"رحلات السيد بيترو ديلا فالي، وهو نبيل روماني، إلى الهند الشرقية وصحراء الجزيرة العربية. وفيها يصف بدقة البلدان المختلفة، وكذلك العادات، الأعراف، التجارة، الطقوس الدينية والمدنية، لهؤلاء الأمراء وتلك الأمم الشرقية: في رسائل وديّة إلى صديقه السيد ماريو سكيبانو. وتم إضافة سرد عن رحلة السير توماس رو إلى جزر الهند الشرقية" [‎٥‎٨] (٥٠٨/٧٩)

58
The Travels of Peter Delia Valle,
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was at Vmiet c&Comhrn^ I heard that he was coming from Rome
towards Turkic^ in order to return to India^ where I hope to fee
him again 5 and if he bring his Books printed with him 5 I (hall
read them 3 and what I find remarkable therein which may be
ferviceable to thefe writings of mine, I (hall make mention of
the fame in its proper place. Father Joam de Lucena a Jefuit,
in hisHiftory of the Life of San Francefco Xavier, written in
the Portugal Tongue, makes mention likewife of the Religion
and Cuftoms of the Indian-Gentiles, andfeems to fpeak thereof
with good grounds, although infomefew particulars, if I mi-
Hake not, he is capable of a little correftion. Yet that which
troubles me moft, is, that it clearly appears by his Book that he
knew much more of the Cufloms of the Indians then he hath
written: which perhaps he would not write, either becaufe they
were obfeene and impious, or pertain'd not to his purpofe. I
faw Father Negrone fince at Coa, but he brought not his Book
printed? either becaufe his Fathers, as fbme fay, would not
have it printed i or —.Yet he faith, he hath fent it to be printed
in Portugal in that Language, and expeds it by the next Ship 5
if it comes, I (hall fee it. But having in Goa difcours'd with him
more largely then I did in Perfta, I find him very little vers'd in
matters of ancient Hiftory and Geography, as generally the
Fryars of Spain , and efpecially Portugal are not, addicting
themfelves little to other Studies, befides what ferves to Preach
ing ^ wherefore, without good fkill in ancient Hiftory, Geogra
phy, and other Humane Learning, I know not how 'tis poffible
to write Hiftories well, particularly, concerning the Cuftoms of
the Indians 5 of which alfo he hath had no other information but
by interpreters 3 in which way I have by experience found that
many errors are frequently committed. Neverthelefs we fhall
fee what light may be had from F. Lucena's Book, although it be
ftiort, concerning the Religion ot the Indians,
In the mean time returning to my purpofe, I (hall tell you,
that in the Temple dedicated to Brahma in the Town otNaghra^
which is little confiderable for building but in great Veneration
for ancient Religion, there are many Idols of white Marble. The
biggeft is the Chief, and hath the worthieft place : In the middle
is the Statue of Brahma^ or Pythagoras, with many Arms and
Faces, as they ordinarily pourtray him, namely, three Faces,
for I could not fee whether there were a fourth or more behind 5
'tis naked with a long picked Beard, but ill cut as well as the
reft of the figure, which for its bignefs hath a very great Belly,
I know not whether through the Artificers fault, who feems to
have been little fkilful ^ or elfe becaufe tfre Indians 0 as I have
alfb heard of the people of Sumatra, account it a great Beauty
and perfection to have a great Belly. This figure of Brahma
ftands upright,and at his Feet two other lefs carv'd figures,which,
as they fay, are his two Sons, Sunnct and Sunn at an. On each
fide of Brahma ftand iikewife two Statues of Women, fome-
what
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