FEIAR BEATUS ODORICUS a.d. 



1333- 

 ment, and the sielin^ of the vrsll within and without. 

 Unto this idol the Indians go on pilsrimage, as we do 

 unto S. Peter. Some go with halters about their necks, 

 some with their hands bound behind them, some other 

 with knives sticking on their armes or legs : and if after 

 their peresrination, the flesh of their wounded arme 

 festereth or comipteth, they esteeme that limme to be 

 holv, «Sc thiiike that their God is wel pleased with them. 

 Neare unto the temple of that idol is a lake made by the 

 hands of men in an open 5c common place, whereinto 

 the pilsrimes cast gold, silver, 6c precious stones, for the 

 honour of the idol and the repairino- of his temple. And 

 therfore when any thins: is to be adorned or mended, thev 

 go unto this lake taking up the treasure which was cast 

 in. Moreover at every yerely feast of the making or 

 repairing of the said idol, the king and queene, with 

 the whole multitude of the people, &: all the pilgrimes 

 assemble themselves, 5c placing the said idol in a most 

 statelv 5c rich chariot, they czry him out of their temple 

 with songs, & with all kind of musical harmonie, 5c a 

 great companv of virgins e:o procession-wise two and two 

 in a rank sinoing: beiore him. Manv pilgrims also put 

 themselves under the chariot wheeles, to the end that 

 their false god may go over them : and al they over whom 

 the chariot runneth, are crushed in pieces, 5c di^dded 

 asunder in the midst, and slaine right out. Yea, 5c in 

 doing this, they think themselves to die most holilv 

 &: securelv, in the ser^dce ot their god. And bv this 

 meanes every yere, there die under the said filthy idol, 

 mo then 500. persons, whose carkases are burned, and 

 their ashes are kept for reliques, because they died in that 

 sort for their god. Moreover they have another de- 

 testable ceremony. For when any m.an offers to die in 

 the ser^dce of his false god, his parents, 5c all his friends 

 assemble themselves together with a consort of musicians, 

 making him a great &: solemne feast : which feast being 

 ended, they hang 5. sharpe knives about his neck carving 

 him betore the idol, 5c so soone as he is come thither, he 



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