Book HI. Travels in India. 



TRAVELS 



I N D I A. 



The Third Book. 



CHAP. J. 



Of the particular Religion of the Mahometans in the Eafi Indies. 



TH E diverfity of Opinions among the Mahometans, does not confift 

 in the different Expofitions which they put upon the Alcoran j but 

 in the contrariety of Belief which they receiv'd by Tradition from 

 the firft Succelfors of Mahomet. From thence there fprung two 

 Sects, directly oppofite : The one, which is call'd the Sect of the Soumis, fol- 

 low' d by the Turks ; and the other of the Chiais, which is adher'd to by the 

 Perjians. I will not enlarge my felf upon thefe two Sects, that divide all Ma~ 

 httmstifm ; it being my delign, only to tell you how the condition of that falfe 

 Religion ftands in the Empire of the Great Mogul, and in the Kingdoms of Gol- 

 conda and Fifapour. 



When Mahumetifm was firft brought into the Indies, there was an excefs of 

 pride, but no devotion among the Chriftians ; and the Idolaters were an effe- 

 minate people, able to make little refiftance ; fo that it was eafie for the Ma- 

 hameMs to fubdue both the one and the other by force of Arms., which they 

 did fo advantageoufly, that many., as well Chriftians as Idolaters, embrac'd the 

 Mohamet cm Religion. 



The Great Mogul, with all his Court, follows the Sect of the Sounnis j the 

 King of Golconda, that of the Chiais. In the King of Vfapouis Territories the 

 Sounnis and Chiais are mingfd together ; which may be faid alfo of the Court 

 of the Great Mogul, in regard of the great numbers of Perjlans that flock thi- 

 ther to ferve in his Armies. True it is, that though they abhor the Sounnis s 

 yet they adhere to the Religion of the Prince ; holding it lawful for the pre- 

 fervation of their Eftates to conceal their belief. As for what concerns the King- 

 dom of Golconda, Koutoub-Cha, the prefent King, very zealoufly maintains the 

 Éaw of the Chiais ; in regard the Grandees of his Court are almoft all Per- 

 sians. 



Amsng-z,eb teftifies above all things an extraordinary devotion for the Sect, 

 of the Sounms ; of which he is fo zealous an obferver, that he furpalfes all 

 his Predeeeifors in outward profelfion ; which was the Cloak under which he 

 ufurp'd the Crown. When he took pofTefTion of his Throne, he gave it out 

 that he did it only out of a defign to caufe the Law of Mahomet to be more 

 ftrictly oblerv'd, which had been very much neglected in the Reign of Sha- 

 jehan his Father, and Gehan-guir his Grandfather 5 and to fhew himfelf more 

 zealous to the Law., he turn'd Faqmr or Dervish, that is 3 poor Volunteer ; and 



under 



