'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.' [‎174] (503/1024)

Travels in India.
Part H.
Prieft, who before he gives them leave to fhave and wafh in t
them according to their quality, of which he has informationv Thus h e ^
lefts vafts fums, of which he makes little or no profit himfelf y all going to
the poor, and the repair of the Pagod. The chief Bramin canfes Vidua) T
be dillributed to the Pilgrims every day; as Milk, Rice, Butter and Wheat °
but to the poor, who want wherewithal! to cook it, they diftribute their M
ready drefst. In the morning they boil a quantity of Rice in Earth’n m
of different bignefs y and at the hour when the Pilgrims come for their nlea/
the chief Bramin orders another Bramin to take a pot of boil'd Rice; this iW
he lets fall *, and if there be five, the pot breaks into five equal parts/ and eve
ry one takes his own fbare. And in the fame manner he breaks it into more
pieces, if there be more perfons, to whom he is to diftribute the food. Which
is a thing very ftrange and worthy obfervation. They never boil twice in an
Earthen pot, but ill a Copper pot y nor have they any other Diihes* than only
certain Leaves, which they fallen together, and a Certain kind ofa Bafon a-
bout a foot in compafs, wherein they melt their Butter, and ftir the Rice with
the ends of their fingers when they eat. They have alfo a kind of a Shell
wherein they pour their melted Butter, which they will fwallow down as J
do Sack.
Now for the defcription of a particular Idol which Rands upon the Altar in
the Pagod of Jagnnate : It is cover’d from the Shoulders downward with a
great Mantle that hangs down upon the Altar. This Mantle is of Tiffueof
Gold or Silver, according to the Solemnities. At firR it had neither feet nor
hands \ but after one of their Phropets was taken up into Heaven, while they
were lamenting what to do for another, God fent them an Angel in the like-
nefs of that Prophet, to the end they might continue their Veneration toward
him. Now while this Angel was bufie in making this Idol, the people grew
fo impatient, that they took him out of the Angels hands, and put him into
the Pagod, without hands or feet} but finding that the Idol appear’d in that
manner too deform’d, they made him hands and arms of thofe fmall Pearls
which we call Ounce-Pearls. As for his feet, they are never feen, being hid un
der his Cloak. There is no part op’n but his hands and feet; the head and
body being of Sandal-wood } round about the Dmm, under which this Idol
Rands, being very high, from the bottom to the. top, are only Niches fill’d
With other Idols ; the greateR part whereof reprefent moR hideous Mongers,
being all of different colours. On each fide of this Pagod, there Rands ano
ther much lefs, where the Pilgrims make their leffer Offerings. And fome
that have in ficknefs, or upon bufinefs made any Vows to any Deity, bring thi
ther the refemblance thereof in remembrance of the good which they have re
ceiv’d. They rub this Idol every day with fweet Oils, that make it of a blsck
colour. And at the right hand of this Idol fits his SiRer, who Rands upon her
feet, and is well clad, being call’d by the name Sotorn ; upon his left, fends
his Brother, cloath’d all over alfo, whom they call Balhadar. Before the Idol,
fomewhat toward his left hand, Rands the Idols Wife upon her feet, allofmafiy
Gold, by the name of Bemin ; whereas the other three, are only of Sandal
wood.
The other two Pagods are appointed for the refidence of the chief Brmw,
and other Bramim that officiate in the great Pagod. All thefe Bramins go with
their heads bare, and for the' moR part fhav’d ; having no other Cloathes but
only one piece of Calicut, with one half whereof they cover their bodies \
the other part ferves them inRead of a Scarf. Neer the Pagod Rands the Tomb
of one of their Prophets, whofe name was Cabir, to whom they give great
honour. You are to take notice alfo, that their Idols Rand upon a kind of
Altar encompafs’d with Iron Bars. For no perfons are to touch them, but only
certain Bramins^ appointed for that fervice by the chief Bramin*
Next to that of 'Jagrenate, the moR famous Pagod is that of Banaronsyte*
ing alfo feated upon the Ganges^ in a City that bears the fame name. That
which is moR remarkable is, that from the Gate of the Pagod to the
there is a defeent all of Stone } neer to which are certain Platforms, and mu
blind Chambers, fome of the lodging, others where they 1 dreR