‘The travels of Sig. Pietro della Valle, a noble Roman, into East-India and Arabia Deserta. In which, the several countries, together with the customs, manners, traffique, and rites both religious and civil, of those Oriental princes and nations, are faithfully described: In familiar letters to his friend Signior Mario Schipano. Whereunto is added a relation of Sir Thomas Roe’s voyage into the East-Indies’ [‎43] (64/508)

Into the EAST-INDIES.
43
fird by his companion's cup ^ there's a way found out whereby
any perfon may drink in that, or any other whatever, without
fcrupie or danger of any either adttve or paffive contamination.
This is done5 by drinking in fuch manner that the veflfel touches
not the lips or mouth of him who drinks ^ for it is held up on
high with the hand over the mouth 5 and he that lifts it up higheft,
and holds it fartheft from his mouth, fliewshimfelf moft man
nerly 5 and thus powring the liquor out of the cup into the
mouth 5 they drink round while there is any left, or fo long as
they pleafei So accuftom d are the Indians to drink in this man
ner, that they pradife it almoft continually with their own yef-
fels for delight ^ without theneceffityof (hunning communica
tion with others 5 and they are fo dextrous at it, that I remem
ber to have feen one of them take with both hands a veffel as
big as a bafin, and lifting it up above'a fpan higher then his
mouth, powre a great torrent of water into his throat and drink
it all off. Having been frequently preferit at fuch occafions,
that where ever I came the Indians might not be fhie of reaching
me a cup of water, I purpofely (et my (elf to learn this manner
of drinking, which I call drinkjng in the Air , and at length
havelearn'd it 5 not with cups as big as bafins, like his abovefaid i
but with a handibme cruze, like thole we u(e, or with a little
bottle or drinking glals made on purpofe, I do it very well:
Sometimes in converfation we drink healths all* Indiana , after
this faihion, with confent that all do reafon in the fame manner 3
and he that cannot do it right, either wets himlelf well, or falls
a coughing andyexing, which gives occafion of laughter. But
to return to the opinions of the Indians 5 As for good works
and fins, they all agree with the Doftrine of Morality, and
the univerfal conlent of Mankind, that there are differences of
Virtue and Vice in all the world. They hold not onely Adul
tery, but even fimple Fornication a great fin 5 nor do they ae-
countMt lawful, as the Mahometans do, to have commerce
with femal tlaves, or with others befides their own Wives. Yea,
flaves of either Sex they no-wife admit,but hold it a fin 5 making
ule of"free perfons for their fervice, and paying them wages, as
we do in Europe :■ Which likewife was their ancient cuftom, as
appears by Strabo, who cites JMegafthenes and other Authors
of thofe times for it. They deteft Sodomy above meafure, and
abhor the Mahometans whom they obferve addided to it. They
take but one Wife, and never divorce her till death, unlels for
the caufe of Adultery. Indeed fome, either by reafbn of the
remotenefi of their Wives, or out of a defire to have Children.,
in cafe the firft Wife be barren 5 or becaule they are rich and
potent, and are minded to do what none can forbid them, fbme~
times take more Wives > but 'tis not counted well ^onc, unlefs
they be Princes, who always in all Nations are priviledged in
many things. When the Wife dyes, they marry another if they
pleafe 5 but if the Hulband dye, the Woman never cnarnes
G 2 numji