'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.' [‎175] (504/1024)

Book III. Travels in India.
vidtuals; for fo foon as the Idolaters have faid their Prayers,and made their Of
ferings,they drefs their food,not fuffering any perfon to touch it but themfelves,
for fear left any unclean perfon Ihould come neer it. But above all things, they
paffionately defire to drink of Ganges water} for as often as they drink it, they
are waflftd, as they believe,from all their fins. Great numbers of thefe Eramins
go every day to the cleaneft part of the River, where they fill their little round
earthen-pots full of water,the mouths whereof are very fmall, and contain every
one of them a Bucket-full. Being thus fill’d they bring them before the great
prieft, who covers them with a fine piece offlame-coloufd Calicut,three or four
times doubl’d, to which he fets his Seal. The Eramins carry thefe pots, lome
fix of them ty’d together with fix little cords faften’d to the end of a ftick as
broad as a lath, ihifting their Ihoulders often j travelling fometimes three or four
hunder’d leagues with thofe precious burthens up into the Countrey. Where they
fell it, or prefent it; but that is only to the rich, from whence they expert
great rewards. There are fome of the Idolaters, who when/ they make any
great Feaft, especially when they marry their children, will drink four or five
hunder'd Crowns in this water. They never drink of it till the end of their meals *
and then a glafs or two according to the liberality of the Mafter of the Feaft.The
chief reafon why they efteem the water otGanges fo highly, is, becaufe it never
putrifies, nor engenders any Vermin} though I know not whether they may be
beliefM,confidering the great quantity of dead bodies which they fling into the
Ganges.
The body of the Pagod of Banarous is made like a Grofs, as are all the reft: of
the Pagods, the four parts whereof are equal. In the midft there is a Cupola
rais’d very high, the top whereof is pyramidal \ at the end alfo of every four
parts of the Crofs there is a Tower, to which there is anafeent on the out-fide*
Before you come to the top, there are feveral Balconies and Niches wherein to
take the frelh air .* and round about are figures of all forts of creatures, but very
Lend work. Under the Dwmojn the middle of the Pagod there is an Altar,like
a Table, eight foot long, and fix foot broad, with two fteps before, that ferve for
afootftool, which is cover’d fometimes with a rich Tapeftry, fometimes with
Silk, fometimes with Cioath of Gold or Silver, according to the folemnity of
their Feftival. Their Altars are cover’d with Cioath of Gold or Silver, or elfe
with fome painted Cali cuts. Approaching the entry of the Pagod, you fee the
Altar right before ye, together with the Idols which are upon it. For the Wo
men and Virgins worihip without, not being permitted to enter the Pagod, no
more than is a certain Tribe which is among them. Among the Idols that ftand
upon the great Altar, there is one plac’d upright fome five or fix foot high ^ but I
you can fee neither arms, Uor legs,nor body: nothing appears but the head and '
neck,all the reft being cover’d down to the Altar with a Robe that fpreads itfelf
below. Sometimes you fhall fee the neck fet out with fome rich Chain either of
Gold,Rubies,Pearls or Emraulds. This Idol was made in honour and likenefs of j
Bawma-don, who was heretofore a very great and holy Perfonage among them,
whole name they oft’n have in their mouths. Upon the right-fide of the Altar
Hands the figure of a Chimera, part Elephant, part Horfe, part Mule. It is of
mafllve Gold, and they call it Garoujiot fuffering any perfon to approach it but
the Bramins. They lay it is the refemblance of the Beaft which earn’d that holy
perfon when he liv’d upon earth. And that he travell’d long journeys upon his
back, to fee if the people remain’d in their duty,and whether they did no wrong
one to another. Between the great Gate and the great Altar upon the left-hand,
there is a little Altar,upon which there Hands an Idol of black Marble fitting crofs-
legg’d,about two foot high. While I was there, a little Boy who was the Son of
the High-Prieft flood upon the left-fideof therAltar,and all the people threw him
certain pieces of TafFata,or imbroider’d Calicut,like Handkerchiefs,all which he
return’d to the people again after he had wip’d them upon the Idol. Others
threw him Bracelets of Coral, others of yellow-Amber, others threw him fruits
and flowers ^ whatever they threw him, he rubb’d it upon the Idol,put it to
r ls lips, and then reftor’d it to the people. This Idol is call’d Mofli-Ram^ that
ls t0 la Y Cod-Morli, and was the Brother of him that ftands upon the great Al*
tar*
175
Undet