'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.' [‎167] (496/1024)

Travels in India.
Book III.
heceflities they have other Faquirs in their company always ready to affiil
^Nmb. 9, is the poltiire of another Penitent, who every day for feveral iiours
Hands upon one foot, holding a chafing-dilh in his hand, into which he pours In-
cenfe as an Offering to his God, fixing his eyes all the while upon the Sun.
Num. 10 and n, are the figures of two other Penitents fitting with their
hands rais’d above their heads in the air.
jSfmb. 12, is the pofture wherein the Penitents deep, without ever re fling
their arms j which is certainly one of the greatefl torments the body of man can
fuffer. . ' ; .
Nmb. 13, is the poflure of a Penitent, whofe arms, through weaknefs^
hang flagging down upon his fhoulders, being dry’d up for want of nourifli-
ment.
There are an infinite number of other Penitents; fome who in a pofture quite
contrary to the motion and frame of nature,keep their eys always turn’d toward
the Siin. Others who fix their eyes perpetually upon the ground,never fo much
as fpeaking one word,or looking any perfon in the face. And indeed there is fuch
an infinte variety of them, that would render the farther difeourfe of them more
tedious
True it is, that I have hid thofe parts which modefly will not fuffer to be ex*
'pos’d to view. But they both in City and Countrey go all as naked as they came
out of their Mothers wombs 3 and though the Woman approach them to take
them by the fingers-ends,and to kifs thofe parts which modefly forbids to name}
yet fhall you not obferve in them any motion of fenfuality} rather quite contrary,
feeing them never to look upon any perfon,but rowling their eyesinaraofl fright
ful manner, you would belive them in an extafie.
C H A P. VII.
Of the Idolaters belief touching the eft ate of the Soul after death,
’Tl S an Article of the Idolaters Faith, that the Souls of Men departing out of
^ the body, are prefented to God ^ who according to the lives which they
lead, orders them another body to inhabit. So that one and the fame perfon is
born feveral times into the World. And that as for the Souls of wicked and vi
cious perfons, God difpofes them into the bodies of contemptable Bealls, fuch as
Ailes, Dogs, Cats, and the like } to do Penance for their crimes in thofe infamous
Prifons. But they believe that thofe Souls that enter into Cow$ are happy; pre
fuming that there is a divinity in thofe creatures. For if a man dye with a
Cows-tail in his hand, they fay it is enough to render him happy in the other
World.
The Idolaters believing thus the tranfmigration of the Souls of men into the
bodies ofot'uer creatures, they abhor to kill any creature whatever,for fear they
jhould be guilty of the death of fome of their kindred or friends doing Penance
in thofe bodies.
If the Men in their life-time are famous for their vertuous deeds, they hold
that their Souls pafs into the bodies of fome Potent Rajas ; where they enjoy
the pleafures of this life in thofe bodies,as the reward of thofe good works which
They did.
This is the reafon why the Faquirs put themlelves to fuch horrible Penances*
but becaufe that all are not able to endure fo much torment in this World,they
laaour to fupply the defedl of that cruel Penance by good works. And befides,
they charge their Heirs in their. Wills to give Alms to the e BraminsJ:o the end that
b/ the powerful effeft of their Prayers, their God may affign them the body of
foine Noble Perfonage.