'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎163] (490/1024)

Book III* Travel? in India.
1
2. \ " ^ 1
♦ • ^ V , i
CHAP. IV.
t I ; N , % < .
Of the Kings and Idolatrous Princes of Ana.
T H E chiefdl ofthe Idolatroas Kings of Afia^vQ the King of Aracanjhe King
of the King of Siam^ the King of Cochinchina^ and the King of Tm-
qian. A$ for the King of China 7 we know that he was an Idolater before the
Tartars invaded his Dominions. But lince that, we know not what to report
of certainty, in regard that the Tartars who are now Mailers of the Country,
are neither Idolaters nor Mahomet am jout ratherWh together. In the Iflands,
the King of Japn^ the King oiCeylan^ and fome petty Kings of the Molucca
Illandsare Idolaters } as are all the Rajas as well in the Empire of the Great
Mognl^&s in the neighbouring Kingdoms of Pifayour 2Xi^.Golcohda, In a word,
all the meaner fort of people, as well in the Territories of the Great Mogul]
Kings of Golconda and Pifapour^ as in the Hies of Achan, Java^ and Mac afar 7
though their Kings are Mahumetans, are all themfelves Idolaters.
Some fifty years ago, one of the Kings of Ceylan became a ChriHian, and
was baptiz’d by the name of John, being call’d before the Emperor Priapen-
der. ;But as foon as he had embrac’d the Chrillian Faith,the Princes and Priells
of the Country fet up another King in his room. He endeavour’d all he could
to bring his people to follow his example } to which purpofe he affign’d to
the Father Jefuits, twelve large Villages about Colombo, for the - bringing up
the youth of tlie Country in their Colledges} to the end that they being well
.inftru&ed,might inltrud others. #or the King made it plain to the Jefuitsfhzt it
was impolfible for them fo well to underltand the, Language of the Country, as
to be able to preach to the Natives. Befides, that they found the ingenuities
of the Youth of Ceylan fo quick and apprehenfive, that they learnt more La
tin, Philofophy, and other Sciences in fix months, than the Europeans learnt in
a year} and that they put fuch fubtle Queftions to their Mailers, as were be
yond imagination.
Some years after the King had profefs’d Chriftianity, a witty man of the
liland of Ceylan, and a good natural Philofopher, whofe name was Alegamme,
Motiar, or the Mailer of the Philofophers, after he had convers’d with the
Jefuits and other Religious perfons, was infpir’d to turn Chrillian. Thereupon
he went to the Jefuits, and told them, that he defir’d to be a Chrillian } but
withall he was very earnelt to know what Jefus Ghrilt had done, and left in
writing. They gave him the new Tellament, which he fet himfelf to read with
that heed and Itudy, that in lefs than fix months there was hardly a paflage
which he could not repeat. After that he again teftifi’d to the Jefuits and o-
ther Religious perfons, that he had a great defire to turn Chrillian, in regard
he found their Religion to be fuch as Jefus Chrilt had taught y but only he won
der d that they themfelves did not follow his example. For that he could ne
ver find by his reading, that Jefus ChriR ever took any money of any body;
but that they took all they could get, and never baptiz’d nor buri’d unlels
they were well paid. But though he Ilarted the Queltion, he was baptiz’d, and
■afterwards became a fedulous converter of others.