390 NEW ATLANTIS. 



calleth them forth by one and by one, by name, as he 

 pleaseth, though seldom the order of age be inverted. 

 The person that is called (the table being before re 

 moved) kneeleth down before the chair, and the father 

 layeth his hand upon his head, or her head, and giveth 

 the blessing in these words: Son of Bensalem, {or 

 Daughter of Bensalem, ) tliy father saitJi it : the man by 

 whom thou hast breath and life spedketh the. word: The 

 blessing of the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, 

 and the Holy Dove be upon thee, and make the days of 

 thy pilgrimage good and many. This he saith to every 

 of them ; and that done, if there be any of his sons 

 of eminent merit and virtue, (so they be not above 

 two,) he calleth for them again ; and saith, laying his 

 arm over their shoulders, they standing; Sons, it is 

 well ye are born, give God the praise, and persevere to 

 the end. And withal delivereth to either of them a 

 jewel, made in the figure of an ear of wheat, which 

 they ever after wear in the front of their turban or hat. 

 This done, they fall to music and dances, and other 

 recreations, after their manner, for the rest of the day. 

 This is the full order of that feast. 



By that time six or seven days were spent, I was 

 fallen into strait acquaintance with a merchant of that 

 city, whose name was Joabin. He was a Jew, and 

 circumcised : for they have some few stirps of Jews 

 [yet remaining among them, whom they leave to their 

 town religion. Which they may the better do, because 

 they are of a far differing disposition from the Jews in 

 ! other parts. For whereas they hate the name of Christ, 

 and have a secret inbred rancour against the people 

 amongst whom they live : these (contrariwise) give unto 

 our Saviour many high attributes, and love the nation 



