but the chiefest of all is Ramo or Ram or Ramna which Name is in such veneration amongst them that they use the same in their Salutations and in stead of bidding one another Farewel at their departure they say Ramo Ramo This Idol is very eminent amongst the Japanners and known by several Names as Sotoqui Siacka Amida and Saka amongst the Chineses by that of Sekia or Saka amongst the Tungkindans by that of Tecka What this Ramo did during his stay on Earth we have already related They have Houshold Gods Besides Ram and many other Gods they make another every New-years-day of some Creature or other every one selecting that which prov'd successful to him on the first day of the new Year They also carefully preserve that thing which they have elected for their Idol in their House and worship it as the Romans their Dii Penates or domestick Gods committing all their Concerns to their discretion About the latter part of the year they repair to the River Ganges to throw their old Idols into it that they may chuse new ones as they had done the year before Idosl giving answer like Oracles In many places of India are also Idols which by the delusion and instigation of the Devil are like Oracles resolving Questions after the same manner as in the time of the Greeks and Romans They make their Demands and speak to them after this manner viz. the Implorer having said several Prayers puts a Flower or any such like thing into the Hands or Bosom of the Idol which they desire either to throw to the right Hand if their Business shall be successful but if not to the left whereupon as they say the Idol immediately casts the Flower to the one or other side according to the intended good or bad success of the Business but if the Idol chance to keep the Flower some time before he throws it away then they desire him not to delay and judge also that the longer he keeps it the more difficult it will be to accomplish their Designs They worship the Sun The Brahmans also worship the Sun when it rises and sets building Pagodes in honor of it wherein they shew Reverence to its Image Good Angels they call Dewetaes and evil Spirits Raetsjasjaes which they believe were begotten by a Man viz. the Brahman Cassiopa who was Father to both his Wives the one call'd Deti Mother of the Dewetaes and the other Aditi or Caddrowawiuneta Mother of the Raetsjasjaes Moreover the Cassiopa before mention'd some suppose to be Adam and Aditi to be Eve for they maintain that Cassiopa was the first Brahman who had a Son by Bramma And as we have already mention'd they do not make God to be the Creator of Mankind but one Bramma whom they affirm to have created nine in the beginning and out of these nine and those which he begot by his Wife Saraswati the whole Generation of Mankind proceeded Outward zeal in Religion they judge very necessary as appears by their following the Commandments written by Bramma wherein consisted according to his testimony the Service of Wistnow and Eswara who require as well the outward Worship as inward Devotion and to that purpose they have these Commandments viz. The Commandments impos'd by the Brahman I. A Man must not be proud but wholly give his Thoughts and Soul to God II. He must remain God's Servant III. He must always be a great Friend to God IV. He must think on his Might and Omnipotence Those which concern their outward Worship are these I. A Man must always be ready to hear any Discourse of God II. He must often call on his Name and speak of his Glory III. He must make use of and perform his Laws according to the Explanation of the Brahmans IV. Their Images they must adorn and beautifie with Ornaments V. Lastly they must worship their Images The Brahmans affirm that those who for a certain time faithfully perform and obey the foremention'd Commandments shall attain to great knowledge nay to that perfection that they shall never need more to observe the outward Ceremonies but do God great Service by onely thinking on him and thereby merit Heaven As to what concerns their outward Worship they first according to the Contents of these Rules build Temples in honor of Wistnow and Eswara which are not onely bigger than those erected for lesser Deities but have also indifferent high Steeples which the other have not And because the Disciples of Wistnow and Eswara are scatter'd through the whole Countrey therefore there is a Pagode in every Town dedicated to these two Deities The several Pagodes of Wistnow and Eswara in the Realm of Carnatica In the Realm of Carnatica the most noted Pagodes are these following which are all dedicated to Wistnow and Eswara In Madure the Pagode Jockenata which is very large and magnificent In Trisinapoli the Pagode Sriringam In Wistow Canje the Pagode Warderason In Trivelour the Pagode Wireragna In Seva Canje the Pagode Ecaubranata in honor of Eswara for Prettevi or the Earth In Triwanacawere the Pagode Jembounateswara consecrated to Eswara for Apou or the Water In Trinamula the Pagode Aranajaleswara in honor of Eswara for Tseejem or the Fire In Calist the Pagode Calist Eswara in honor of Eswara for Waijou or the Wind. In Settamberam the Pagode Settamberam Eswara in honor of the same for Acasjem or the Air. In Tripeti the Pagode Winket Eswara besides more in several places of India Strange things related by the Brahmans of their Pagodes To make these Pagodes esteem'd and reverenced the Brahmans relate strange things of them which make such an impression upon the Minds of the ignorant People that they are thereby mov'd to bestow rich Gifts thereon towards their Maintenance viz. either in honor and praise of the Idol which is erected in the Pagode or else some wonderful or remarkable thing which either hath or
Parvati which they strew and adorn with all manner of Flowers and placing it in a Sedan carry it on the tenth day out of the City accompany'd with a great Train of People who casting the Image into a Pool of Water return home The Feast Tsewartre On the eighth of February the Seiva's and Smarta's but not the Wistnowa's keep a Feast call'd Tseweratre on which they fast a whole day and a night but the Soudra's spend the night in Dancing so to keep themselves from sleeping This Feast is kept in commemoration of what Eswara did when the Callecote Wissiam or venomous Poyson before mention'd was found in the World Another great Feast On the fourteenth day after the new Moon in August not onely the Brahmans but also the Soudra's both Men and Women keep a Feast commonly call'd Ananta Padmanaba Uratam that they may enjoy Health in this Life and merit Heaven hereafter They keep this Feast commonly near a River or else in their Houses or Pagodes with many Ceremonies and tie a red String with fourteen Knots about their Arms the Knots being the Marks of Ananta Padmanaba They keep this Feast once every year but those which have kept it for fourteen years together arc not oblig'd to keep it any more but onely to make a Treat for the Brahmans who to make this Feast esteem'd amongst the People relate several ridiculous Fables which we will here omit On the full Moon in August the Brahmans and Wistnowa's keep the Feast Tsrawanala Pondema as also the Soudra's on the eighth day after the full Moon Other Festivals peculiar to several Sects a Feast call'd Gokoulastemi in honor and commemoration of Wistnow who about that time at Midnight at the rising of the Moon was born by the Name of Cristna or Kisna in Madura and at the same instant carry'd to a Shepherds House call'd Nanta Some Deweta's as they affirm as also some of their Saints certainly knowing that he should be born at that time expected him Fasting and because the Night wherein he was born was no convenient time to keep the Feast they and be merry many Clothing themselves in rich Apparel and entertaining one another with thickned Milk Coco-nuts and all other Fruits that were to be had amongst the Shepherds and Herdsmen On the Feast-day the Streets of the Towns where it is kept are strew'd with green Herbs Many other Feasts too tedious to relate are kept by the Brahmans Soudra's and other Tribes or Sects in honor of their supream Deities Wistnow and Eswara besides which they also keep several in honor of their Deities as amongst others the Feast Pongol in honor of the Sun on the ninth of January which day the Brahmans hold to be Sancramanam which signifies a Good day This Feast is kept after the following manner viz. They boyl Rice with Milk or Water in the open Air that the Sun may shine upon it they put not the Rice into the Milk or Water before it boyls which they so order that it is just Noon when it is put in when boyling up it begins to run over they cry aloud Pongol Pongol Pongol Pongol The reason why they boyl the Rice in Milk is because it comes from the Cow Amortam The Water wherein it is boyl'd is not thrown away as at other times but left standing so long till the Rice hath soak'd it up Rice thus boyl'd is accounted very wholsom for the Body and is kept as long as possibly can be They worship several Deities The Brahmans shew Reverence to others which they account lesser Gods and build Pagodes in honor of them and amongst others worship Garrouda Annemonta Vigneswara and Vierrepadra of a all which they chiefly respect Vigneswara Son of Eswara whose Image most Indians keeping in their Houses worship it for their domestick God They also worship and make Offerings to Dewendre and other Princes of the lower Region as Achni Wayouvia Warrouvo Isan-ja and several others but erect no Temple to them viz. They Offer Jagam to Indre that thereby they may obtain plenty of Meat Clothes and Women Achni they reverence to procure Fame and Honor Warrouva that they may have strength and power of Body From Cubera they implore Riches And from Isan-ja they crave Power and Dominion The Brahmans affirm that their worshipping of the inferior Deities is onely advantageous to them in this World but by the Service perform'd to their supream Gods they merit Heaven they therefore account it no sin to worship the lesser Deities provided they adore them not with that zeal as they do their supream which if they should they would be guilty of mortal sin Some affirm that there are no Pagodes built in honor of Bramma neither is he worshipp'd notwithstanding he hath so great a Command amongst them the reasons thereof the say is this viz. That anciently a Saint commanded that they should erect no Temples of Bramma but others suppose this to be onely a pretence of the Brahmans that they themselves may be better and more esteem'd of amongst the People and have some advantage from them Yet Della Valle tells us that there is a Pagode built in honor of Bramma in a Village call'd Agra not far from the City Cambaya wherein are erected divers white Marble Images and in the midst of the Pagode the Image of Bramma naked with many Arms three Faces and a long picked Beard but roughly Carv'd at his Feet stand two other Images of his Children the one call'd Savetri and the other Garetri and in another corner of the Temple on the left Hand of Bramma stand two Images more being the Representations of two of Bramma's Disciples one call'd Cheskuer and the other Ciavan The Indians are very zealous in serving their Idols daily perfuming washing and setting Meat before them They Offer to the Dâ—vils According to a Custom us'd anciently by most People they also worship and make Offerings to evil Spirits of which the chiefest in esteem are Ganga and Gournatha The Image of Ganga hath one Head and four Arms in one of the left Hands it holds a Cup and in one of the right a Trident. In most parts of the Countrey are Pagodes built in honor of this Demon but none for Gournatha though he is above Ganga and the Son of Eswara notwithstanding the Wistnowa's account him a Demon yet nevertheless though it be not customary there is a Pagode built in honor of him at Carmellon a Place not far from Paliacatta but in the Fields they erect several Images in honor of him but commonly they worship him under a Tree where they pretend to have seen him In ancient times as these Heathens make mention they offer'd yearly a Man to Ganga but they say he hath of late been satisfi'd with a Buffalo but no such bloody Offerings are made to Wistnow or Eswara and though this kind of diabolical Worship be very common amogst the Soudra's yet it is not allow'd
Rivers of Indus and Ganges which with their Branches water the whole Countrey like a Garden besides many other Rivers which make this Countrey exceeding fertile The Tract of Land from Surat to Brampore is exceeding pleasant and full of Rivulets and Springs but the way from Brampore to Agra is Mountainous and troublesom for the Camels to Travel yet it is free from Robbers The Countrey affords good Wheat Rice and Barley besides many other sorts of Grain and Bread-Corn which may be bought at easie Rates Of the Wheat which is fuller and whiter than the European the Inhabitants bake good and savory Bread upon the Lid of a Pot which hangs over the Fire The Countrey is beautified with many Woods Orchards and Gardens Yet nevertheless in this vast Tract of Land are many Places which are nothing but sulphureous and unfruitfut Mountains and therefore uncultivated and desolate From Cambay to Lahor are sandy barren and unfrequented Desarts but twenty Leagues on this side of Lahor the Ground is fruitful and fat There are very few Springs or Rivulets in all this way and nought but dry Sand which being often rais'd by impetuous Winds up into the Air blows into Travellers Eyes and is ready to smother them partly by reason of these great Wildernesses where there is no Provisions nor Water to be had For fear of robbing most People in India travel in great Companies which the Arabians call Caravans and the Persians Cafila sometimes to the number of four or five thousand People Caravan in the Arabick signifies properly a Company of Travellers Out of the whole Caravan they chuse a Guide who when it is time to proceed forward on their Journey beats three times upon a Drum at the first beating they put up all the Tents under which they sleep in the Night at the second beating they prepare their Camels and Wagons and at the third they set forward When they travel in the Night to prevent all Persons from going astray they give notice by beating on Drums when they shall stand still as also when they meet with any Water-pits by the way which sometimes are digg'd above forty Cubits deep out of which they draw the Water with Oxen. Indostan supplied with Elephants and Horses from other Parts There are many Elephants in the Mogol's Dominions which are us'd in War and for other occasions of the King and the Nobility they also serve them for Carriage in stead of Camels of which there are but few And though the Elephants do not breed here yet they are brought hither in great numbers from the Kingdom of Bengala and Siam and from the Island of Zeilan There are also few Horses or Mules here but what are brought from Persia and Arabia Those Horses that breed here are small and well-truss'd like those of Norway fit to carry Loads like the Asses of which there are great numbers in the Countrey There also many Buffaloes which are put to very hard Work Their Flesh is not edible but their Milk is accounted very wholesom especially for sick People Caravanseras or Houses of Entertainment In the Countreys of Indostan and Surat are no Inns to entertain Travellers onely in the greatest and chiefest Towns and in some Villages are uninhabited Houses in the Arabick call'd Caravansera's that is Caravan-houses otherwise Serrays or Sarraas which are whole Streets and Wards appointed for strange Merchants and other Travellers who take up what Rooms they please and put Locks upon them Each Caravansera hath a Backal or Porter who at set times every Evening locks up the outward Gates which are not opened till the Sun rises This Porter also keeps a Cooks Shop where Travellers may either have Meat ready dress'd or dress it themselves When they set forward on their Journey again and leave the Town they pay a Jeckas of Copper for a Beast to carry their Goods besides their Diet. But in the Caravanseras which are built in the Countrey they need not give any thing for their Lodging whilst the have their Meat from the Porter but these words Salom alecun Peace be with you These Serrays or Caravanser as are built by some eminent People out of Charity for the accommodation of Strangers Idostan very rich Hindostan possesses great quantities of Gold and Silver notwithstanding it hath neither Gold nor Silver Mines but is all brought thither by Strangers never returning out again For they melt down the European or Forreign Coins and recoin them with the Mogol's Stamp Moreover all Ships as well Indian as English Portuguese and Hollanders which carry Commodities yearly from Hindostan to Pegu Tanasseri Siam Zeilan Achem Maoassar Maldives and other Places carry also much Gold and Silver back to Hindostan the Hollanders also carry great quantities of Silver thither from Japan Lastly for all the Gold and Silver which is transported thither from England Holland and Portugal nothing comes in return thereof from thence but Commodities the Money being all kept in the Countrey They have no Pepper Copper Cloves Nutmegs Cinnamon Lead Cloth nor several other Commodities but what are brought from Japan the Molucco Islands Zeilan and Europe Moreover Hindostan is destitute of Fruits which are carried thither from Samarcand Balk Bocara and Persia as Almonds Apples Pears Grapes Raisins which are sold all the Winter long at Dely though very dear They have also from the foremention'd Places several sorts of dry'd Fruits as Almonds Pistachioes Nuts Plums Apricocks Raisins c. There are also little Sea-Cockles taken near the Island of Maldivia which in Bengala and other places go currantly for small Money They have also Ambergreece from the same Island and from Mozambick and likewise Rhinocerots Horns Elephants Teeth Ethiopian Slaves Musk Porcelane Pearls besides many other Commodities The Indians manner of Sailing Texeira affirms That the Mogol's Ships carry greater Burdens than those of Europe and may be compar'd to those Gallions of the Grand Signior which go from Constantinople to Alexandria but are built after another fashion They use neither the Compass nor Quadrant but Sail from India to Persia Bassora Mocha Mozambick Mombas Sumatra Macassar and other Places onely by the help of the North-Star and the Rising and Setting of the Sun The Inhabitants of Indostan There are divers sorts of People in the Great Mogol's Dominions the Chiefest and most numerous whereof being the Natives are Heathens or Idolaters and next them the Moors otherwise call'd Mahumetans from Mahomet the Instituter of their Religion also Mogols or Mogolleans from the Tartar Tribe Mogol from which the real Mogolleans are deriv'd for not all those which at this day bear the name of Mogols are extracted from the Tartar Mogols but also those are call'd Mogols who though Mahumetans are in the Mogol's Service notwithstanding they are Turks Persians or Arabians But there are generally a hundred Heathens to one Mahumetan The Inhabitants of Indostan were anciently all Heathens and are generally call'd Hindoes or Hindous but
of Cabul and Candahar is commonly fortifi'd with eighteen great Guns besides many lesser and hath a large square inward Court in the middle whereof stands a high Pole on which placing an Arrow they shoot at it with a Bowe The King's Lodgings which are on the left side at the entrance into this Square are very low and none of the most beautiful Under the Windows of these Lodgings appear several Officers call'd Mansebdars which Command each a thousand Horse and within the Rails under the Penthouse stand two artificial Elephants colour'd according to the Life Opposite to the King's Lodgings are many other such like Ornaments according to the custom of the Countrey The Martial Officers and those which serve in the next Places under the Mansebdars as the Chans and others of like Quality keep Guard on the King's Roofs or Balconies or in some Rooms near them those that are of a lower Degree and Command onely over two or three Horses walk up and down the Court without the Inclosures On the other side of the foremention'd Lodgings stands another Structure with an Inclosure opposite thereto but without any Ornamentals where the King's Life-guards and other Officers keep Guard Out of this Court passing through a Gate you come into another Court which being surrounded with Lodging-Rooms and Kitchins is not so neat and clean as the other There are likewise several Caravanseraes and amongst others one call'd Terri Caravansera or The Taylors Caravansera The Moors also have thirty great Metzids or Temples in this City besides a great many little Pagodes The Benjans likewise possess twelve eminent Places in the City besides other lesser in the Suburbs where they meet to perform their religious Offices The Brahmans have also four Churches the Armenians and Abyssines each of them one and the Jews a Synagogue At the end of the great Street Bazari Colan stands a Pagode built in honor of Mahadeu to which a great number of People resort daily moreover the Street which leads thither is always full of People not onely those that go thither to their Devotion and those that return from thence but also abundance of poor People who standing on both sides of the Street beg Alms of those that pass by The Pagode which is an indifferent large Building hath a long narrow Entry almost under Ground for it goes down with several Steps which makes it seem to be rather a Way leading into a Cave than a Pagode By reason of the abundance of People that flock thither and the narrowness of the Way there is always a great Crowd At the Entrance hang several Bells which the Pilgrims gingling at their going in make a continual noise with them In the Pagode are several Gioghi or Priests which go stark naked having onely a Cloth about their Privities they wear long Hair which they seldom or never Combe they colour their Foreheads with Saffron and strew Sand upon them but keep the other parts of their Body very clean yet some of them painting themselves with several Colours sprinkle Ashes over the Painting The Descri-of a stately Pagode The chifest and most stately Pagode which the Benjans have in this City was as Mandeslo affirms built by a rich Merchant call'd Santides of the same Sect who dwelt at Amadabad The Court of this Pagode being very spacious is inclos'd with a Wall of Free-stone along which are cover'd Walks and under them many little Chambers in each of which stands the Image of a naked Woman some of white and some of black Marble with their Legs according to the fashion of the Countrey across under them In some of the Chambers are three such Images the middlemost whereof being large is of white Marble and they other two lesser of black In the middle of the foremention'd Court stands a Pagode on each side of whose Entrance are plac'd two great Elephants of black Marble on one of them sits the Image of the Founder of this Structure the Roof whereof as also of some of the other Buildings are round like a Vault The Walls at the Entrance are painted with several Images of Men and Beasts Within you see nothing but three obscure Angles at the further end in every one of which stand three of the foremention'd Images and before the middlemost of them a burning Lamp A Brahman or Priest commonly performs their religious Service after the following manner First he adorns the Images with Flowers and Garlands which those that come thither to their Devotion bring along with them for an Offering No Man or Woman is permitted to approach this holy Place unless barefoot and they are to make their Offerings kneeling before the Rail which incloses the Images The Offerings consist in all manner of sweet-smelling Flowers Oyl to burn in the Lamps and Rice and Salt which they strew on some little Bells that hang amongst several Lamps before the Rail whilst the Priest lays the foremention'd Trifles before the Images with a great Cloth over his Mouth that no unclean thing may come from his Breath upon the Image he mutters many things before it to himself and sometimes going to the Lamps holds his Hands a considerable time over the Flame and rubs them as if he wash'd them with Water and sometimes rubs them over his Face which they affirm serves to purifie them because they say that the Fire cleanses all things Both within and without the City are many pleasant Gardens and Banquetting-houses and in the midst of them Ponds and Wells of clear and sweet Water in which the Inhabitants Bathe themselves in hot Weather By reason of Gardens and Orchards in and about the City it seems to Strangers to be rather a pleasant Grove than a City It hath also very large and populous Suburbs and amongst others one call'd Begamboer Eastward from the City the Benjans have built an Hospital wherein they cure all wounded Birds Beasts and other Animals There are twenty five eminent Villages under the Jurisdiction of Amadabath and under them two thousand nine hundred ninety eight Hamlets which pay Tribute to the great Villages On one side of the City runs a Way which is six Leagues long call'd Bag-Schaban to a great and pleasant Village and being planted on both sides with standing Trees hath many cross Ways all which are as cool and shady as a Wood. A stately Tomb. Near the City is a Tomb erected by King Reer in honor of a Tutor whom he lov'd exceedingly in hopes to make immortal by this stately Structure whose Walls and Floors are all of polish'd Marble There are three Gardens belonging to the same one of which is surrounded with four hundred Pillars of Porphyrie Stones of the Corinthian order Near it is a large Tank or Pond of Water inclos'd with a Stone Wall in which are many Windows which yield a pleasant Prospect on the Water At Sesques not above half an hours walking from thence are the sepulchral Monuments of several Princes of
then consults with the Father and Mother about naming of the Child which as soon as they have agreed upon the Mother in presence of the whole Company gives the Child its Name without any other Ceremony which done the Mother and Father taking the Child follow the Daroo to the Eggaree or Temple where the Priest takes clear Water which he stirs in the Bark of a certain Tree growing near Yesd in Persia call'd Holma on which it is affirm'd the Sun never makes any shadow and at last taking up a handful of the said Water sprinkles the Child therewith and prays to God that he would cleanse the Child from his Fathers and Mothers Uncleanness which said he leaves the Infant with the Parents When the Child is attain'd to the seventh year of its Age and judg'd fit to be receiv'd and made a Member of their Church the Parents carry it to the Temple to be instructed where the Daroo teaches the Youth several Prayers and instructs him in his Religion The Child being perfect herein repeats all the Prayers which he hath learn'd over a Fire with a Cloth ty'd about his Head which covers his Mouth and Nostrils so to prevent the Breath which comes out of his unclean Body from blowing upon and thereby defiling the holy Fire After performance of these Prayers the Daroo gives the Child Water to drink and the Rind of a Pomegranate to chew thereby to cleanse it from its inward uncleanness Then they wash his Body with clean Water and put him on a Shuddero or Cotton Coat which reaches down to his Ancles and also give him a Girdle made of Camels Hair by them call'd Cushee which the Youth must never leave off After all this the Daroo says this Prayer following God grant that you may be a faithful Maintainer all your Life of the Persian Religion of which your Habit is a Efficient Badge and never believe any other Law but that which Zertoost brought with him from Heaven Moreover that you may always remain constant in the worshipping of the Fire neither eat the Meat of others nor drink out of their Cups but undefil'd preserve the Ceremonies and Customs of the Persians This done the Youth passes for a real Persian and one of their Sect. They have five different kinds of Marriage among them which have each their proper Name Their Marriages The first call'd Shausan is a Marriage of the Son of one Man to the Daughter of another during their Minority which the Parents manage among themselves without the knowledge of their Children This sort of Marrying is highly esteem'd amongst them affirming That those who are thus Marry'd shall undoubtedly go directly to Paradise The second sort of Marrying call'd Chockerson is when a Widow Marries a second Husband The third nam'd Codesherahassan is when a Woman makes choice of a Man her self The fourth nam'd Ectsan is when a Youth or Maid dies after having been Betrothed before the consummation of the Marriage for in such Cases they have a Custom to give another Youth or Maid in Marriage to the Deceased because they account Marriage to be a great means to make Men happy in the other World Persons of Quality commonly Marry after this manner because with their Money they purchase such as will undertake such a Marriage as is before mentioned The fifth nam'd Ceterson is when a Father having no Sons but having a Daughter Married who hath Sons takes one of them to be his real Son and gives him in Marriage as his own Child for they esteem a Man most miserable who hath no Children to bestow in Marriage Their Burying Places Their Burying-places are built round a good heighth from the Ground pretty broad and pav'd with Free-stone In the midst of them is a deep Well into which drop the Bones of the Deceased the Bodies both of Men and Women being hung round the Wall in the open Air. These Burying-places are of two sorts and stand some distance from each other the one is appointed for those that have lived piously and honestly and the other for those that have liv'd viciously and wickedly and those that have committed Crimes and were punish'd for them whilst they liv'd When any Person amongst them lies upon his Death-bed they send for a Herbood or Priest who whispers this following Prayer in the dying Person 's Ear viz. O Lord thou hast commanded us not to sin yet nevertheless this Person hath sinned thou hast comanded us to do good yet this Person hath done ill thou hast commanded us to worship thee yet this Person hath neglected it but nevertheless good Lord pardon his Crimes and offences Their Funeral Solemnities As soon as the Breath is departed out of the Body the Priest keeps ten Foot distance from the same and commands the Nicesselars or Bearers to carry it away on an Iron Bier for by virtue of their Law they may not touch any dead Corps with Wood because it is a Material with which they keep in the Fire which they worship Moreover those that accompany the Corps are forbid to speak because the Grave according to their Opinion must be a Place of Rest and Quietness Coming to the place where the Defunct is to be buried the Bearers set down the Corps whilst the Priests who stand at some distance from thence speak the following words When this our Brother liv'd he was conjoin'd of four Elements now he is dead let each Element take his own the Earth the Earth the Water the Water the Air the Air and the Fire the Fire Next they implore Sertau and Asud whose Offices are to wait on Lucifer and some other Daemons that they would prevent all evil Spirits from doing the Deceased any harm when he shall go to cleanse himself by their celestial Fire for the Soul as they believe remains ranging up and down the Earth three days after during which time Jupiter they say would torment the same if it did not flie to the sacred Fire to avoid his punishments After this the Soul being try'd is according to her behaviour either condemn'd to go to Hell or convey'd to Heaven As this Opinion is firmly rooted in them so they forget not to meet every Morning Noon and Evening during the space of three days to implore God to shew Mercy to the Soul of the Deceased and to pardon the Sins which he hath committed in his Life-time After the expiration of the three days when the Soul hath received her sentence then the Relations make a great Feast on the fourth day and so end their Mourning One Twist tells us That they take the Sick from his Bed and laying him on the Ground or a Bed of Sand let him die there and about thirty or forty days after the Burying of the Dead they carry the said Bed of Sand and strew the same on his Grave But Herbert saith That they wrap up their deceas'd Bodies in a perfum'd Cloth and that the Relations which