2 



Travels in India. 



Part. II. 



While we ftay'd at Bez^wart, we went to fee feveral Pagods, of which the 

 Country is full ; there being more than in any other part of India ; for unlefs 

 it be the Governours of Towns; and fome of their Domefticks, all the reft of 

 the Inhabitants are Idolaters. The Pagod belonging to the Town of Bez.ouan t 

 is a very large one, but not clos'd with Walls; it confifts.of fifty-two Pillars 

 twenty foot high, that uphold a flat roof of Free-ftone 5 they are adom'd with 

 feveral embofs'd Figures of ugly Devils, and feveral forts of Creatures. Some 

 of thofe Devils are made with four Horns, others with many Legs and many 

 Tails , others lilling out their Tongues, and others in feveral other ridiculous 

 poftures. The fame Figures are cut in the Stone of the Roof, and between 

 the Pillars ftand the Statues of their Gods upon Pedeftals. The Pagod is built 

 in the midft of a Court, of a greater length than breadth, encompafs'd with 

 Walls, which are adorn d within and without, with the fame Figures as the 

 Pagod i and a Gallery upheld by fixty-fix Pillars, runs round the Wall, after 

 the manner of a Cloyfter. You enter into this Court through a wide Portal, 

 upon which are two Niches, one above another, the firft upheld by twelve, 

 the other by eight Pillars. At the bottom of the Pillars of the Pagod, are 

 certain old Indian Characters, of which the Priefts of thofe Idolaters themfelves 

 can hardly tell the meaning. 



We went to fee another Pagod, built upon a Hill, to Which there is an ac- 

 cent of a hundred and ninety-three fteps, every one a foot high. The Pagod 

 is four-fquare, with a Cupola at the top ; and has the fame embofs'd Figures, 

 as the Pagod of Bez.oy.art, round about the Walls. In the middle, there is an 

 Idol fitting crofs-leg'd, after the manner of the Country ; and in that fitting 

 pofture it is about four foot high ; upon the Head it has a Triple Crown, from 

 which four Horns extend themfelves ; and it has the Face of a man, turn'd to- 

 ward the Eaft. The Pilgrims that come out of devotion to thefe Pagods, when 

 they enter, clafp their hands together, and rear them up to their foreheads j 

 then they advance toward the Idol, toffing their two hands fo clafpt together, 

 and crying out feveral times Ram, Ram, that is to fay, God, God. When they 

 come near, they ring a little Bell that hangs upon the Idol it felf ; after they 

 have befmear'd the Face, and feveral parts of the Body, with lèverai forts of 

 Painting. Some there are that bring along with them Viols of Oil, with which 

 they anoint the Idol ; and befides, they make an Offering to it of Sugar, Oil, 

 and other things proper to be eaten ; the richer fort alfb adding pieces of Sil- 

 ver. There are fixty Priefts that belong to this Idol, and maintain themfelves, 

 their Wives, and Children upon the Offerings brought to the Idol. But to the 

 end the Pilgrims may believe the Idol takes them, the Priefts let them lye 

 two days, and the third day in the evening they take them away. When any 

 Pilgrim goes to a Pagod, to be cur'd of any diftemper, he brings the Figure 

 of the Member affeded made either in Gold, Silver, or Copper, according to 

 his quality, which he offers to his god ; and then falls a ringing, as all the reft 

 do, after they have offer'd. Before the Gate of the Pagod, there is a flat 

 Roof, upheld by fixteen Pillars, and right againft it, is another upheld by eight j 

 which fèrves for the Prieftsi Kitchin. On the South-fide there is a large Plat- 

 form cut in the Mountain, where there is a plealing made of many fair Trees, 

 and feveral Wells digg'd in the ground. Pilgrims come far and near to this 

 Pagod ; and if they be poor, the Priefts relieve them with what ftey receive 

 from the rich, that come there out of devotion. The great Feaft of this Pa- 

 god is in the month of OEiober, at which time there is a great concourfe of 

 people from all parts. While we were there, there was a Woman that had 

 not ftirr'd out of the Pagod for three days together; and her prayer to the 

 Idol was, fince me had loft her Husband, to know what fhe mould do to bring 

 up her Children. Thereupon asking one of the Priefts, wherefore (he had no 

 anfwer, or whether fhe was to have any anfwer or no ; he told me, that fhe 

 muft wait the pleafure of their God, and that then he would give her an an* 

 fwer t© what fhe expecled. Upon this I miftrufted fome cheat, and to difco- 

 ver it^ I refolv'd to go into the Pagod when all the Priefts were abiênt at Dinner, 

 there being only one that ftood at the Gate, whom I fent to fetch me fome 

 water at a Fountain two or three Musket-fhot from the place. During that 



time 



