Averroeana being a transcript of several letters from Averroes an Arabian philosopher at Corduba in Spain, to Metrodorus a young Grecian nobleman, student at Athens in the years 1149 and 1150 : also several letters from Pythagoras to the King of India, together with his reception at the Indian court, and an account of his discourse with the King, and his gymnosophists, and his rules and precepts : his account of the power and efficacy of numbers, and magical uses thereof : to which is prefixt, a Latin letter by Monsieur Grinau, one of the Messieurs du Port Royal in France, to the ingenious Monsieur Gramont, merchant at Amsterdam, concerning the subject of these papers, and how they came to his hands : the whole containing matters highly philosophical, physiological, Pythagorical and medicinal, the work having been long conceal'd is now put into English for the benefit of mankind, and the rectification of learned mistakes.

Metrodorus▪

HAving of late had some Respite from Business, I remembred my Promise to you, which I have at last performed. I have here sent you an account of the Practice of the Indian Brachmans. They are a sort of Philo∣sophers, for whom I have ever had a great Esteem, for as much as I have observed them very nearly to follow Nature in most of her Prescriptions. A Method that I highly Approve, and shall therefore Recommend to you some Observations of theirs, perhaps not un∣worthy your Meditation.

First then, for the Method they use with their Women, during the time of their Impregnation, Lying in, and giv∣ing Suck.

Their First Precept is, That they be very Exact and Punctual as to the quantity and quality of their Food, and

that they drink nothing but pure Wa∣ter as it comes from the Spring.

They command them to eat at set Meals, viz. about Eight in the Morn∣ing, and Four in the Afternoon: For when the Worlds great Eye the Sun, that Centre of Heat, hath mounted the Meridian, they command all Labour∣ing People to rest and abstain from eat∣ing and drinking, especially Women with Child. For that the Sun does forcibly open the passages of Nature, exhaling the Spirituous Vertues, from whence proceed Wind and Vapours, &c. but about Four Afternoon they allow a greater Liberty for a full Meal, for the Evening being cool, they have a considerable time to digest their Food, the greatest part of that time being al∣lotted for Rest.

They likewise advise a due Fasting, and at some times to abate in the qua∣lity, and at others increase it again. Also to give Nature that which is most like her self, viz. variety of Foods, but this at several Meals, and not all at one

time, seeing that the Humane Nature is allied to all things, and compounded of Variety.

On the other hand, they affirm, That a due Abstinence infinitely con∣duces to an healthy and happy Life. It fines the Spirits▪ cleanseth the passages, frees the Circu••••tions from gross Mat∣ter and Obstructions, confirms the Fa∣culties of the Mind, rendring them fit for the Contemp••ation of Wisdom and Vertue.

They command their Women to La∣bour and Exercise gently, Morning and Afternoon, in regard that it will contribute as much to their Off-springs Health as their own, and deliver them from the trouble of all Windy Diseases and Vapours, with which many Wo∣men are so extreamly afflicted.

They Recommend Silence to their Women, as a Noble Vertue: It makes the Mind sedate, grave, and thinking, strengthening all the Powers thereof, whereby they become more conside∣rate, and better able to endure the In∣conveniences

they may meet with. For the Spirits of Women are naturally more Volatile than those of Men; so that much Talking doth spend and wast them, weaken the whole Constitution, and beget swelling, angry Humours, equally prejudicial to the Child, as to the Mother. For there is an extraor∣dinary Sympathy between them, upon which account the greater care is to be taken.

They also commend Chearfulness, a Pleasantness both of Mind and Manners, to their Women, for they affirm the Composition of the Elements in Wo∣men are of a more fine and softer Na∣ture than in Men, for which cause they are more subjected to Passions, apter to Love or Hate, and consequently soon∣er, and more deeply wounded both in Mind and Body. Wherefore their Priests teach them several Divine and Moral Songs, Hymns of Praise, &c. Believing that Musick hath a certain se∣cret power of moderating and compo∣sing the Pathetick Motions of the Soul,

rendring the Mind more equal in their Operations.

If any of their Women chance to have 〈◊〉〈◊〉 swelled ••r••••sts or Tumors, they r••ach them to make this following Po••••tice, which they esteem to have an Universal Tendency and Effect. Viz. Ta•••• Rice and boil it in Water, and when it becomes thick and soft, they take a bitter Herb called (Tantaraboys) cut it small, and mix it with the Rice, adding to a Quart of this Two Ounces of good Sugar, and apply it to the Sore Ten or Twelve times in Twenty-four Hours, which gives Ease the first time, and in a few Days heals the Distemper. They have a great Opinion of Sugar, taking it to be one of the greatest Bal∣sams in the World, if mixed with pro∣per Ingredients, and will often apply it alone to Cuts, Sores and Wounds.

When the Brachmans do administer any Inward Medicines, they do it all by Numbers, affirming, That God hath made all things by Number, Weight and Measure.

Thus you see, Metrodorus, I have hinted a few Observations of the Brach∣mans in reference to their Women, I shall only subjoin somewhat concern∣ing their Method of Educating their Children, and so endeavour to bring this Letter to a Period.

The first Thing they suggest and in∣sinuate into their Children, after they can speak, is, That God hath Endued Mankind with Three Demons or Spi∣rits, that like Three Kings make War, and are in continual strife who shall ob∣tain the Dominion over the whole Bo∣dy, which they properly call an Inward Warfare. The first Spirit is of the Na∣ture of that Great Celestial Body called Saturn, from whence Originally pro∣ceed Avarice, Calumny, Malice, Pride, Envy, Violence, &c. But from the second Spirit or Demon comes Love, Pity, Mercy, Compassion, &c. as also Temperance, Chastity, Sobriety and Philosophy. And from the third pro∣ceed mixed Thoughts, various and wanton Discourses, Laughters and Mer∣riment,

and all that is called Phantasti∣cal.

They labour hard to make their Chil∣dren understand the Nature and Opera∣tion of each of them, that they may be sensible which hath the reigning and predominant power in them.

They call the second Spirit the good Demon, and with great earnestness in∣culcate to their Children, that they should be Governed by its Dictates, and observe its Directions.

They teach them, that it was from this good Angel that their Seers and Holy Men received the Law of Inno∣cence. They inform them, that it is a great Blessing, and a Token of being a particular Favourite of Heaven, to a∣void Violence and Oppression, especial∣ly towards those Inferiour Creatures that cannot defend or help themselves. That the greater part of Mankind are govern'd by the Counsels of the other Demons, from whence proceed Wars, Murder, Destruction, and all manner of Mischief.

From Three Years old to Seven they Instruct them in the Precepts of Mora∣l•••••• setting before them the Excellence o•• ••ertue, and the Reason of their Du∣ty. Above all things, they commend to them a strict and severe Justice, which they never depart from; for these Instructions are so early graffed in them, and so plainly represented to ••••em, that they become, as it were, incorporate, and grow up along with them, insomuch that they are no lon∣ger Moral Precepts, but have in them the force of Nature.

They also very Vehemently and Pa∣thetically set before them the Ugliness of an Idle Life. Nay, they say, Idle∣ness is inconsistent with Life, for Life in the very Expression implies Activity and Motion. They greatly commend to them moderate Labour and Exercise, and frequently put them upon the Pra∣ctice of the same, even in their very tender Age. They are very Exact in teaching them the Art of Numbring, and acquaint them with the Method

of God's Works 〈…〉〈…〉 Worlds; viz. The Heavens, Star•• and Elements, the Amazing Varieties 〈…〉〈…〉, Vegetations and Minerals; how they were all made, and are wonderfully sustained by the Invincible Power of the Omnipotent Creator. They teach them the Motions of the Celestial Bo∣dies, their Courses and Distances, Po∣stures, and Configurations, and Influ∣ences▪ 〈…〉〈…〉, they keep them conti∣nually 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in what either Em∣ploys their Understanding, or Improves their Manners, always accustoming them to the Exercise of Patience, and the E••••••rance of Hardship.

Having therefore such an Early Edu∣cation, and continually before their Eyes the Examples of their Parents and Associates, the Notions of these Truths do, a•• it were, enter into their very Natures by repeated habits, that no∣thing can remove them▪ Having been Instructed that every word in their Law proceeds from God, and at the same time, having imbibed a true Appre∣hension

of the Excellency and Justice of that ••eing, they look upon it as his positive ••ommand, and dare not dis∣obey. Thus a•• Esteem of their Law is planted in them, that no Avocations of Business, nay, nothing but invin∣cible Necessity can exempt them from a punctual compliance with the same.

I shall here insert one passage of their nice exactness to the Rules of their Law. It is held Sacred amongst them to keep themselves undefiled from any thing they think unclean, and if such an Accident happen, they a•••• compell'd to repair to a certain pla•••• of Purgation, where they are to undergo all the Discipline of that My∣stery, before they must enter on their Bus••••ess. Some of that Religion, who were Factors, came to Surat to Buy up a Commodity to be Transported into Persia. The Europeans having no∣tic•• thereof, and knowing the Obliga∣tion these People lay under, one of their Merchants came near the Place where they sat, and unawares took off

one of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ and touched them. Immediately •••• great▪Cry was heard, for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ound them∣selves polluted, ••nd 〈◊〉〈◊〉 forced to leave their Business; 〈…〉〈…〉 to the Place of Purgation, to the designed Satisfacti∣on of the European Merchant.

If any of their Princes at any time desire their Daughters for Concu∣bines, they lo••e their Longing, for they will submit to the Severest Tor∣tures rather than break their Vow. They are never to be Engaged in the Armies of their Kings, for as much as they abominate all manner of Vio∣lence, &c. Nor can they ever be pre∣vail'd with to become Servants, being extreamly Jealous of their Original Liberty. In all Revolutions of States they are free, and enjoy under all Go∣vernments an undisturbed Exercise of their Religion▪ on account of their Peaceable Deportment. They abhor all strong Liquors, their most customa∣ry Drink is Water. They lye upon hard Quilts; oftentimes on the bare

Ground. They neither Invade nor Covet any Man's Property, they are tenacious of the Customs of their An∣cestors, and remain secure in the Sa∣tisfaction of their own Vertue and In∣tegrity.

Dated, Corduba, 1150.