'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.' [‎327] (350/448)

creations to be imagined. This annual Feaft feems to be continued from the cuftom of
thofe memorable ones which in old times were celebrated in Perfia, fuch time as the Kings
thereof had the Supreme Monarchy of the World *, as we read in the Book ofHefter and
elfewhere: for, at the keeping of this Feaft we beheld an infinite number of Tents pit
ched, with fuch a flux of Men, Women, Boyes and Girls; with Arms, Mufick, Songs,
and Dances, as would make one think that either the Games of Olym^m were revived) or
Bacchus his Orgyes.
6. Command. Reverence thy Parent.
Which how they perform, many Tragick ftories daily inform.
7. Command. Curfed be the flayer.
So well pradlifed in Perpa^ that what by rigour of the Laws, and what from this, one
may travel in any place at any time without danger: and although they be generally
Martialifts and affed much Wine, yet I fcarce ever faw any quarreller or homicide a-
mongft them. But to inlarge their Territories and propagace their Faith, think it ne-
verthelefs a meritorious ad to kill and flay without mixture of mercy : And, Iniqua efi
ifia ReligiO) qua verberibm Fidem exigity laith Greg. Naz.* I. 2. Bpft. 52.
8. Command. Do fo to Others as thou muldefl Others Jhould do to Thee.
From whence they are humane and courteous; but that bribery hath lately crept a-
mongft them, is eafily difcerned by fuch as have recourfe to them for Juftice.
The Alcoran then being a mifcellany treats further in the 3 3, How that Dagial or Shy-
tan, i. e. the Devil lhall at length be faved by Mahomet's means. And in the 72 Azoara,
That Elgehenny or the infernal Ghofts fhall after I know not how many Years be freed.
How far Sergim in this made ufe of Origen, I know not. The 85 Awara treats of the
Zodiac^ the 91, 92, 93, of the Moon, Night, Morn^ the 113, of the Firmament-, but
is Philofophy of fuch courfenefs, that I may well fay Difcptm potius qmm Philofophum.- for
how can it well be otherwife, fince in his feventeenth Azoara he confefles he could nei
ther read nor write, but hath this/^/w, that all his learning was fupernatural? In one
Chapter he is bold to fay. That Solomon was a great Magician, and that he learned it
from Marat and Am two bad Angels: With more reafon we may fay, That Mahomet was
skilled in that infernal wifdom, if half of thofe miracles be true he records of himfelf: One
is this: Being one time compalfed with a great aflembly of Arabians he pointed at the
Moon, (he oft courted) with his thumb and long finger; it feems it knew his mind ^ for
the Moon in obeifance immediately clove afunder, and in two pieces fell upon the Hill
of Mecca upoii which Mahomet at that time ftood with a piece of his linley-wolfey coat
he patched and made it whole again *, which after it had alfo (lay the Per fans) embraced
Mortis-Ally in way of complement, it re-afcended, and from that day became the Badge
or Coat-armour of Bofarmen. In another. He allures his profelytes, That Mecca, Me
dina and Jemfalem be holy Cities, built by Adam in Paradife,' but framed in Heaven:
and thence it is that Jerttfalem is honoured by Turks as well as Chriflians. Four Cities
fprung out of Hell at the Birth of Mahomet (at which time all Idols fell, Lucifer was
thrown into Hell, fo deep into that abyfs, as he was fome years e're he could get up>
again*,) the names of thole Towns are (aspleafes Mahomet to fay') time din in Caldea,
Antioch in Syria, V4flat in cdZgypt, and Eh-beram in Armenia: places that have this black
vizard put upon them, probably for that they reiifted the progrels of his Alcoran*
In the 47 Awara, he records his pilgrimage or afcent into Heaven; where he had
a rare objed, and thence brought a defeription of the feveral Spheres, Heavens, Hells,
and Paradife: as alfo of Angels and Saints ? Judgement, the Reiurredion, joy and pain, &c.
of which I Ihall afford you a compendium out of their ov^n Authors. One eve ( as Ma
homet was fporting privately in his Chamber at Mecca with Ayfce his young Wife) Gabriel
(Seraphiel the Per fans call him, the fame fay they that foftered Mahomet and Ally three
years, fuch a Genius peradventure as haunted Brum j in a flafh of fire entring their Cham
ber, thus^fainted Mahomet: Hail thou, beloved Man 1 I come to fetch thee*, the God
whom thou fo zealoufly woxftiippeft delires to fee thee at his own habitation. Mahomet
going to mount upon the Angel's wings ( of which he had feventy pair) being hindred,
demands what ,way he fhould take to afcend ? Thereupon the Angel Ihews him an Afs,
Albarack by name, and bids him mount. Mahomet elfaying to get up, could not, till he
had pray'd for him. From Meccate polled as fwift as thought, for Albarac^t four fteps
brought