A display of two forraigne sects in the East Indies vizt: the sect of the Banians the ancient natiues of India and the sect of the Persees the ancient inhabitants of Persia· together with the religion and maners of each sect collected into two bookes by Henry Lord sometimes resident in East India and preacher to the Hoble Company of Merchants trading thether

CHAP. X.

Of the third Tract deliuered to Bremaw, concerning their foure Tribes or Casts; their in∣iunction to follow that order of Gouernment, and so touching the first of those Tribes, called the Bramanes; the deriuation of the name, their kindes, the number of their Casts, their Ministe∣riall discharge, Studies, and Schoole discipline.

AFter the consideration of the Cere∣monies enioyned and obserued by them in matters of their worshippe, as it was the Subiect of the second Tract of the booke deliuered to Bremaw: Now fol∣loweth the third Tract, declaring in what manner of order or distinction they should liue, and what was meete for euery one to ob∣serue in his owne particular Tribe.

And because there could bee no inuention more commodious for the gouernment of the world, then was vsed by the foure Tribes in the first Age, as to haue Bramanes to in∣struct the people in matters of Religion; to haue Cutteryes that should sway the Scepter, and keepe men in obedience; to haue Mer∣chant men that should vse Trafficke and Trade as did Shuddery; to haue seruile and manufactory men, that should serue the vses of the world in the handicrafts, as did Wyse: Therefore they were by this Tract bound to

keepe their owne peculiar Tribe or Cast, and to obserue what was proper to the faculties of each in seuerall; which accordingly was done, and is yet continued so farre as it lyeth in their power to conserue this Ancient forme of gouernment and policie: wherein if I shall somewhat digresse from their iniun∣ctions, which for the most part present things lesse pertinent to be knowne, to a more par∣ticular display of their manners, I shall bet∣ter discharge the parts required in this Tract.

The Bramanes then being the first of these Tribes, something shall be noted in particu∣lar touching them; and first of the name Bra∣mane. Suidas is of opinion, that they are called Bramanes of one Brachman, that was the first prescriber of their Rites. Postellus, lib. d. Ori∣gin. Cap. 13. & 15. affirmeth them to bee des∣cended from Abraham by Cheturah, who sea∣ted themselues in India, and that so they were called Abrahmanes; the word suffering a Syn∣cope, they in the tract of time, for breuity of pronunciation became called by the name of Bramanes. But they neither know of any such as Brachman, neither haue they heard of Abra∣ham, but affirme they receiue this name of Bramanes from Brammon, which was the first that euer exercised their Priestly function, as they finde by record; or else from Bremaw, by adiection of this particle (nes) who was

the first of the second Age, to whom the Law was deliuered.

Touching the kindes of these Bramanes, ta∣king them for such as discharge the Priestly office amongst the people, they are of two sorts: First, the more common Bramanes, of which there are a greater number in India: or the more speciall, of which there be fewer, and these be called by the Banians, Verteas, by the Moores, Sevrahs.

The common Bramane hath eighty two Casts or Tribes, assuming to themselues the names of that Tribe; which were so many wise men or Schollers famed for their lear∣ning amongst them, called Augurs, or South∣sayers, of such a place of dwelling. Thus the prime of them was called Visalnagranauger, that is, the Augur of Visalnagra, the 2 Vulna∣granauger, that is, the Augur of Vulnagra, a towne so called; and so of the rest according to these 82 Casts to be distinguished, being Bramanes of the discipline of such an Augur.

These Bramanes as they discharge their Mi∣nisteriall function, in praying with the people, or reading their Law, haue some peculiar in∣iunctions: As first, that they should straine their bodies into certaine mimicall gestures, so as may most face the people to gaze vpon them and listen to them; that they pray with both their hands open to heauen, as ready to receiue the things they pray for; that they pray with demissiue eyelids, and sitting with

their knees deflected vnder them, to shew their feare and reuerence. Next that they must neuer reade of the booke deliuered to Bremaw, but it must be by a kinde of singing, and quauering of the voyce, which they say was not onely practised by Bremaw, when it was published; but was also inioyned by God, that they might make his Law as the matter of their reioycing.

The Bramanes are likewise the Seminaries of discipline amongst the younger sort of that Cast, whose orders both in their initiati∣on and entrance into that manner of learning is obseruable; as also no lesse in their confir∣mation, and ordination to the Priesthood: for first, about the seuenth yeere of their age they are receiued to discipline, being cleane washed, to intimate the purity of that Cast; then they are receiued naked, to shew that they haue stript off all other cares, to apply themselues to study; then their heads are sha∣uen, a long locke being onely left on the hin∣der part of the head, to shew that they must not forsake their study, if they doe, by that locke they shall be drawne backe againe. They are bound to a Pythagorean silence and attenti∣on, & prohibited haulking, spitting or cough∣ing; wearing about their loynes a girdle of an Antilops skinne, and another thong of the same about their necke, descending vnder the left arme. About the foureteenth yeere of

their age (if they be capable) they are admit∣ted to be Bramanes, exchanging those leather thongs, for foure sealing threds, that come ouer the right shoulder, and vnder the right arme, which they sleepe withall, and neuer put off, but weare them in honour of God, and the three persons, Bremaw, Vystney, and Ruddery, and as the badge of their profession; in which ordination they are enioyned: First, not to alter their Cast or Tribe. Next to ob∣serue all things enioyned in the Bramanes Law. Lastly, not to communicate the myste∣ries of their Lawes to any of a different Re∣ligion. These bee the most of the principall things obserued by these Bramanes.

Now for the more speciall Bramane, by them called the Vertea, he is some man of the Cast of the Shudderyes, or Merchant men, who for deuotion taketh this condition on him; hee is one that for his habit weareth a woollen garment of white, descended to the middle of his thigh, leauing the lower parts naked; his head is alwayes vncouered, as a witnesse of his perpetuall reuerence of God aboue; they doe not shaue, but plucke off all the hayre on their heads, saue some small re∣mainder on the crowne; the like they do from their chinne also.

Of this sort of Bramane there be seuerall Casts likewise; one is called the Soncaes, and these goe not to Church, but performe di∣uine

Rites at home. Another is of the Tup∣paes, these goe to Church to pray. A third is of the Curthurs, and these pray by themselues, without society. A fourth called the Onke∣leaus, and these indure not Images. A fift cal∣led the Pushaleaus, the most strict of them all.

These kinde of Bramanes haue a Festiuall called Putcheson, which is kept once euery Month, by fiue dayes solemnization, but be∣twixt each day of the fiue they keepe a fast; this feast is kept at the ablest mens houses, and commonly at those times a pension is giuen, to restraine the death of cattell, or other li∣uing creatures.

More strict they seeme to be in many things then the common Bramanes, for the other are not forbidden marriage, these are; more ab∣stinent they are in dyet, for out of the former Feasts they eate nothing, but what is giuen them, and reserue nothing for another meale. More cautelous they are for the preseruation of things animate, for they will drinke no water but boyld, that so the vapour which they suppose the life of the water, may goe out. They disperse their very dung and or∣dure with a beasome, least it should generate wormes that bee subiect to destruction; and they keep an hospital of lame & maimed fly∣ing fowle, redeemed by a price, which they seeke to restore: They haue all things com¦mon, but place no faith in outward washings,

but rather embrace a carelesse and sordid nastinesse. And this is sufficient to note con∣cerning this kinde of Bramane.