'Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia, including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of Persepolis, and journey from thence by Shiraz and Shapoor to the sea-shore. Description of Bussorah, Bushire, Bahrein, Ormuz, and Muscat, narrative of an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, with illustrations of the voyage of Nearchus, and passage by the Arabian Sea to Bombay.' [‎377] (408/582)

RELIGION OF THE SUBBEES.
377
This gospel enters at large into the genealogy, birth, and educa
tion, of John the Baptist, with his separate history until the time
of his baptizing Jesus, when the histories and acts of both are
treated of in continuation; but in what particulars their version
accords with, or differs from any of those received among us, I
could not learn ; as, in the first place, the book itself is not easily
to be procured from their priests, and in the next it would require
either a knowledge of their language, or a translation of it by
them into Arabic, to understand it, neither of which was it in
my power to obtain. This gospel is attributed by them to John
the Baptist himself, and it is their sole authority in all matters
of faith and doctrine. They have besides, however, a book of
prayers and precepts, with directions for ceremonials, which they
ascribe to the learned men of their sect, who immediately suc
ceeded their great leader. They admit the divinity of Jesus, as
Christ,vthe Son of God, and conceive that John the Baptist is to
be honoured as his fore-runner, and as the person selected by
God to perform the most holy sacrament of baptism on his child ;
but what are their notions regarding the Trinity I could not
learn. They are distinguished from all other Christians by their
frequent repetition of this sacrament on the same person, who, in
other churches, would receive it but once. It is said, even, that
every individual of their body is baptized annually on some parti
cular occasion ; but whether this is a fixed day for all, or peculiar
festivals chosen by the individuals themselves, does not appear.
This, however, is certain, that on all important changes, or under
takings, or events of their life, baptism is re-administered. The
child at its birth is baptized ; when named it is baptized again;
on completing the age of puberty it is also baptized ; and whether
contracting marriage, becoming the parent of children, under
taking a journey, recovering from sickness, or any other important
event, as well as after death, and before interment, baptism is
re-administered with all the solemnity of the first occasion. The
prayers used at their marriages and funerals are said to be long : the
3c