174 'Travels in India. Part H. 



Prieft, who before he gives them leave to fhave and wafh in Ganges; taxes 

 them according to their quality, of which he has information. Thus he Col- 

 lefts Vaft fums, of which he makes little or no profit himfelf ; all going to feed 

 the poor, and the repair of the Pagod. The chief Bramin caufes Victuals to 

 be diftributed to the Pilgrims every day ; as Milk, Rice, Butter, and Wheat - t 

 but to the poor, who want wherewithall to cook it, they diftribute their food 

 ready drefst. In the morning they boil a quantity of Rice in Earth'n pots 

 of different bignefs j and at the hour when the Pilgrims come for their meat, 

 the chief Bramin orders another Bramin to take a pot of boil'd Rice i this pot 

 he lets fall j and if there be five, the pot breaks into five equal parts, and eve- 

 ry one takes his own (hare. And in the fame manner he breaks it into more 

 pieces, if there be more perfons, to whom he is to diftribute the food. Which 

 is a thing very ftrange and worthy obfervation. They never boil twice in an 

 Earthen pot -, but in a Copper pot ; nor have they any other Dimes, than only 

 certain Leaves, which they faften together, and a certain kind of a Bafon, a- 

 bout a foot in compafs, wherein they melt their Butter, and ftir the Rice with 

 the ends of their fingers when they eat. They have alfo a kind of a Shell, 

 wherein they pour their melted Butter, which they will fwallow down, as we 

 do Sack. 



Now for the defcription of a particular Idol which ftands upon the Altar in 

 the Pagod of fagrenate : It is cover'd from the Shoulders downward with a 

 great Mantle that hangs down upon the Altar. This Mantle is of Tiffue of 

 Gold or Silver, according to the Solemnities. At firft it had neither feet nor 

 hands ; but after one of their Prophets was taken up into Heaven, while they 

 were lamenting what to do for another, God fent them an Angel in the like- 

 nefs of that Prophet, to the end they might continue their Veneration toward 

 him. Now while this Angel was bufie in making this Idol, the people grew 

 fb impatient, that they took him out of the Angels hands, and put him into 

 the Pagod without hands or feet -, but finding that the Idol appear'd in that 

 manner too deformed, they made him hands and arms of thole fmalr Pearls 

 which we call Ounce- Pearls. As for his feet, they are never feen, being hid un- 

 der his Cloak. There is no part op'n but his hands and feet } the head and 

 body being of Sandel-wood j round about the Duomo, under which this Idol 

 Itands, being very high, from the bottom to the top, are only Niches fill'd 

 with other Idols ; the greateft part whereof reprefent moft hideous Monfters, 

 being all of different colours. On each fide of this Pagod, there ftands ano- 

 ther much lefs, where the Pilgrims make their lefler Offerings. And fome 

 that have in ficknefs, or upon bufinefs made any Vows to any Deitv, bring thi- 

 ther the refemblance thereof in remembrance of the good which they have re- 

 ceived. They rub this Idol every day with fweet Oils, that make it of a black 

 colour. And at the right hand of this Idol fits his Sifter, who ftands upon her 

 feet, and is well clad, being call'd by the name of Sotora; upon his left,, ftands 

 fois Brother, cloath'd all over alfo, whom they call Balhader. Before the Idol, 

 fomewhat toward his left hand, ftands the Idols Wife upon her feet, all of mafly 

 Gold, by the name of Remin j whereas the other three are only of Sandal- 

 wood. 



The two other Pagods are appointed for the refidence Of the chief Bramin, 

 and other Bramins that officiate in the great Pagod. All thefe Bramins go with 

 their heads bare, and for the moft part fhav'd j having no other Cloathes but 

 «only one piece of Calicut, with one half whereof they cover their bodies j 

 the other part ferves them inftead of a Scarf. Near the Pagod ftands the Tomb 

 <of one of their Prophets, whofe name was Cabir, to whom they give great 

 honour. You are to take notice alfo , that their Idols ftand upon a kind of 

 Altar, encompafs'd with Iron Bars. For no perfons are to touch them, but only 

 certain Bramins, appointed for that fervice by the chief Bramin. 



Next to that of fagrenate, the moft famous Pagod is that of Banarous, be- 

 ing alfo feated upon the Ganges, in a City that bears the fame name. That 

 which is moft remarkable is, that from the Gate of the Pagod to the River 

 there is a defcent all of Stone s near to which are certain Platforms, and fmall 

 blind Chambers, fome for the Bramins lodging, others where they drefs their 



victuals j 



