'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎46] (67/448)

'Bannyans. EaH-India.
— T
Polygamy here is odious, in which refped they ceafe not to vilifie the Mahometans
as people of an impure foul. In this they parallel the Antick Romans, who (as T wit us,
Marcellin, and Tertullian tell us^ fo hated Digamy fboth in enjoying two Wives at one
time and being twice married^) as no Holocauft was ever offered, no holy fire lookt
unto by liich, nor fuch as iflued from Inch Parents. Their Funerals are of the old
ftamp (recorded by Curtm) facring the Corps to Afhes in a holy fire, compounded
of all forts of coftly woods and Aromatick fpices: The Wife alfo (in expectation to
enjoy her Husband amongft incomparable pleafuresj invelops her dainty body with the
mercilefs flames, for which affedion fhe obtains a living memory. Their Priefts called
JSramyni or Brachmani are fuch as in old times were named Gymno-fophi, faith Porphyrias
the great Platonift in his 4. lib. de ahfii mn , ah efu car mum, and Tertullian adverfm gentesy
Me que enim Brachmanm aut Indorum Gymnofophijia fumus JtlukoUy &c, a name given them
from their going naked, for yv^vh eft Nudm. Now if by defcent he continued conftant
to his contemplation, he then attained to the degree or title of aBrachman: if he fought
this degree by eledion, he was feven years (Tays Bardefanes of Babylon) ftiled Calanns
and Samamm, and after by that other attribute Bracman *, who with the Stoicks held
that God is Anima mundi^ albeit Flato and Socrates could have taught them that Deus
non folum eft mens mundi, but that Deus univerfa complet *, and Virgil, that Deum ire per om-
nes Terrafque traBufque marls coelumque profundum. Of all fort or Philofbphers they were
held the moft learned and contemplative. Tertullian calls them gloria animaUa ; Apol-
lonius fuppofes they were and were not earthly; their thoughts being lb tranfcen-
dent, as if they were ravifht by the fweetnefs of that harmony the rolling Orbs in an
exad diapazan fend*forth by their forced Motion. Their imagination flew beyond Nature,
believing that this Fabrick of the inferior world was created of nothing, made fpherical,
yet