AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



J253. 



the citizens of the said citie of Cailac doe curteously 

 invite, & lovingly intertaine all messengers, every man 

 of them according to his abilitie and portion. And 

 entring into the foresaid idole-Temple, I found the 

 Priests of the said idoles there. For alwayes at the 

 Kalends they set open their Temples, and the priests 

 adorne themselves, and offer up the peoples oblations 

 of bread and fruits. First therefore I will describe 

 unto you those rites and ceremonies, which are common 

 unto all their idole-Temples : and then the superstitions 

 of the foresaid Jugures, which be, as it were, a sect dis- 

 tinguished from the rest. They doe all of them worship 

 towards the North, clapping their hands together, and 

 prostrating themselves on their knees upon ye earth, 

 holding also their foreheads in their hands. Wherupon 

 the Nestorians of those parts will in no case joyne 

 their hands together in time of prayer : but they pray, 

 displaying their hands before their breasts. They 

 extend their Temples in length East and West : and 

 upon the North side they build a chamber, in maner of 

 a Vestry for themselves to goe forth into. Or sometimes 

 it is otherwise. If it be a foure square Temple, in the 

 midst of the Temple towards the North side therof, 

 they take in one chamber in that place where the quire 

 should stand. And within the said chamber they place 

 a chest long and broad like unto a table : and behinde 

 the saide chest towardes the South stands their principall 

 Frier William idole : which I sawe at Caracarum, and it was as bigge 

 was at Cara- ^s the idole of Saint Christopher. Also a certaine 

 Nestorian priest, which had bin in Catay, saide that in 

 that countrey there is an idole of so huge a bignes, that 

 it may be seen two daies journey before a man come at it. 

 And so they place other idoles round about the foresaid 

 principal idole, being all of them finely gilt over with pure 

 golde : and upon the saide chest, which is in manner of a 

 table, they set candles and oblations. The doores of their 

 Temples are alwayes opened towards the South, contrary 

 to the custome of the Saracens. They have also great 



286 



carum. 



