‘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’ [‎46] (67/508)

The Travels of Fcter Delia Vallc,
■f ■:
1/
o-£>/<7 r,
/ ^
t
7*y J
Xfa
V?.
wm-
m
ans, I find that indeed itcleanfes exquifitly, and makes the
floores and pavements of ho lifts handfome, finooth, and bright.
And if the Cows and Buljs whofe dung they life, eat graft, it
gives a prety green to the pavement; ifftraw, a yellowifti: But
for the moftpart the floores are red, as thofe of l evicc are , and
I know not with what they give them that colour. But thefe and
other Ceremonies which I have not feen my felf, and know onely
by Relation, I willingly pafs oyer. I fliall conclude therefore
with faying that by the things hitherto mention'd, itappears
that in the fubftance of Religion, and what is moft important
all the Races of the Indians agree together, and differ onel v, per
haps, through the neceflity, whichiscaus'dby the diverfityof
humane conditions in certain Rites and Ceremonies,particularly
of eating more or lefs indiftinftly. Wherein the Raeiaputi
Souldiers, with the wonted military licentioufnefs, take moft
liberty, without thinking themfelves prejudie'd as to the degree
of Nobility, Next to them,the meaneft and moft laborious pro-
leluons are more licentious in eating then others, becaufe they
need more fuftenance; fome of which drink Wine too, from
which the others moreftrift, abftainto avoid ebriety; and fo
from all other beverage that inebriates. But thofe of other
Races whole employments admit more reft and a better life
are alfo more fparing and rigorous in the ufe of meats, efpeciallv
the Brachmans, aslfaid, dedicated wholly to Learning and the
Service of Tempies, as the moft noble of all. In teftimonv
u e - i ve r , the pnviledge to wear a certain Enfcn
of Nobihty in their Sect, whereby they are diftinguilht from
iTke^N a fil ! etof three braids, which they put next the flefli
like a Neck-chain, paffmg from the left (houlder under the
i ight arm, and fo round. This fillet hath a myftery, and is ri
ven to all pcrfons of that Race, and to a few of one otheX
a great favour with many fuperftitions Ceremonies, of which I
trcTf t0 T P h ak ' beCaUf ? 1 h Tr n0t g ood informSa
ereot. I here was a long difpute in between the le-
Mllii 0 wa Fa h h 7 5 ^ether this fillet, which the Portugal*
call L w / m was a badge of Religioner onely an Enfisn of piwir -
whether it was to be permitted, or not to InHian rv?!'
InT' ■ V k Were very loth to la y i,: afide. Much hath been fiW*
and with great conteft by both parties and at Imml, ,i, .r*
" id if 6 "'? sfe
Sphahan, and contmu'd there manv davs • K,.;„ l , ^
fame Archbifhop who fcvnnrM . k r j y ' g ^ ent by the
purpofely t72« e with Z 6 ■ fi - dC COntra 7 10 Muits,
which he out of courtefie wr . Itln 8j touching this affair,
fome % ft ^ndfnfavourtTlf ^
W Ihcfe
(or