Book III. Travels in 1 



NDIA. 



J 75 



visuals j for Co foon as the Idolaters have faid their Prayers, and made their Of- 

 ferings, they drefs their food, not fuffcring any perfon to touch it but themlelves 

 for fear left any unclean perfon fhould come neer it. But above all things thev 

 paffionatcly defire to drink of Ganges water? for as often as they drink it thev 

 are warn d, as they believe, from all their fins. Great numbers of thefc Bramin, 

 go every day to the cleaneft part of the River, where they fill their little round 

 earthen-pots full of water, the mouths whereof are very final I, and contain everv 

 one of them a Bucket-full. Being thus fill'd, they bring them before the great 

 Prieft, who covers them with a fine piece of flame- colour'd Calicut, three or four 

 times doubl'd, to which he fets his Seal. The Bramms carry thefe pots fome 

 fix of them ty'd together with fix little, cords faften'd to the end of a itick as 

 broad as«a lath, (hifting theirfhoulders often ; travelling fometimes three or four 

 hunder'd leagues with thofe precious burthens up into the Countrey. Where thev 

 fell it , ro prefent it j but that is only to the rich, from whence they expect 

 great rewards. There are fome of thefe Idolaters, who when they make any 

 great Feaft, efpecially when they marry their children, will drink four or five- 

 hunder'd Crowns in this water. They never drink of it till the end of their meals $ 

 and then a glafs or two according to the liberality of the Matter of the Feaft. The 

 chief reafon why they efteem the water of Ganges Co highly, is, becaufe it never 

 putrifies, nor engenders any vermin ; though I know not whether they mav be 

 behev'd, confidering the great quantity of dead bodies which they fling into the 

 Ganges, 



The body of jthe Pagod of Banarom is made like a Crofs, as are all the reft of 

 the Pagods, the four parts whereof are equal. In the midft there is a Cupola 

 rais'd very high, the top whereof is pyramidal ; at the end alfo of every four 

 parts of the firofs there is a Tower, to which there is an afcent on the out-fide. 

 Before you $me to the top, there are feveral Balconies and Niches wherein to 

 take the frefh air : and round about are figures of all forts of creatures, but very 

 Leud work. Under the Dmmo^ in the middle of the Pagod there is an Altar, like 

 a Table, eight foot long, and fix foot broad, with two fteps before, that ferve.for 

 a footftool, which is cover'd fometimes with a rich Tapeftry, fometimes with 

 Silk, fometimes with Gloath of Gold or Silver, according to the fblemnity of 

 their Feitival. Their Altars are cover'd with Cloath of Gold or Silver, or elfe 

 with fome painted Calicuts. Approaching the entry of the Pagod, you fee the 

 Altar right before ye, together with the Idols which are upon it. For the Wo- 

 men and Virgins worfhip without, not being permitted to enter the Pagod, no i 

 more than is a certain Tribe which is among them. Among the Idols that ftand 

 upon the great Altar, there is one plac'd upright fome five or fix foot high 5. bat 

 you can fee neither arms, nor legs, nor body : nothing appears but the head and 

 neck, all the reft being cover'd down to the Altar with a Robe that fpreads it felf 

 below. Sometimes you fhall fee the neck fet out with fome rich Chain either of 

 Gold, Rubies, Pearls, or Emraulds. This Idol was made in honour and likenefs of 

 Bainma-dou, who was heretofore a very great and holy Perionage among them, 

 rvhofe name they oft'n have in their mouths. Upon the right-fide of the Altar 

 ftands the figure of a Chimera, part Elephant, part Horfe, part Mule. It is of 

 maffive Gold, and they call it Garou, not fuffering any perfon to approach it but 

 the Bramins. They fay it is the refemblance of the Beaft which carri'd that holy 

 perfon when he liv'd upon earth. And that he travell'd long journeys upon his 

 back, to fee if the people remain'd in their duty, and whether they did no wrong 

 one to another. Between the great Gate and the great Altar upon the left-hand, 

 there is a little Aftar,upon which there ftands an Idol of black Marble fitting crofs- 

 legg'd, about two foot high. While 1 was there, a little Boy who was the Son of 

 the High-Prieft ftood upon the left-fide of the Altar, and all the people tTirew him 

 certain pieces of TafFa,ta, or embroider'd Calicut, like Handkerchiefs, all which he 

 return'd to the people again after he had wip'd them' upon the Idol. Others 

 threw him Bracelets of Corals others of yellow Amber, others threw him fruits 

 and flowers j whatever they threw him, he rubb'd it upon the Idol , put it to 

 his lips, and then reftor'd it to the people. This Idol is call'd Modi-Rant, that 

 is to &y God-Morlij and was the Brother of him that ftands upon the great Al- 

 tar.- . , 



Under' 



