‘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’ [‎132] (153/508)

1^2
The Travels of Peter Delia Vallc,
and handfome. A Market was kept this dayin^^r, as 'tis
thecuftom every Sunday, and at Ik^eri every Fry day. There
was9 great concourfeof people, but nothing to fell befidesne-
ceflaries for food and clothing, after their manner. The way
between l%cr\ and Sagher is very handfome, plain, broad, al-
rjioft totally dired, here and there befet with great and thick
Trees which make a (hadow and a delightful verdure. As we
return'd home at night, we met a Woman in the City of Ik^rt^
who, her Hufband being deadjWas refolv 'd to burn her felf, as 'tis
the cuftom with many Indian Women. She rod on Horfe-back
about the City with open face, holding a Looking-glafre
moriehand, and a Lemon in the other, I know not for what
purpofe > and beholding hec felf in the Glais 9 with a lamentable
z tone Sufficiently pittiful to hear, went along I know not whither
///■ ssf* " fpeaking or finging certain words, which I underftood not > but
, they told me , they were a kind of Farewell to the World and
* r v / her (elf ^ and indeed, being utter'd with that paffionatenefs
.v ' t h e Cafe requir'd and might produce, they mov 'd pity ia
^ ^ ^ 6^1 all that heard them, even in us who underftood not the
language. She was fbllow'd by many otheir Women and Men on
y , / foot, who, perhaps, were her Relations^ they carry'd a great
Umbrella over her, as all Perfons of quality in India are wont
to have, thereby to keep off the Sun, whofe heat is hurtful and
' ' troublefome. Before her, certain Drums were founded, whofe
/**'</ noife (he never ceas'd to accompany with her fad Ditties or
V / ^ J l ' Songs j yet with a calm and conftant Countenance, without
/y tears^, evidencing more grief for her Hufband 's death then her
own, and more defire to go to him in the other world thanre-
g ret for het own departure out of this: A Cuftom, indeed,
f , cruel and barbarous, but withall, of great generofity and virtua
, in Women, and therefore worthy of no fmall praife. They
// faid, (he was to pals in this manner about the City, I know not
how many dayes, at the end of which (he was to go out of the
City and be burnt, with more company and folemnity. If I can
know when it will be, I will not fail to go to fee her, and by my
prefence honor her Funeral, with that compaffionate aSefti-
on which fo great Conjugal Fidelity and Love feemstometo
deferve.
XXI. November the thirteenth, I took the Altitude of the Sun at
ikferp, and found it 51. gr. 4c/. The Sun was now in the 2C tis
y 7 degree of tf^/>/>,and declin'd Southwards 17^.45', 4(y'. which
J/ajS. taken from 91. gr. 4c/. leave 12. 20 // , The former time,
jbr . y// . I found Ikfart to be in 1 ^.gr.^o^ i'' 5 but now I found it to be in
fa As/?? - 13. gr. 54/, qo ^. between wtiich there is onely the difierence of
f / 2 9 3 43 // p which is a finall matter: And- therefore I account my
'ty ^obfervation rights for the fmall variation between the two times
// / ^ ^ ] s no great matter, in regard the declination of the Sun not be-
^ ^ ^ ing punctually known,may cauie the difference. At night, walk-
j/ /OJA ^ t ^ e ^ ^ aw t ^ e Pi azza of great Temple (which
. ' I under-