Book III. Travels in India. 162 



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CHAP. IV. 



Of the Kings and Idolatrous Trinces of Afia. 



THE chiefeft of the Idolatrous Kings of ^_/w,arethe King of ^raca^thcKlng 

 of Pegu, the King of Slam, the King of Cochinchina, and the King of Tkn- 

 qtiin. As for the King of China, we know that he was an Idolater before the 

 Tartars invaded his Dominions. But fince that, we know not what to report 

 of certainty,, in regard that the Tartars who are now Matters of the Country, 

 are neither Idolaters nor Mahometajis, but rather both together. In the Iflands, 

 the King of fapon, the King of Ceylan, and forae petty Kings of the Molucca 

 Iflands are Idolaters 5 as are all the Raja's as well in the Empire of the Great 

 Mogul, as in the neighbouring Kingdoms of Fifapaitr and Golconda. In a word, 

 all the meaner fort of people, as well in the Territories of the Great Mogul, 

 Kings of Golconda and Vifapour, as in the Ifles of Achan, Java, and Macajfar, 

 though their Kings are Mahumetans, are all themfelves Idolaters. 



Some fifty years ago_, one of the Kings of Ceylan became a Chriftian, and 

 was baptiz'd by the name of John, heing call'd before the Emperor Priapen- 

 dsr. But as foon as he had embraced the Chriftian Faith, the Princes and Priefts 

 of the Country fet up another King in his room. He endeavour'd all he could 

 to bring his people to follow his example ; to which purpofe he ailijgn'd to 

 the Father fefuits, twelve large Villages about Colombo, for the bringing up 

 the youth of the Country in their Colledges ■, to the end that they being well 

 inftru&ed, might inftrudt others. For the King made it plain to the fefuits, that it 

 was Impoffible for them fo well to underftand the Language of the Country, as 

 to be able to preach to the Natives. Betides, that -they found the ingenuities 

 of the Youth of Ceylan fo quick and apprehenfive, that they learnt more La- 

 tin Philofophy, and other Sciences in fix months, than the Europeans learnt in 

 a year ; and that they put fuch fubtle Queftions to their Mafters, as were be- 

 yond imagination. 



Some years after the King had profefs'd Chriftiamty , a witty man of the 

 Ifland of Ceylan, and a good natural Philofopher, whole name was Alegamma 

 Mot tar or the Matter of the Philofophers , after he had convers'd with the 

 fefuits 'and other Religious perfons, was infpir'd to turn Chriftian. Thereupon 

 he went to the fefuits, and told them, that he defir'd to be a Chriftian ; but 

 withall he was very earneft to know what Jefus Chrift had done, and left in 

 writing They gave him the New Teftament, which he fet himfelf to read with 

 that heed and itudy, that in lefs than fix months there was hardly a paflage 

 which he could not repeat. After that he again teftifi'd to the fefuits and o- 

 ther Relieious perfons, that he had a great defire to turn Chriftian, in regard 

 he found their Religion to be fuch as Jefus Chrift had taught ; but only he won- 

 der'd that they themfelves did not follow his example. For that he could ne- 

 ver find by his reading, that Jefus Chrift ever took any money of any body; 

 but that they took all they could get, and never baptiz'd nor buri'd unlefs 

 they were well paid. But though he ftarted the Qjaeftion, he was baptiz d, and 

 afterwards became a fedulous converter of others. 





* Y 21 CHAP, 



