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'Part III. Travels into r/;^ I N D I E S. 47 
The Women of Dei)// arc handfomej and the Gentiles very chafi: ^ info- The Women 
much, that if the Mahomet an Women did not by their wantonnefs diflio °^ 
noLir the reft, the Chaftity of the Indians might be propofed as an example 
to all the Women of the Eaft. Thefe Indian Women are eafily delivered 
of their Children -, and fometimes they'll walk about the Streets next day 
after they have been brought to Bed. 
C H A p. XXVI. 
Oj the Feftivalof the Kings Birth-day, 
I'^Here is a great Feftival kept yearly at De^//, on the Birth-day of the 
. King regnant. It is Ccloirated amongft the People, much after the "^^^ Feftivalof 
fame manner as the Zmaz, of Turkey, wliich I defcribed in my firft Book, g^rth-dT 
and lali's live days -, It is Solemnized at Court with great Pomp. The Courts The pomp of 
of the PrJace arc covered all over with Pavillions of Rich Stuffs ; all that the Feftival. 
is magiiiricent in Prêtions Stones, Gold and Silver is cxpofcd to view in 
the Halls-, particularly the great and glittering Throne, with thofeothets 
that arc carried about in progreflcs, which arelikewife adorned with Jewels. 
The faireft Elephants decked with the richeft Trappings, are from time to Decked Ek- 
time brought out before the King,and thelovelieft Horfes in their turns alfo : phams. 
and lince ihe firft M^gul Kings introduced a cuftom of being weighed in a 
Balance, to augment the plcafure of the folemnity, the King in being, ne The King is 
ver fails to do fo. ^ weighed. 
1 he Balance wherein this is performed, feems to be very Rich. They The Balance 
lay that the Chains are of Gold, and the two Scales which are fet with Stones, wherein the 
appear likewife to be of Gold, as the Beam of the Balance does alfo^ though ^'"S weigh- 
fome affirm that all is but Guilt. The King Richly attired, and fliining 
with Jewel*, goes into one of the Scales of the Balance , and fits on 
his Heels, and into the other are put little bales, fo clofely packt, that 
one cannot fee what is within them : The People arc made believCj that 
thefe little bales (which are often changed,) are full of Gold, Silver and 
Jewels, or of Rich Stuffs -, and the Indians tell Strangers fo, when they would 
brag of their Country, then they weigh the King with a great many things 
that arc good to cat-, and I believe that what is within the Bales, is nota 
whit more Prêtions. 
However when one is at the Solemnity, he muil: make as if he believed 
all t'lat is told him, and be very attentive to the Publication of what the 
King weighs-, far it is publilheu, and then exadly fet down in writing. 
"When it appears in the Regifter, that the King weighs more than he did the 
vcar before, all teîlific their Joy by Acclamations ^ but much more by rich rpj^^ .^^^ 
Prcfcurs, which the Grandees, and the Ladles of the Haram make to him, ofthe'pc'fti^vai 
when he is returned to his Throne;, and thefe Prefents amount commonly 
to feveral Millions. The King diftributes , firft a great quantity of Tnfles <riven 
Artificial Fruit and other knacks of Gold and Silver , which arc by the King, 
brought to him in Golden Bafons -, but thefe knacks are fo llight,that the pro- 
fufion (which he makes in calling them promifcuoully amongft the Princes, 
and other Great men of his Court, who croud one another to have their 
fhirc,) IcfTcns not the Treafure of his Exchequer :, for I was affured that all 
thcic trifles v»"ou Id not coft one hundred thoufand Crowns. And indeed, 
Juran-Zeb is reckoned a far greater Husband, than a great King ought to ^m-an-zeba. 
be : during five days, there is great rejoycing all over the Town, as well g'^ac Husbam^. 
as in the Kings Palace, v/hich is cxprcft by Prefents, Feaftingç, Bonefires 
and Dances-, and the King has a fpecial care to give Orders, that the beft publick lejoy 
Dancinc;- women and Baladines, be alwavs at Court, cing. 
The 
