Bookffl. Travels in India. i<-o 



TRAVELS 



I N 



INDIA. 



The Third Book 



CHAP. J. 



Of the f articular Religion of the Mahometans in the Eaft Indies. 



THE diverfity of Opinions among the Mahometans, does not confift 

 in the different Expofitions which they put upon the Alcoran -, but 

 in the contrariety of Belief which they received by Tradition from 

 the firft Succeflbrs of Mahomet. From thence there fprung two 

 Sefts, direetly oppofite : The one, which is call'd the Seel; of the Sounnis, fol- 

 low'd by the Turks ; and the other of the Chiais, which is adher'd to by the 

 Per/tans. I will not enlarge my felf upon thefe two Seels, that divide all Mar- 

 humctifm 5 it being my defign, only ro fell you how the condition of that falfe 

 Religion Hands in the Empire of the Great Mogul, and in the Kingdoms of Gol- 

 tonda and Fifapour. 



When Mahumetfm was firft brought into the Indies, there was an. excels of 

 pride, but no devotion among the Chriftians 5 and the Idolaters were an effe- 

 minate people, able to make little refiftance j fo that it was eafie for the Ma~ 

 humctns to fubdue both the one and the other by force of Arms, which they 

 did fo advantageoufly, that many., as well Chriftians as Idolaters, embrae'd the 

 Mahumetan Religion. 



The Great Mogul, with all his Court, follows the Seel: of the Sounnis -, the 

 King of Golconda, that of the Chiais. In the King of Vfapour\ Territories the 

 Sounnis and Chiais are mingl'd together j which may be faid alfo of the Court 

 of the Great Mogul y in regard of the great numbers of Perfiaus that flock thi- 

 ther to ferve in his Armies. True it is, that though they abhor the Sounnis; 

 yet they adhere to the Religion of the Prince ; holding it lawful for the pte- 

 fervation of thenr Eftates to conceal their belief. As for what concerns the King- 

 dom of Golconda, Koutoub-Cha, the prefent King, very zealoufly maintains the 

 Law of the Chiais-, in regard the Grandees of his Court are almoft all per- 

 [tans. 



Am-eng-z,eb tcftifies above all things an extraordinary devotion for the Seel: 

 of the Swnms j of which he is fo zealous an obferver, that he furpafles all 

 his PredecefTors in outward profeflfion $ which was the Cloak under which h,e 

 ufurp'd the Crown. When he took polfeffion of his Throne, he gave it que 

 that he did it only out of a defign to caufe the Law of Mahomet to be more 

 ftriftly obferv'd, which had been very much neglecled in the Reign of Sha- 

 phan his Father, and Gehan-guir bis Grandfather -, and to (hew himfelf mote 

 zealous to the Law^ he turn'd Faquir or Derviehj that is, poor Volunteer 5 and 



under 



