i*l6 Travels, in India. Part. 11. 



Under the Portal of the Pagod/its one of the principal Bramins with a great 

 Bafon by him, full of a yellow colour mix'd with water. All thefe, poor Idola- 

 ters come and prefent themfelves before him, who gives them a mark from be- 

 tween the eyes to the top of the nofe, then upon the arms, and upon the ftomach" 

 by which marks they know who have wafh'd themfelves in Ganges, and who not 

 Thofe that never wafh'd themlelves but in the waters of their own Wells, or have 

 only fent for it from the River, they do not believe to be perfectly purifi'd, and 

 by coniequence they are not to be mark'd with that colour. By the way'take 

 notice, that thefe Idolaters are mark'd with ditferent colours, according to the 

 Tribe they are of. But in the Empire of the Great Mogul, they who are painted 

 with yellow compofe the biggeft Tribe, and are the lealt defil'd. For when rhev 

 are neceffitated to the deeds of nature, fome think it not enough to warn "the part 

 defil'd j but they firft rub the part with a handful of fand, and then fcour it with 

 water. After fo doing, they affirm their bodies to be clean, and that they can 

 eat their food without fear. 



Neer to this great Pagod upon the Summer-weft, Hands a kind of a Colled? 

 which the Raja fejfeing, the molt Potent of all the Idolaters in the Mogul's Em- 

 pire, built for the education of the youth of the better fort. I law two of the 

 children of that Prince there at School, who had for their Mafters feveral Bra- 

 mins, who taught them to write and read in a language peculiar to the Idolaters 

 Priefts, and far ditferent from the fpeech of the common people. Entring into the 

 Court of that Colledg, and calling my eyes up, I difcover'd two Galleries that 

 went round the Court, where I (aw the two Princes fitting, attended by feveral 

 petty Lords and Bramins , who made feveral Mathematical Figures upon the 

 ground with chalk. The two Princes feeing me, fent to know who I was ; and 

 undemanding that I was a Franks, they fent for me up, and ask VLme fevera! 

 queftions touching Europe, and particularly touching France. WheHupon there 

 being two Globes in the room which the Ho/landers had giv'n the Bramins I 

 fhew'd the Princes where France lay upon one of them. After I had taken leave 

 I ask'd one of the Bramins when I might fee the Pagod open : he anfwer'd me' 

 the next morning before Sun-rifing. When I came there, I obferv'd before the 

 door, a Gallery fupported with Pillars, where there was already a great crowd of 

 men, women and children expecting when the Pagod would be open'd. By and 

 . by, the Gallery, and a great part of the Court being full, there came eight Bra- 

 mmsjouv of each fide of the Gate, with every one a Cenfer in his hand, follow'd 

 'by a rabble of other Bramins that made a hideous noife with Drums and other In- 

 ftruments. The two eldeft of the Bramins fing a Song.} and then all the people, 

 falling into the tune, fall a finging and playing, with every one a Peacock's-tail, or 

 fome other kind of flabel, to drive away the flies, that the Idol may not be'an- 

 annoid when they op'n the Pagod. This fanning, and the Mufick, lafted a good 

 half hour. Then the two principal Bramins made a great noife three times with 

 , two little Bells, and with a kind of a Mallet knockt at the Pagod-door. Which 

 was prefently open'd by fix Bramins within, difcavering, fome fix or feven paces 

 from the entrance, an Altar with an Idol upon it, which they call Ram, Ram, the 

 Sifter of Morli-Ram. Upon her right-hand me has a child made like a great Cu- 

 pid, which they call the God La-k&nin, and in her left-arm a little Girl, which 

 they call the Goddefs Sit a. So foon as the Pagod was open, and that a great Cur- 

 tain was drawn, the people, who perceiv'd the Idol, fell upon the ground, laying 

 their hands upon their heads,and proftrating themfelves three times.Then rifing up, 

 they threw great quantities of Nofegays and Garlands to the preifts ; with which 

 the Bramins touch'd the Idol, and then feftop'd them again. Before the Altar ftood 

 a Bram:n, who held in his hand a lamp of nine weeks lighted, upon which he caftr 

 Incenfe every foot, and then held it to the Idol. All thefe ceremonies rafted above 

 an hour ; after which the people departed, and the Pagod was fhut. They pre- 

 fented the Hoi with great ftore of Rice, MeaJ, Butter, Oil, and Milk-meats, of 

 which the Bramins lofe nothiag. Now in regard, this Idol is the reprefentation of 

 a Woman, the Women all invoke it, and call her their Patronds : which is the 

 reafon that the place is generally crowded with Women and Maids. The Raja to 

 have this Idol in the Pagod of his own houfe, and for taking it out of the great 

 Pagod, has expended as well upon the Bramins, as in alms to the poor, above five 

 Lacres of Roupies, or 7yoooo Livres of our Money, On 



