'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.' [‎165] (492/1024)

Book II. Travels in India.
an Ape fpeak to her in her Husbands behalf* At firft Ihe would not give any
credit to fuch an Ambaflador } but the Ape, to Ihew that his Gommiffion was
authentick, prefents her with a Ring which her Husband had giv’n her, and
that fhe had left behind her among her Furniture. She could hardly however
believe fo great a Miracle, as that Ram her Husband Ihould make a Beaft fpeak,
to bring her the news of his health, and to teftifie as he did the marks of his
affection. But the Ape Harman wrought Miracles himfelf,for being taken for
a Spy by fome Rhevans Servants, who therefore would have burnt him, he
tnadeufe of the fire which they had prepar’d to burn him, to fet Rhevans Pa
lace on fire, which he almolt confum’d to the ground, with all the tatters and
rags which were ty’d to his tail and his body. When the Ape had thus done,
the better to efcape out of Rhevans hands, he took the fame way he came,
and repairing the Sea again at one jump, he came and gave Ram an account
of his adventures ^ and told him in what a forrowful condition he had found
Sita, who did nothing but mourn by reafon of her abfenfce from her Husband.
Rm touch’d with his Wives affe&ion, refolv’d to deliver her out of Rhevans
hands, whatever it coll him^ whereupon he rais’d Forces, and being guided
by the Ape, at length he came to Rhevans Palace, thatftill fmoak’d, the fire
had been fo great} and by reafon that Rhevans Servants were difpers’d, Ram
had an eafie opportunity to fee his belov’d Ska again, whom Rhevan aban
don’d wholly to him, flying for fear to the Mountains. Ram and Ska were
infinitely overjoy’d at their coming together again, and return’d very great
Honours to Harman^ who had done him fo great fervice.
As for Rhevan, he fpent all the reft of his days like a poor Faquir y feeing
his Country ruin’d by Ram’s Troops, who was refolv’d to be reveng’d for the
injury which he had receiv’d } and from this Rhevan it was, from whence that
infinite multitude of Faquirs, that fwarm all over India, firft took their Ori
ginal.
CHAP. VI.
Cf the Faquirs, or poor Volunteers among the Indians, and of
their Pemances*
T H E Original of the Faquirs, as I faid before, came from that Rhevan,
whom difpoii’d of his Kingdom ; at which he conceiv’d fuch ^it un-
fpeakable forrow, that he refolv’d to lead a Vagabond life, and to wander about
the world, poor, ftript of all, and in a manner quite naked. He found enough
to follow him in a courfe of life that gives them fo much liberty^ For being
worfhip’d as Saints, they have in their hands all opportunities of doing evil.
Thefe Faquirs wander generally in Troops, every one ©f which has a Supe
rior. And in regard they are quite naked, Winter and Summer lying upon the
hard ground, when it is cold, the young Faquirs, and others that are moft de
vout, go in the afternoon to feek for the dungs of Cows and other Creatures,
°f which they make their fires. They rarely burn Wood, for fear of killing
any living Animal which is wont to breed in it and therefore the Wood where
with they burn their dead, is only fuch as has floated long in the Water, which
never breeds in any fort of living Creature. The young having got toge
ther a good quantity of dung, mix’d with dry turf, make feveral fires, accor
ding to the bignefs of the Company; round about every one of which the Fa~
quirs feat themfelves. When they grow fleepy, they lay themfelves upon the
ground, fpreading the Afhes abroad which ferve them for a Mattrefs} without
any other Canopy than that of Heaven.
As for the Faquirs that do Pennance, when they are laid down in the fame
pofture as you fee them in the day time, they kindle a good fire on each fide
them, for otherwife they would not be able to to endure the cold. The rich
Idola*