Purchas his pilgrimes. part 2 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

§. IIII.

Of the Gentiles Sects, Opinious, Rites; Priests, and other obseruations of Religion and State in those parts.

NOw more particularly of the Gentiles, which are there distracted in fourscore and foure seuerall Sects, all differing mainly in opinion, which had oftentimes fild me with won∣der, * 1.1 but that I know Satan (the father of diuision) to be the Seducer of them all. Their illiterate Priests are called Bramins, who for ought I could euer gather, are so so••tish and inconstant in their grounds, that they scarce know what they hold. They haue little Chur∣ches, * 1.2 [ 40] which they call Pagodes, built round, in which are Images for worship made in monstrous shapes. Some of them dreame of Elysian fields, to which their soules must passe ouer a Styx or A∣charon, and there take new bodies. Others hold, that ere long the World shall haue a period, af∣ter which they shall liue here againe on a new Earth. Some Bramins haue told me how that they acknowledge one God, whom they describe with a thousand hands, with a thousand feete, and as many eyes, thereby expressing his power. They talke of foure books, which about six thou∣sand yeeres since were sent them from God by their Prophet Ram, whereof two were sealed vp and might not be opened; the other to be read onely by themselues. They say that there are seuen Orbes, aboue which is the Seate of God; that God knowes not petie things, or if he doe [ 50] regards them not. They circumscribe God vnto Place, saying, that he may be seene, but as in a Mist afarre off, not neere. They beleeue that there are Deuils, but so bound in chaines that they cannot hurt them. They call a man Adam, from our first father Adam, whose wife tempted with the forbidden fruit, tooke it as they say and eate it downe, but as her husband swallowed * 1.3 it, the Hand of God stopped it in his throat, whence man hath a Bunch there, which women haue not, called by them Adams Apple. As anciently among the Iewes, their Priesthood is he∣reditarie; for euery Bramins sonne is a Priest, and marries a Bramins daughter; and so among all the Gentiles, the men take the daughters of those to bee their wiues which are of their Fathers * 1.4 Tribe, Sect, and Occupation. For instance, a Merchants sonne marries a Merchants daughter. And euery mans sonne that liues by his labour, marries the daughter of him that is of his owne [ 60] profession, by which meanes they neuer aduance themselues. These Gentiles take but one wife, of which they are not so fearefull as the Mahometans of their multitude, for they suffer them to goe abroad. They are married yong, at six or seuen yeeres old (their Parents making the Con∣tracts) and about twelue come together. Their Nuptials, as those of the Mahometans, are per∣formed with much pompe and jollitie.

For their Habit it differs little from the Mahometans, but many of the women weare Rings * 1.5 vpon their Toes, and therefore goe barefoote. They haue likewise broad Rings of brasse (or better Metall according to the qualitie of the woman) about the small of the legges to take off and on, haply such as the Prophet meant by the tinkling ornaments about the feete, or the ornaments of the legs, which the Iewish women were wont to put on, Esay 3. And such as these they haue about their armes. The flaps or nether part of their eares are boared, when they are yong, which * 1.6 hole daily stretched and made wider by things kept in it for that purpose, at last becomes so large, that it will hold a Ring (I dare boldly say, as large as a little Sawcer) made hollow on the sides for the flesh to rest in. Both men and women wash their bodies euery day before they eate, * 1.7 which done, they keepe off their clothes but the couering of modestie, till they haue fed. This [ 10] outward washing appertaines, as they thinke, to their clensing from sinne, not vnlike the Pha∣risies, who would not eate with vnwashen hands, Mar. 7. Hence they ascribe a certaine Diui∣nitie to Riuers, but aboue all, to Ganges, daily flocking thither in Troopes, and there throw in pieces of gold, or siluer, according to their deuotion and abilitie, after which they wash their bo∣dies. Both men and women paint on their fore-heads or other parts of their faces red or yel∣low * 1.8 spots.

Now farther for their grosse opinions, they beleeue not the resurrection of flesh, and there∣fore burne the bodies of their dead neere some Riuer, if they may with conueniencie, wherein * 1.9 they sowe the Ashes. Their Widowes marrie not, but after the losse of their Husbands, cut their * 1.10 haire, and spend all their life following, as neglected Creatures, whence to bee free from shame. [ 20] Many yong women are ambitious to die with honor (as they esteeme it) when their fiery loue * 1.11 brings them to the flames, as they thinke, of Martyrdome, most willingly: Following their dead Husbands vnto the fire, and there imbracing are burnt with them; but this they doe vo∣luntary, not compelled. The parents and friends of those women will most ioyfully accompa∣nie them, and when the wood is fitted for this hellish Sacrifice, and begins to burne, all the peo∣ple assembled shoute and make a noyse, that the screeches of this tortured creature may not bee heard. Not much vnlike the custome of the Ammonites, who when they made their children passe through the fire to Moloch, caused certaine Tabret, or Drums to sound, that their cry might not be heard, whence the place was called Tophet, a Tabret, 2. Kings 23. 10. There is one * 1.12 sect among the Gentiles, which neither burne nor interre their dead (they are called Parcees) who [ 30] incircle pieces of ground with high stone walls, remote from houses or Roade-wayes, and there∣in lay their Carkasses wrapped in Sheetes, thus hauing no other Tombes but the gorges of ra∣uenous Fowles.

The Gentiles for the most part are very industrious: They till the ground or else spend their * 1.13 time otherwaies diligently in their vocations. There are amongst them most curious Artificers, who are the best Apes for imitation in the world, for they will make any new thing by pat∣terne. The Mahometans are generally idle, who are all for to morrow (a word common in their mouthes) they liue vpon the labours of the Gentiles. Some of which poore seduced Infidels, will eate of nothing that hath life, and these liue vpon Herbs, and Milke, and Butter, and Cheese, and Sweet-meates, of which they make diuers kindes, whereof the most wholsome is greene [ 40] Ginger, as well preserued there as in any part of the world. Others will eate Fish, and no li∣uing thing else. The Rashbootes eate Swines-flesh, most hatefull to the Mahometans. Some will eate of one kinde of flesh, some of another; but all the Gentiles abstaine from Beefe, out of the * 1.14 excellent esteeme they haue of Kine, and therefore giue the King yeerly (beside his other exa∣ctions) great summes of money as a ransome for those Creatures. Whence among other good prouision, we meete there but with little Beefe.

Those most tender hearted Idolaters are called Banians, who hold Pithagoras his 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, * 1.15 as a prime Article of their Fath. They thinke that the soules of the best men and women, when their bodies let them out of Prison, take their repose in Kine, which in their opinion are the best of all Creatures. So the soules of the wicked goe into viler beasts, as the soules of Gluttons * 1.16 [ 50] and Drunkards into Swine; the soules of the voluptuous and incontinent into Monkies, and Apes; the soules of the furious, cruell, and reuengefull, into Lyons, Tygers, and Wolues; the soules of the enuious, into Serpents; and so into other Creatures according to their qualitie and disposition, successiuely from one to another of the same kinde, ad infinitum; by consequence, beleeuing the immortalitie of the world. So that there is not a silly Flie, but if they may bee credited, carries about some soules (haply they thinke of light women) and will not be perswa∣ded out of these grosse opinions, so incorrigible are their sottish errours. And therefore will not depriue the most offensiue creatures of their life, not Snakes that will kill them, saying, it is their nature to doe harme, how that they haue reason to shunne, not libertie to destroy them.

For their workes of Charitie, many rich men build Sarraas, or make Wells, or Tankes [ 60] neere to High-wayes that are much trauelled, where passengers may drinke, or else allow Pensions vnto poore men, that they may sit by the High-way sides and offer water vnto those that passe.

Their day of rest is * 1.17 Thursday, as the Mahometans Friday. Many Festiuals they haue which

they keepe solemne, and Pilgrimages whereof the most famous are specified in the briefe de∣scriptions of Negracut and Cyba, where people out of deuotion cut off part of their tongues, which (if Master Coryat who strictly obserued it, may be beleeued) in a few daies became whole againe. It were easie to enlarge, but I will not cast away Inke and Paper in a farther descripti∣on of their stupid Idolatries, the summe is, that both Mahometans and Gentiles ground their opi∣nions vpon Tradition, not Reason, and are content to perish with their Fore-fathers, out of a preposterous zeale, and louing peruersenesse neuer ruminating on that they maintayne, like to vncleane beasts which chew not the Cud.

Now both these Mahometans and Gentiles are vnder the subiection of the Great Mogoll, whose name signifieth a circumcised man, and therefore he is called the Great Mogoll, as much [ 10] to say, the Chiefe of the Circumcision. He is lineally descended by the Father from that famous Conquerour of the East, called in our Stories Tamberlaine, in theirs Temar, who towards his end by an vnhappie fall from his Horse, which made him halt to his Graue, was called Temar-lang, * 1.18 or Temar the lame. The present King is the ninth in a direct Line from that his great Ancestors.

The Emperour stiles himselfe, The King of Iustice, the light of the Law of Mahomet, the Con∣querour of the World. Himselfe moderates in all matters of consequence which happen neere his Court, for the most part iudging, secundum allegata & probata. Tryals are quicke and so are Exe∣cutions, * 1.19 hangings, beheading, impaling, killing with Dogges, by Elephants, Serpents, and other like according to the nature of the Fact. The execution is commonly done in the Market place. The Gouernours in Cities and Prouinces proceed in like forme of Iustice. I could neuer heare of Law written amongst them: the King and his Substitutes will is Law. His Vice-gerents con∣tinue [ 20] not long in a place, but to preuent popularitie receiue vsually a remooue yearely. They re∣ceiue * 1.20 his Letters with great respect: They looke for Presents from all which haue occasion to vse them; and if they be not often visited will aske for them; yea, send them backe for better ex∣change. The Cadee will imprison Debtors and Sureties, bound with hand and Seale: and men of power for payment will sell their persons, wiues, and children, which the custome of the Land will warrant.

The King shewes himselfe thrice a day; first at Sun-rising at a Bay-window toward the East, * 1.21 many being there assembled to giue him the Salam, and crying, Padsha Salament, that is, Liue, O King; At noone he sees his Elephants fight or other pastimes. A little before Sun-set, he shewes himselfe at a window to the West, and the Sunne being set, returneth in with Drums and wind [ 30] Instruments, the peoples acclamations adding to the consort. At any of these three times, any Sutor holding vp his Petition to be seene, shall be heard. Betwixt seuen and nine he sits priuate∣ly attended with his Nobles.

No Subiect in this Empire hath Land of Inheritance, nor haue other title but the Kings will, * 1.22 which makes some of the Grandes to liue at the height of their meanes; Merchants also to con∣ceale their Riches lest they should be made Spunges. Some meane meanes the King allowes the Children of those great Ones, which they exceed not, except they happily succeed in their fa∣thers fauours. His Pensions are reckoned by Horse, of which hee payeth a Million in his Em∣pire, for euery Horse allowing fiue and twentie pound yearely, raised from Lands thereunto de∣signed. [ 40] There are some twentie in his Court which haue pay of fiue thousand Horse, others of foure thousand or three thousand, and so downward. Hee which hath pay of fiue thousand, is bound to haue two thousand at command, and so in like proportion others. This absolute de∣pendance makes them dissolute Parasites. When he giueth aduancement, he addeth a new name, as Pharao did to Ioseph, and those pithily significant, as Mahobet Chan, the beloued Lord; Chan Iahaun, the Lord of my Heart; Chan Allau, the Lord of the World, &c. * 1.23

The Chiefe Officers of State are his Treasurer, the Master of his Eunuches (who is Steward * 1.24 and Comptroller of his House) his Secretarie, the Master of his Elephants, the Tent-master, and Keeper of his Wardrobe. These are subordinate Titles of Honour, as Chan, Mirza, Vmbra, or Captaine, Haddee (a Souldier or Horseman.) Gorgeous Apparell is prohibited by the Sunnes heate, the King himselfe being commonly vested with a Garment, as before described, of pure [ 50] white Calico Lawne. Blue may not be worne in his presence (the colour of Mourners) nor the * 1.25 name of death sounded in his eares; but such casually is mollified by tearmes to this purpose; Such an one bath made himselfe a Sacrifice at your Maiesties feet. That heate of the Countrey makes little sale for English cloth, most vsed there for couerings of Elephants, Horses, Coaches. Yet * 1.26 may this King be thought to exceed any other in glorious Thrones and rich Iewels. Hee hath a Throne in his Palace at Agra, ascended by degrees, on the top whereof are foure Lions made of massie Siluer, gilded, set with Precious Stones, supporting a Canopie of massie Gold. By the * 1.27 way I may mention, a tame Lion liuing in his Court while I was there, going vp and downe without hurt like a Dogge. His Iewels wherewith hee is daily adorned about his head, necke, [ 60] * 1.28 wrists, and hilts of his Sword and Dagger, are inualuable. He is on his Birth-day the first of Sep∣tember, (now sixtie times renewed) yearely weighed, and account kept thereof by his Physici∣ans, thereby ghessing at his bodily estate. Part of two Letters to his Maiestie (one you haue before) is here translated out of Persian, sent by Sir Thomas Roe, but written, one a yeare before the ot〈…〉〈…〉er.

WHen your Maiestie shall open this Letter, let your Royall heart be as fresh, as a sweet Garden; let all people make reuerence at your Gate; let your Throne be aduanced higher amongst the * 1.29 greatnesse of Kings of the Prophet Iesus; let your Maiestie be the greatest of all Monarches, who may deriue their counsell and wisedome from your brest as from a Fountayne, that the Law of the Maiestie of Iesus may reuiue and flourish vnder your protection. The Letters of Loue and Friendship which you sent me, and the Presents (tokens of your good affection toward mee) I haue receiued by the hands of your Embassadour Sir Thomas Roe, who well deserueth to be your trusted Seruant; deliuered to me in an ac∣ceptable and happie houre. Vpon which mine eyes were so fixed, that I could not easily remooue them to any other Obiect, and haue accepted them with great ioy, &c. The last Letter hath this beginning.

HOw gracious is your Maiestie, whose greatnesse God preserue? As vpon a Rose in a Garden, so [ 10] are mine eyes fixed vpon you. God maintayne your Estate, that your Monarchie may prosper and be augmented, and that you may obtayne all your desires, worthy the greatnesse of your Renowme. And as your heart is noble and vpright, so let God giue you a glorious Raigne, because you strongly defend the Maiestie of Iesus, which God yet made more flourishing, because it was confirmed by Miracles, &c.

That which followeth in both Letters, is to testifie his care and loue toward the English. These Letters being written, their Copies were sent to the Lord Embassadour, and the originals rolled * 1.30 vp and couered with cloth of Gold, and sealed vp at both ends; which is the Letter-fashion of those parts.

We trauelled two yeares with the Great Mogoll in progresse, in the temperate moneths twixt * 1.31 October and April, there being no lesse then two hundred thousand men, women, and children in [ 20] this Leskar, or Campe (I am hereof confident) besides Elephants, Horses, and other beasts that eate Corne: all which notwithstanding, wee neuer felt want of any prouision, no not in our nineteene dayes trauell from Mandoa to Amadauar, thorow a Wildernesse, the Road being cut for vs in the mayne Woods. The Tents were of diuers colours, and represented a spacious and specious Citie: The Kings Tents red, reared on poles very high, and placed in the midst of the * 1.32 Campe, couering a large compasse, incircled with Canats (made of red Calico stiffened with Canes at euery breadth, standing vpright about nine foot high) guarded round euery night with Souldiers. He remooued ten or twelue miles a day more or lesse according to the conuenience of water. His Wiues and Women of all sorts (which are one thousand at least, prouided for in his * 1.33 Tents) are carryed in Palankas, or vpon Elephants, or else in Cradles, hanging on the sides of [ 30] Dromedaries, couered close and attended by Eunuches. In wiuing, he respects fancie more then honour, not seeking affinitie with Neighbour Princes, but to please his eye at home. Noore-Ma∣hal (the name of his best Beloued) signifieth the Light of the Court: Shee hath much aduanced her friends, before meane, and in manner commands the Commander of that Empire by engros∣sing his affections. The King and his Great men maintayne their women, but little affect them after thirtie yeares of their age.

This multitude of women notwithstanding, the Mogoll hath but sixe Children, fiue Sonnes * 1.34 and a Daughter. All his Sonnes are called Sultans, or Princes, the eldest Sultan Cursero, the se∣cond, Sultan Parutis, Sultan Caroon the third, Sultan Shahar the fourth, the last is Sultan Ta••ct, which word in the Persian signifieth, A Throne: so named by the King, who the first houre of [ 40] his quiet possessing the Throne, had newes of his birth, about nineteene yeares since. The first Sonne by any of his marryed Wiues, by prerogatiue of birth inherits: the elder Brother beeing there called the Great Brother. Although the younger be not put to death, as with the Turkes, yet it is obserued, that they suruiue not long their Father, employed commonly in some dange∣rous expedition. Achabar-sha had threatned to dis-herit the present King for abuse of Anar-ka∣lee, (that is, Pomegranate kernell) his most beloued Wife, but on his death-bed repealed it. This Achabars death is thus reported. He was wont vpon displeasure to giue Pils to his Grandes, to * 1.35 purge their soules from their bodies; which intending against One, and hauing another Cordiall Pill for himselfe, whiles hee entertayned the other with faire flatteries, by a happie-vnhappie mistake hee tooke the Poyson himselfe, which with a mortall Fluxe of bloud in few dayes kil∣led [ 50] him: Neque enim lex iustior vlla est. Quàm necis artifices arte perire suâ.

This Kings disposition seemes composed of extreames, very cruell, and otherwhiles very * 1.36 milde; often ouercome with Wine, but seuerely punishing that fault in others. His Subiects know not to disobey, Nature forgetting her priuate bonds twixt Father and Sonne to fulfill that publike. He daily relieues many poore, and will in pietie helpe to carrie sometimes his Mother in a Palanka on his shoulders. He speakes respectiuely of our Sauiour, but is offended at his Crosse and pouertie, thinking them incompetible to such Maiestie, though told that his humi∣litie was to subdue the Worlds pride.

All Religions are tolerated, and their Priests in good esteeme. My selfe often receiued from the Mogoll himselfe, the appellation of Father, with other many gracious words, with place a∣mongst [ 60] * 1.37 his best Nobles. The Iesuites haue not only admittance into his presence, but incou∣ragements from him by many gifts, with libertie of conuerting to them; and to the subiect, to be without losse of fauour conuerted. He made tryall of one Conuert with many threats to de∣terre

him from his new profession, and finding him vndauntedly resolute, he assayed by flatteries and promises to re-gaine him, but therein also failing, hee bade him continue, and with a Re∣ward discharged him; hauing told him, that if he could haue frayed or brought him from his Re∣ligion, he would haue made him an example for all Wauerers. The chiefe Iesuite was Francis∣cus * 1.38 Corsi a Florentine by birth, liuing at the Mogolls Court, Agent for the Portugals, I would I were able to confirme the Reports of their Conuersions. The truth is, they haue spilt the water of Baptisme vpon some faces working on the necessities of poore men, who for want of meanes, which they giue them, are content to weare Crucifixes; but for want of instruction are only in name Christians. (I obserued that of the poore there, fiue haue begged in the name of Marie, for one in the Name of Christ) I also desired to put my hand to this holy Worke, but found it [ 10] difficult, both by Mahumetane libertie for women, and the debauched liues of some Christian∣vnchristian men amongst them, Per quorum latera patitur Euangelium. Hee which hath the Key of Dauid, open their eyes, and in his good time send Labourers into this Uineyard. Amen.

Because you haue the transcripts of Letters from the Great Mogoll, I haue added here part of a Letter from the Great Turke, to his Maiestie, that the Reader may delight himselfe with the strangenesse of the stile.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gentiles, eighty and foure Sects.
• * 1.2

  Those I sup∣pose which our stories call Brachmanes. Pag••des. Opinions.
• * 1.3

  Tradition of Adam.
• * 1.4

  Marrying in the same Tribe and Trade.
• * 1.5

  Their habit.
• * 1.6

  Eares and Eare-rings.
• * 1.7

  Washing.
• * 1.8

  Spots.
• * 1.9

  Burning.
• * 1.10

  Widowes.
• * 1.11

  Manner of wiues burning with their husbands.
• * 1.12

  Parce••s.
• * 1.13

  Gentiles indu∣strie, and idle∣nes of M••••res.
• * 1.14

  Beefe not ea∣ten.
• * 1.15

  Banians.
• * 1.16

  Foolish pittie. Charitable workes.
• * 1.17

  Thursday Sabbath: Munday to Peguans, Thursday in Guinaea, Friday to Moores, Sa∣turday to Iews, Sunday to Christians. In Ia∣ua that day whercon they haue begun some great worke.
• * 1.18

  Lang, in the Persian signi∣fieth Lame.
• * 1.19

  Courts of Iustice.
• * 1.20

  Bribes. Debts.
• * 1.21

  The Durbar.
• * 1.22

  No Inheri∣tance. The Kings Pensions. See before in Captaine Hawkins.
• * 1.23

  Gen. 41.
• * 1.24

  Principall Officers.
• * 1.25

  Blue, mourn∣full colour.
• * 1.26

  English cloth.
• * 1.27

  Tame Lion.
• * 1.28

  Borne 15••2. See of this and other things therefore here omitted Sir T. R••es Iournall.
• * 1.29

  Mogols Letters to his Maiesty.
• * 1.30

  Sealing Let∣ters.
• * 1.31

  Kings Pro∣gresse and Campe.
• * 1.32

  His Tents.
• * 1.33

  His women.
• * 1.34

  His children.
• * 1.35

  Achabars death
• * 1.36

  The Mogolls disposition.
• * 1.37

  Respect to Priests. Iesuits and Conuerts.
• * 1.38

  Iesuite-Agent. Vaine Bragges.