Book II. Travels in India. 165 



an Ape fpeak to her in her Husbands behalf. At firft fhe would not give any 

 credit to fuch an Embaffador } but the Ape, to mew that his Commiflion was 

 authentick, prefents her with a Ring which her Husband had giv'n her,, and 

 that (he had left behind , her among her Furniture. She could hardly however 

 believe fo great a Miracle, as that Ram ber Husband mould make a Beaft fpeak, 

 to bring her the news of his health, and to teftifie^as he did, the marks of his 

 affection. But the Ape Harman wrought Miracles himfelf, for being taken for 

 a Spy by fome of Rhevans Servants, who therefore would have burnt him, he 

 made ufe of the fire which they had prepar'dto burn him, to fet Rhevans Pa- 

 lace on fire, which he almoft confum'd to the ground, with all the tatters and 

 rags which were ty'd to his tail and his body. When the Ape had thus done, 

 the better to efcape out of Rhevans hands, he took the fame way he came, 

 and repafling the Sea again at one jump , he came and gave Ram an account 

 of his adventures ; and told him in what a forrowful condition he had found 

 Sita, who did nothing but mourn by reafon of her abfence from her Husband. 

 Ram touch'd with his Wives affection, refolv'd to deliver her out of Rhevans 

 hands, whatever it coft him j whereupon he rais'd Forces , and being guided 

 by the Ape, at length he came to Rhevans Palace, that ftill fmoak'd, the fire 

 tad been fo great ; and by reafon that Rhevans Servants were difpers'd, Ram 

 had an eafie opportunity to fee his belov'd Sit a again , whom Rhevan aban- 

 don'd wholly to him, flying for fear to the Mountains. Ram and Sit a were 

 infinitely overjoy'd at their coming together again, and return'd very great 

 Honours to Harman, who had done him fo eminent fèrvice. 



As for Rhevan, he fpent all the reft of his days like a poor Faquir, feeing 

 his Country ruin'd by Ram's Troops, who was refolv'd to be reveng'd for the 

 injury which he had receiv'd; and from this Rhevan it was, from whence that 

 infinite multitude of Faquirs, that fvvarm all over India, firft took their Ori- 

 ginal. 



CHAP. VJ. 



Of the Faquirs, or $oor Volunteers among the Indians, and of 



their Refinances \ 



THE Original of the Faquirs, as I faid before, came from that Rhevan, 

 whom Ram difpoil'd of his Kingdom j at Avhich he conceiv'd fuch an un- 

 (peakable forrow, that he refolv'd to lead a Vagabond life, and to wander about 

 the world, poor, ftript of all, and in a manner quite naked. He found a now 

 to follow him in a courfe of life that gives them fo much liberty. For being 

 worftiip'd as Saints, they have in their hands all opportunities of doing evil. 



Thefe Faquirs wander generally in Troops, every one of which has a Supe- 

 rior. And in regard they are quite naked, Winter and Summer lying upon the 

 hard ground, when it is cold, the young Faquirs, and others that are moft de- 

 vout, go in the afternoon to feek for the dung of Cows and other Creatures, 

 of which they make their fires. They rarely burn , Wood, for fear of killing 

 any living Animal which is wont to breed in it 5 and therefore the Wood where- 

 with they burn their dead, is only fuch as has floated long in the Water, which 

 never breeds any fort of living Creature.. The young Faquirs having got toge- 

 ther a good quantity of dung, mix'd with dry turf, make feveral fires, accor- 

 ding to the bignefs of the Company ; round about every one of which the Fa- 

 quirs feat themfelves. When they grow fleepy, they lay themfelves upon the 

 ground, fpreading the Ames abroad, which ferve them for a Mattrefs ; without 

 any other Canopy than that of Heaven. ' 



As for the Faquirs that do Pennance, when they are laid down in the fame 

 pofture as you fee them in the day time, they kindle a good fire on each fide 

 of them, for otherwife they would not be able to endure the cold. The rich 



Idola- 



