'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.' [‎340] (363/448)

than to Hell with a multitude. Arnobim of old could fay, Natiomhm cmftis nosfumrn
Chrifliam: Some Chriftiam are found in every Nation. And we find in many chiefly
Maritime Towns of India, that Name of late years has been honoured v and that in Me-
liapore, Narfinga, Coolam, Cucnrran, Cwrigan, Biyur, Tanor, Battacala, Onor^ Cramanor
Goa and other Places, Chriftianity is own'd ; yea, in many of tht Indian Ifles fome are
found. And one reafon js, for that among Mahometans liberty of Confcience is allow 'd •
agreeable to an Awara in the Alcoran, which declares That none are to be diffwaded
from the Religion they fuckt from their cradle : which gains Chrifliam peaceful Habita
tions., and inclines them to live without difturbing the publick.
Now thefe Indian Chriftians have fundry Ceremonies and Forms of long time pradifed
araongft themfelves, differing from thofe the Tapacy ufe, or the Reformed Churches of
Europe. Their Churches are low and poorly furnilhed ^ yet neat they are and fweetly
kept •, matted, and without painted Images, which the Greeks Churches abound with.
They affemble cheerfully, and at their entring ihut their eyes, the better to contemplate
the Exercife they come about, with their own unworthinefs: kneeling they look towards
the Altar, near which the Prieft is feated: Him they falute with humble reverence • who
returns his Bleffing by the up-lifting of his hands and eyes: and at a fet hour begins Prayers
feldom exceeding two hours in the whole Exercife. Firft, a brief confeffion is made, not
unlike that in our Liturgie, and aflent too in an unanim Amen. After that, follows an Ex-
pofition of fome part pf Scripture": during which their attention, looks, and filence is
commendable. They fmg a Hymn, and at parting out of the Church re-falute the Mi-
nifter •, who ceafes not to elevate his hands till all the People be departed. At home
they ufually read a Chapter in either Teftament, both which they fuppofe they have in
corrupt after the Originals, tranflated for them by Saint Thomas the Patron of the Orient:
The Chaldee alfo is not unknown, but few fave the Clergy underftand what is writ in any
other than their Mother-tongue: for their Schools are few, and onely teaches them to
ready being without Academies or Inftruders in Philofophy or other like learning
Every firft Sunday in the month the Prieft reads a Homily, writ ( as they fay ) by the A'
poftle or fome of his Difciples. They baptize commonly at the fortieth day, if the Pa
rent defire it not fooner : they fign the fore-head with the Crofs, ^and then wafh all over
with Water. The Lord's Supper they adminifter in both kinds, and Communicants
receive it kneeling: they obferve two dayes preparation, during which they eat no
nem, revel not, nor accompany with Women 5 and in the Church, if need be, make
their Confeffion. The Clergy marry but once, the Laity twice, Widdows if they marry
before the year be expired are ill reported of. None lave in cafe of adultery have li
cence to divorce. In ficknefs the Prieft is ufually fentfor, both to pray and give the
Eucharifl, if defired: Which done, they take a long farewel of Wife, Children and 0-
thersand fo rid themfelves of worldly diftradlions, which too oft hinder that laft great
work *, fo as by a contemplation of the joyes of Heaven they ftrive to mitigate the grim
afped of approaching death. Being dead the furvivors rather joy than mourn •, and having
iirit warned the Corps they afterwards wrap it in clean linnen. Friends accompany him
1 5? raV i e> an ^ P^ ace ^e Body with the head Weft, either in refpedt of Jerusalem or
the old local place of Paradife: Five dayes after they vifit the Family. Feaft and fall: as
weaccuitome: their Lent begins in the Spring, and is oWerved forty dayes. Their
y ear is the Soli-genian. Our three chief Feftivals they celebrate ; the firft of July they
u- 0 r C0 ? m fP^ 0ra ^ e ^ ie Martyrdom of Saint Thomas. They have many Frotomifts, the
cnier or which ufed to refide at a Houfe built upon a Mountain nine miles from Cranga-
ftor; but fince the Vortugals have planted India ftiave their heads. Laicks pay their De-
ctm<e, aned: Juftice, profefs Truth, pradlile humility, and believe no Purgatory,
May 7. we had eight degrees ^ e're Sun-fet we were clofe by the high Mountain called
. irin 'J^hn i i. e. the Mount of John, a Cambrian word *, but when, or by whom impofed,
ls palt my finding. Next day we had 7 degrees 30 minutes, variation 14 degrees: than
wnich place that famous Promontory of Eafl-lndia called Cape Comryn (Tamm by Mela)
extends no further South towards the Equator. The next we failed by the Maldyua,
nies memorized by Tyrard de Laval, who reports that the King ftiles himfelf Emperour
or thirteen Provinces and twelve thoufand Iflands, Jerome de SanBo Stephana makes them
eight tnouland: the moft and leaft any King in the World (the Spaniard excepted) is owner
. Several or them little other than Rocks and Mountains: according to the Poet, In-
MMenfurgHntfcopulimontefrj. per al turn. Near thefe are the Ifles oflCandu, Nicuhar and
'* m rer °) in view of Zeyloon and Sumatra : all of them abound with Date-trees or Palms j
v / 0 ° ^kk^ted that both Spiritual and Temporal Victors have it in their Triumphs.
a ma, rtynbns efifuavu ad cibum, Ambrofia ad requiem, honorabilis ad Triumphum j Arbor
femper