Book I. Travels in India. 41 



holds another in his hand, ty'd about his neck, that pulls him back. Thus they 

 accuftom the Lion by degrees to be familiar with the people, and at my coming 

 to Chtapour, I few this Divertifement without ftirring out of my Coach. 



The next day I had another, meeting with a knot of Faquirs, or Mahometan 

 Dervichs. I counted fifty-feven, among whom, he that was the Chief or Supe- 

 rior, had been Grand Efquire to Cha-jehan-gttir, having left the Court, when 

 Sultan Boulakj, his youngeft Son, was ftrangl'd by Order of Cha-jchan ; there 

 were four others, who next to the Superior, were chief of the Company, who 

 had been alfo great Lords in the fame Cba-jehans Court. All the Cloaths thofe 

 fiyc Dervichs had, were only four ells of Orange-colour-Calicut to hide what 

 modefty will have hid before and behind, and every one of them a Tygers-skin 

 over their moulders ty'd together under their chins. They had led before them 

 eight fair Horfes faddl'd and bridl'd ; three whereof had Bridles of Gold, and 

 Saddles cover'd with Plates of Gold, and the other five had Bridles of Silver 

 cover'd with Plates of Silver, and a Leopard's-skin upon every one. The other 

 Dervichs had only a Cord for their Girdle, to which was faften d a piece of Cali- 

 cut only to cover their private parts. Their hair was ty'd in wreaths round about 

 their heads after the manner of a Turbant. They were all Well-arm'd, the moft 

 part with Bows and Arrows, feme with Muskets, and others with Half-pike%with : 

 another fort of weapon which we have not in Europe $ that is to fay, a fharp piece 

 of Iron like the fide of a Platter without a bottom, which they wind eight or ten 

 times about their necks, and carry like a Calves Chaldron. They draw out thefe 

 Iron-Circles as they intend to make ufe of them 5 and they will throw them with 

 fuch a force againft'a man,thatthey fhall fly as fwift as an Arrow, and go very neer 

 to cut a man in two in the middle. They had every one,befides all this,an Hurti- fg- 

 Horn, which they wind, making a prodigious nolle when they come to any piece, 

 and when they go away ; together with a Grater or Raip, being an Iron-Inftru- 

 ment, made like a Trowel, this is an Inltrument which the Indians carry gene- 

 rally about them when they travel, to fcrape and make clean the places where 

 they intend to reft 5 and iome of them, when thev have fcrap'd all the duft to- 

 gether into an heap, make ufe of it inftead of a Mattrefs or Pillow to lie eafily 

 upon. There were fome of them that were arm'd with long Tucks 5 which they 

 had bought either of the Englijh or Vortugdt. Their Luggage confifted of four 

 great Chefts full of Perfisn and Arabian Books, and tome Kitchen- houfholdftutf: 

 They had alfo ten or twelve Oxen to carry their ikk. When the Dervichs came 

 to tie place where I lay with my Coach, having about fifty perfons with me, as 

 well of the people of the Countrey, as of my own fervants $ the Chief or Su- 

 perior of the Troop teeing me fo well-attended, enquir'd what Aga that was j 

 and defir'd me to let him have that place which I had taken up, as being the nloft 

 convenient in all that place, for him and his Dervichs to lodg. When they told 

 me the quality of the Chief, and the four Dervichs that attended him, I was wil- 

 ling to be civil, and to yield to their requcft ; and thereupon I left them the place 

 free. After they had well-water'd the place, and laid the duft, they lighted two 

 fires, as if it had been in the froit and fnow, for the five principal Dervichs y who 

 fate and chat'd thcmfelves before and behind. That very evening, after they had 

 fupp'd, the Governour of the Town came to complement the principal Der- 

 vichs, and during their ftay, fent them Rice and other things, which they are ac- 

 cuftom'd to eat." When they come to anyplace, the Superior (ends feme of his 

 Crew a begging into the Towns and Villages, and what Alms they get, is pre- 

 fently distributed equally among them j every one of them taking care to boil 

 his own Rice. What is over and above they give to the Poor in the evening % for 

 they relerve nothing till next day. 



From Chit pour to Balampour, coftes Ia 



From Balampour to Dantivar, coftes I3C 



From Dantivar, to Bargant, coftes J 7 



Bargant is in the Territories of a Raja, to whom you pay duties. In one ot 



my journeys to Agra, pafling through Bargant, I did not fee the Raja, but only 



his Lieutenant who was very civil to me, and made me a Prefent of Rice, Butter 



and Fruit in feafon. To make him amends, F gave him three Shames of Gold 



* G and" 



