"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" [‎٤‎٤‎٠] (٥٠٨/٤٦١)

A Voyage fo E AST-INDI A, &c.
Brachwanes were accounted learned men 5 for the learning of
thofe times wherein they lived: But thefe are a very
filly, fottifh, and an ignorant fort of people, who are fo incon-
ftant in their Principles, as that they fcarce know what the par
ticulars are which they hold and maintain as truths.
As anciently amongft the Jews, their Prieft-hood is heredi
tary , for all thofe Bramins Sons are Priefts, and they all take the
Daughters of Bramins to be their Wives. (Of which fomthing
before.)
They have little Churches they call Vagods, ftanding near,
or under their green Trees, built rounds but as their ancient
Brachmans were faid not to endure, thefe, on the contrary,
have Images in their Pagods made in monftrous fhapes, but for
what end they have them, 1 know not.
N0W3 from the manner of thofe Heathen®, which I believe
hath been for many-many years retained in their Idolatrous
worfhips 5 1 conceive that the Jews long ago borrowed that un
warrantable cuflom of worfhipping God in Groves, or under
green Trees.
Both men and women before they go to their devotions
(which are very frequently performed) wafh their bodies, and
keep off all their cloaths, but the covering of modefty, till they
have done, led hereunto by a Precept (as they fay) comman
ded them to be perform'd by their Law-giver which
requires them daily to obferve their times of devotion exprefled
by their wafhings,and worlhippings, and prayer to God 5 which
muft be all done with purity of hearts.
And it is the manner of this people before they take their
food to walh their bodies, then (which I much obferved while
we lived in Tents) they make a little Circle upon the ground,
which they feem to confecrate \ after which they fit down with
in that compafs, and eat what they have provided 5 and if any
come within that Circle before they have ended their meal,
they prefently quit the place, and leave their food behind
them.
That outward wafhing (as this people think) avails very much
to their cleanfingfrom fin, not unlike the Pharifees, who were
all for the out-fide of Religion , and would not eat withun-
wafhen hands, Mark. 7.2. unlefs they wafhed themfelvesup to
the Elbows(as TheophyUft oblerves^hence thofe Hindoos alcribe
a certain divinity unto Rivers, but above all to that famous Ri*
ver Ganges, whither they flock daily in troops, that there they
may wa(h themfdves 5 and the nearer they can come to the head
of that River, the more virtue they believe is in the water.
After they have thus walhed, they throw pieces of Gold, or
Silver (according to their devotion and ability) into that River^
and fo depart from it.
Thus Reader thou haft fomewhat of the carriages of this
people in life. Now after death fome of them talk of Elyzian
fields