‘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’ [‎443] (464/508)

A Voyage to E A S T-IN D I A, &c. 443
that he^ who mllnot^or^ jhould note. TheJluggard defireth and
hath nothing (faith Solomon) becaufe he doth nothing but defire^
and therefore hisdefires do him nogoodj becaufe his hands re-
fnfe to labour. That body therefore well deferves to pine and
ftarve without pity 5 when two able Hands cannot feed one
Mouth.
mouui.
But further, for thofe Perfees 5 they ufe their liberty in meats
and drinks., to take of them what they pleafe 5 but becaufe
they would not give offence, either to the Mahometans, or Ba
nians, or other Hindoos amongft whom they livej, they abftain
from eating Beef, or Swines flefh.
It is their ufual manner to eat alone, as for every one of them
to drink in his own Cup 5 and this is a means (as they think) to
keep themfelves more pure, for if they (hould eat with others,
they are afraid that they might participate of fome uncleannefs
by them,
Alas poor Creatures, that do not at all underlrand them-
felves, and their moft miferable condition: for to them that ar$
defiled, and unbelieving is nothing pure.
Yet I obferved before, the Mahometans and Gentiles there
are very ftrid: in this particular 5 fo that they will not eat with
any mixt company, and many of the Gentiles not eat withone
another. And this hath been an ancient cuftom among Hea-
thens. It isfaid, Gen. 43. 32. that the Egyptians might not eat
bread with the Hebrews, for that was an abomination to the
^For thofe Perfees ^ further they believe that there is but one
God, who made all things, and hath a Soveraign power over all.
Thev talk much of Lucifer, and of other evil ipints, but they
fay, that thofe and all Devils befides are kept (o under, and in
aw by two good Angels, that have power oyer them, as that
they cannot hurt or do the leaft mifchief, without -their leave,
andlicenie. , .
As, many of the Hindoos afcribe to much unto water (as be
fore) fo thefe to fire: and the reafon of it, is this, becaufe they
have had this tradition from many ages and generations P 5
that their great Law-giver, whom they ca r ^ Wa ®
up into Heaven, and there had fire delivered unto him, vyhi
he brought down thence; and he ever after commandcdlus fol
lowers to worlhip it and fo they do , and turther^thcy loveanj
thing that refembles fire, as the Sun and Moon ' an J^ refor J
when they pray in the day time they look towards Sun, an
fo towards the Moon in their n .ght -devotions, ^from^ato
over -high cfteem they have of fire, they keep fire . s contmuauy
bumins" in their Egearees, or Temples in Lamps icd with ) ,
which are always attended by their PnL r fts 1'"tSmcm from
many of thefe which have burned without extmgmlhment trem
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3 j L U 2