Chap. VIII. of Monfieur Tavernier. i 



fearlefly into it -, and as he went in , fo he came out without rhe lead harm. Then 

 the King and all the people that were prelent ador'd him for a real Prophet , and 

 gave him the name of Zer-Ateucht , or Wajïïd in Silver. 



The Prophet perceiving that all the people had him in fo much veneration , with- 

 drew himfelf, and would not be feen any more. Nor do they juftly know what 

 became of him -, which makes the greateft part of the Gaurs believe , that he was 

 fak'n up into Paradife both Soul and Body together. Others lay , that having found 

 an Iron Coffin upon the Road near Bagdat, he put himfelf into it, and was carry'd 

 intoHeav'n by the Angels. They allow their Prophet three Children , who are not 

 yet come into the world , though their names be already giv'n them. They Iky 

 that this Prophet Sbrahim walking one time upon the River without a Boat, three 

 drops of his nature fell from him upon the water, which are full prelerv'd there. 

 That their God will fend a Virgin, very much belov'd by him , upon the lame River , 

 who by the reception of the firft drop fhall become big of the firft Child , whom 

 they call beforehand Ouchider. He fhall come into the world with authority , and 

 (hall caufe his Fathers Law to be receiv'd , and confirm it , not only by his eloquent 

 Preaching, but by many miracles. The fécond , whofe name is Ouchiderma , fhall 

 be conceiv'd after the fame fafhion -, he fhall affift his Brother , and by caufing the 

 Sun to (land ffcill ten years, fhall convince all the world of the Truth of his Doctrine. 

 The third fhall be conceiv'd by the fame Mother, and fhall be call'd Senoiet-hotku .- 

 He fhall come with more authority than his two Brothers , and fhall perfectly reduce 

 all people to the Religion of their Prophet. After which fhall be the univerfal 

 Refurrection , at what time all the Souls , either in Paradife or Hell , fhall return 

 to take pofTeffion of their Bodies. Then fay they, fhall all the Mountains , and all 

 the Minerals in the world be melted , and fhall fill up the great Chaos of Hell , 

 whereby the Manfion of the Devils fhall be utterly deftroy'd ? After this the 

 world fhall be levell'd , and be made fit to inhabit , and men fhall have every one 

 their apartment anfwerable to the degree and quantity of the good which they did in 

 their life time : but that their chief delight fhall be to behold and praife God and 

 Ebrabim their Prophet. They add that before the Refurrection , thole that are in 

 Paradife do not behold the face of God , no not the Angels themfelves, except only 

 one , who is always attendant on him to receive and execute his commands. They 

 alfo fay that God will have pity upon the Damn'd , and that they fhall go into 

 Paradife, as having fuffer'd enough already for their fins. By which it appears, 

 that the Paradife of the Gaurs is lefs remote from fenfe than that of Mahomet 7 ?, in- 

 vention - , and that they have a confus'd knowledge of the myfteries of Chriftian 

 Religion. 



Of the Books of the Gaurs. 



EBrahim-z.er-Ateucht being taken up into Paradife , they receiv'd by his means 

 feven Books of Laws , which God of his goodnefs lent them to inftruft them 

 in the way of their Salvation. They alfo receiv'd feven others , containing an inter- 

 pretation of all the Dreams that could be Dream'd. Lafcly feven others , wherein 

 were written all the fecrets of Phyfick , and all the poffible means for the long prefer- 

 vation of health. They fay that fourteen of thefe Books, which contain'd the expli- 

 cation of Dreams and fecrets of Phyfick are loft -, for that Allexander the Great carry'd 

 them away , as efteeming them a vaft treafure } and for the Books of their Religion, 

 becaufe they were written in a language that none but the Angels underftood , Alex- 

 ander for madnefs caus'd them to be burnt: for which ralhnels of his, God punifh'd 

 him, and afflicted him with that terrible ficknefs whereof he Dy'd. Some Doctors 

 and Priefts that had hid themfelves in the Mountains to fave their lives from his But- 

 chery , after Alexander was Dead, met again together, and compos'd one Book 

 by the ftrength of their memories. I faw that Book which is a good large one, and 

 written in a different Character, either from the Arabian, Perfian , or Indian, 

 Their Priefts themfelves that read in that Book hardly underftand what they 

 read , but they have other Books that explain what is contain'd therein. When 

 they read in that Book , as alfo when they pray , they tye a Handkerchief about 

 their mouths , as if they were afraid their words fhould mix with the Air and receive 

 any impurity. 



Of 



