‘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’ [‎430] (451/508)

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I remember that my Lord Ambaffadour had a Servant of that
Nation, who defired leave to be abfent one day 3 and being
aiked why, he told usj that he was then to marry a Wife 3
though he had three living then, a Man would think enough
for his means but five (hillings a Moon 3 the ufual pay of Ser
vants there (as before I obferved) to maintain himfelf, and all
the reft of his family.
Often have 1 heard this Queftionput, How thefe Mahome
tans can do with fo many Wives 5 fome of which they keep
pent up in little Cottages, or Tents? And in other places and
parts oi the World, where mens dwellings are very large and
Ipacious, there is fcarce room enough to be found for one Wife
in a great Houfe. . •
The Mahometans, who have moft Wives, and Women, are
mod: jealous ^ and their jealoufie fuch, as that they will not fuf-
fer the Brothers, or Fathers of their Wives, to come to them, or
to have any fpeech with them, except it be in their prefence.
And a continued cuftom by this reftraint hath made it odious for
fuch Women,as have the reputation ofhonef^tobe feenat any
time by any Man, befides their own Hufbands, or by thole be
fore named, and by them but very feldom. But if they diflionour
their Hufbands beds, or being unmarryed are found incontinent
and filthy, profeffing Chaftity 5 rather than they (hall want the
levereft punidiment, their own Brothers hands will befirfta-
gainft them to take away their lives, and for (b doing, (hall be
commended, but not queftioned,
fhe Women there ofthe greater quality,have Eunuchs inftead
of men to wait upon them, who in their minority are deprived
of all that might provoke jealoufie.
Here is a free toleration for Harlots, who are lifted and en
rolled (as they fay J before they can have liberty to keep fuch
an open houfe. Which Creatures in general there, and fo all
tne World over whofoever they be, imbrace thofe they pretend
to love, asMonkies and Apes do their little ones j for they kill
them with kindnefs. Thofe bafe Proft^utes are as little alham'd to
entertain, as others are openly to frequent their houfes.
Other Creatures (as they fay) are there kept for bafe, and
abominable ends 5 many of thofe Nations being deeply engaged
in thofefins ofthe Gentiles ^ Rom. 1, in doing things which fliould
not be named, and make no fcruple atall for their fb doing, ut
honejie peccare videantnr, ( as La&antius fpe'aks) as if they might
(in honeftly.
Some of the finer fort of thofe bafe Strumpets before named,
at certain Times appear in the prefence of the MogoLhcfaxe. whom
they fing their wanton Songs, playing on their Timbrels.
1 he Marriages of all the Mahometans are folemnized with
fome Pomp > for after the Moolaa hath joyned their Hands, and
performed other Ceremonies, andbeftowed on the parties fome
words of Benediction, (which is done in the Evening)^ imme
diately