Travels in India. Part II. 



under that falfe pretence of Piety he cunningly made way to the Empire. And 

 indeed though he has a great many Per fans under his pay, yet he wilJ not 

 permit them to keep holy' the day confecrated to the memory of Hofen and 

 Heutjln, the two Sons of AU, who were put to death by the Sounnis; befides 

 that' they, to pleafe him, are willing enough to conform. 



160 



CHAP. ÏJ. 



Of the Faquirs, or foor Mahometan Volunteers in the Eaft Indies. 



THey reckon that there are in the Indies eight hundred thoufànd "PaqiiîrÉ 

 and twelve hundred thoufand Idolaters ; which is a prodigious Number. 

 They are all of them Vagabonds, and lazy Drones, that dazle the eyes of 

 the people with a falfe zeal, and make them believe that whatever comes out 

 of their mouths is an Oracle. 



There are lèverai forts of Mahometan Faquirs, The one fort go aîmoft naked, 

 like the Idolatrous Faquirs, having no certain abode in the world, but giving 

 themfèlves up to all manner of uncleannefs. There are others whole Garments 

 are of fo many different pieces and colours, that a man can hardly tell of what; 

 they are made. Thefe Garments reach down to the half Leg, and hide the rags 

 that are underneath. They go generally in Troops 5 and have their Superiour 

 of the Gang, who is known by his Garment, which is generally poorer, and 

 confifts of more patches than the other. Beiides, that he draws after him a 

 great Iron Chain, which is ty'd to his Leg, and is about two Ells long/ and 

 proportionably thick. When he fays his prayers, he does it with a loud voice, 

 and ratling his Chain all the while, which is accompany 'd with an affe&ed gra- 

 vity, that draws the Veneration of the people. In the mean time the people 

 prepare Dinner for him and his company, in the place where he takes up his 

 ftand, which is ufually in fome ftreet or publick place. There he caules his 

 Difciples to fpread certain Carpets, where he fets himfelf down to give audi- 

 ence to the people. On the other fide, the Difciples go about publifhing through, 

 the Country the vertues of their Mafter, and the favours he receives from* 

 God, who reveals his moft important fecrets to him, and gives him power 

 to relieve perfons' in afflidion by his counfeL The people, who give credit to* 

 him, and believe him to be a holy man, approach him with a great devotion, 

 and when they come near him, they pull off their Shoes, and proftrate them- 

 fèlves to kifs his feet. Then the Faquir, to fhew his humilitv reaches out his 

 hand to kifs ; that done, he caufes them that come to confuk him, to fit down- 

 by him, and hears every one apart. They boaft themfèlves to have a prophetick 

 Spirit ; and above all to teach barren women a way how to have Children, and' 

 to be belov'd by whom they pleafe. 



There are fome of thefè Faquirs who have above two hundred Difciples, or 

 more, which they affemble together by the found of a Horn, or the Beat of 

 a Drum. When they travel, they have their Standard, Lances, and other Wea- 

 pons which they pitch in the ground, near to their Mafter, when he repofes hv 

 any place. 



The third fort of Eaft Indian Faquirs, are thofe that being born of poor Pa- 

 rents, and defirous to underftand the Law, to the end they may become MoulMs 

 or Doftors, retire to the Mofquees y where they live upon the Alms which is 

 given them. They employ all their time in reading the Alcoran, which they 

 get bv heart j and if they can but add to that ftudy the knowledg of fome 

 natural things, and an exemplary life withal], they come to be chief of the Mos- 

 quées, and to the dignity of Moullahs, and Judges of the Law. Thofe Faquirs 

 have their Wives ; and fome, out of their great zeal to imitate Mahomet, have 

 three or four; thinking they do God great fervke in begetting many Children; 

 £0 be followers of their Laws. 



CHAP 



