1 68 The Persian Travels Book IV. 



Houfc wherever he goes, fometimes a whole day, fometimes longer, according 

 to the hainoufnefs of the crime. In that pofture he defires the Caz.i to purifie him 

 telling him that for his part he believes himfelf to be purify'd. The Prieft makes anivver 

 that it is the Dog that muft purifie him , and not he. After that he powrs the com- 

 pounded water feven times upon his head, then gives him a draught to drink, and fo he 

 is abfolv'd. This penitence cofts the criminal Sawcc, who is afterwards bound to 

 feaft all his friends at the Caz.is Houfc. Being furpriz'd at this fuperftition, I ask'd 

 whether the women were (hrifted thus by the Caz.% j but I found that the QixSt 

 Wives confefs and abfolve the women and maids. 



One more ftrange cuftom they have , that when a man is upon the point of death 

 they take a little Dog and fet it upon the expiring parties breft. When he is juft 

 breathing his laft , they put the mouth of the Dog to the mouth of the perfon dying, 

 andcaufe him to bark twice in that pofture, that the Soul of the deccas'd may enter 

 into the Dog , who they fay will deliver it into the hands of the Angel appointed 

 to receive it. Moreover when any Dog happ'ns to dye , they carry him out of the 

 City , and pray to God for the Carrion , as if the Beaft receiv'd any kindnefs after 

 death by their Prayers. 



Of the Be aft s , which they love or hate, 



THefe are fome Beads which the Gaurs do mightily refpeft , and to which they 

 give a great deal of Honour. There are others which they as much abhor , 

 and which they endeavour'd to deftroy as much as in them lies, believing that they 

 were not created by God , but that they came out of the body of the Devil , whofe 

 ill nature they retain. 



The Beafts which they principally admire are the Cow, the Oxe, and the 

 Dog. They are exprefly forbid to eat of the flefh of a Cow or an Oxe , or to kill 

 them. The reafon why they fo efteem thefe Creatures is > becaufe the Oxe labours 

 for man , and Ploughs the Ground that produces his food. As for the Cow they 

 more dearly affeft her for the Milk fhe gives , but efpecially for the purifying qua- 

 lity of her Urine. 



The Creatures which they abhor are Adders , Serpents, Lizards , Toads , Frogs, 

 Creyfifli , Rats , Mice , but above all the reft Cats ^ which they fay are the refem- 

 blance of the Devil , who gave them fo much ftrength that a man can hardly kill 

 them ', ^o that they rather fuffer the inconveniency of Rats and Mice , than ever to 

 keep a Cat in their Houles. 



As for the other Animals beforc-mention'd , if any of the Gaurs fall fick , they 

 hire poor people to go and find thofe Creatures out and kill them % which they reck'n 

 in the number of thofe good works that comfort the Souls of the deceas'd. The rea- 

 fon why they hate them fo, is, becaufe they believe the Devils make ufe of them 

 to torment the Damn'd •, and therefore they do a work of charity that deftroy them , 

 whereby they mitigate the pains anB torments of Souls in Hell. 



The laft King of thefe Gaurs was Sha-Icshcrd y who was driv'n out of his Country 

 by Omar the fecond , fuccefTor to Mahomet. 



O F 



