'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.' [‎51] (72/448)

"Bannyans Religion.EaftAndia.
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dence) from that memorable Famine mentioned in Genefis. In Wars the Cutteries or
Radieas only call upon Bemohem ; the rich upon Mycajfer the poor upon Syer, the la
bourers upon Gunner \ the married upon Hurmounts &c 4 Moreover, they afFed Pilgri
mages to Rivers, efpecially Gonga as they call Ganges which is more venerable than any
other, in that (as they fay) Bremm frequented it, and that it has (at Siha, where it
fprings out of a Rock) a Head in form of a Cow ( which they little lefs than worfhip,
not only in refped of her fruitfulnefs but in imitation (it may be) of the ^£ayptian Apis
a py'd Ox-,) Idolatry fo notorious, that it feems ftrange, what Eufehm in his 6. lib. of
Evang .prap.cap. 9. affirms, That the by their Laws prohibit Murder, Adultery, and
adoration of Idols *, That the Brachmans eat not any thing animate, drink no ftrong li
quor, are fr^e from paffion, imploy their time in the whole fervice. of the great God^
avoiding the adoration of Idols: Albeit there are Indians in the fame Region, who de
file themfelves with idolatry, and fuch vices as moft Nations puniih: Yda, the Perfians by
a Law did allow of inceftuous Marriages •, which was fo loathfome to the neighbour Na
tions as they branded them with the Name ofrMagnfees, than which a more odious Name
could not be given any. But how much thefe places are now altered from thofe Cuftoms
will appear by the obfervation we fhall make in travelling amongft thofe Nations. To
return: Thefe Bannyans walh oft, and thereby fuppofe themfelves purified from fin (and
dirt j) in requital enriching her Womb with Gold and Jewels, hoping to thrive the*
better; efpecially, when they are fick, thirfting to have their mouths moiftned with a
drop of that holy water *, which is no lefs valuable than if it immediately flowed out of
Paradife.
In Baptifm the Priefts Children and Merchants (that isto fay Bramins and Bannyans)
anoint with Oyl, and cleanfe with Water: The prophaner fort as they call Men of War
and Manufadures have only Water with the point of a Pen oppofed to their Forehead,
as wifhing that God would write good things there *, to which the company fay Amen,
Their Marriages are fometimes at feven years old, but cohabit not till ten; if any dye
unmarried, they conclude him unhappy fo that oft-times they marry them when dead,
afore they be buried. An opinion probably borrowed from the Hebrews of old, whofe
Rabbins, from that Precept to Adam mentioned in 1. Gen. 28. Crefcite & mdtiplicamim &
replete t err am, make this inference or comment upon the Text, Qni matrimonium non con-
trah/mtj partem non habent in iecdofuturo \ the unmarried have no part or portion in the
World to comeadding withal, Homoy qui non habet Uxorem, Homo non efi: a polition
the Bramin makes ufe of, to juitifie their Marriage Cuftome. The Marriage-ceremonies
are not many nor friv olous; the Boy rides about the Town attended with luch little ones
as can ride, robed with Jewels, Scarfs, &c. one day, the Bride the next with a like
train of Virgins no lefs richly attired; The Bride and Bridegroom are known and di-
ftinguifhed from the reft by their Coronets, the Ceremonies are celebrated by Kettle-
arums, Trumpets, Pageants and the like. The Bride has no Money Portion, for they
hold it contemptible ; only fome Jewels and Dinaes of Gold, fuch as they that day are
attired with j (I dare not fay, thofe '£JV*V or Marriage-gifts mentioned by Homer. g.
mad. Suidas and others.) The Wedding is thus: A Fire is interpofed, intimating the
purity and heat of their affections, a lilken ftring circles both their bodies as the Hiero-
glyphick of Wedlock; then a Linen Cloath is put betwixt them, in token that till then
they were unknown to one another in nakednefs. This done, the Bramin -blelfes them,
prays thatihe may prove as gentle and fruitful as a Cow , the Cloth is torn away^ the
ftring untied, and then they are one anothers ever after. Thefe never marry out of their
own Cafts *, Bramins marry the Daughters of Bramins ; Cuttery's the Daughters of Cut-
^fs j Shuddery's, Shudderfs and Wyfes not only fo, but alfo compere in their own
Trades, as Taylors, the Daughters of Taylors •, Barbers, Barbers Daughtersi d"c. And,
contrary to the cuftome of Mahometans y their Wives live not under much fubjedion.
In ficknefs they call upon Marrawn (an Epithete of God) exprefling mercy: If they
perceive he is going the way of all flelh, then they open his hand and moiften it with
holy water, water of Ganges. When dead, they wafh the Carcafs and carry it lilently
to the water-fide, where they utter two or three words to that Element, then burn his
body in fweet Wood or Spices which as earth mixes with the Corps, and throwing the
allies into the River think they have given every Element his peculiar due, andfo depart
well fatisfied. The Prieft prefents his Son the Roll of hisdeceafed Fore-Fathers, and
bids him fulfil the Ceremonial Law of deploring for ten days, neither uling his Wife,
laughing, eating Opium nor Betele-, putting on no clean Cloaths nor Oyl on's head, but
that day Month yearly ever after make a Feaft, and pay a complemental vifit to that
River which drunk his Fathers Afhes. Ofutimes the Wife (to exprefsher love) incine-
* H 2 rates.
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