Chap. VI. 
/lalabar and Coromandel. 
583 
to be concluded, they bargain very hard 
for the Dowry ^ but this being palt, and 
the Agreement made betwixt the Parents, 
Guardians, or other nearefc Relations, 
the Day for the Confummation thereof 
is appointed : then the Bridegroom on 
Horfe-back adorn'd with fweet-fcented 
Flowers, under two Umbrello's, palTes 
with his next Friends through thechiefeft 
Streets under the found of Trumpets, 
Hautboys, Drums, and other fuch like 
Inftrumencs,to the Bride's Houfe, where 
having ftay'd half an hour at the door, 
and entertain'd his Bride with the Mufick 
and the throwing of fome Squibs, and 
other fmall Fireworks, he is admitted 
into the Houfe ^ and being feated upon a 
Chair railed fomewhat from the ground, 
.and covered with Tapeftry, the Bride is 
brought to him by her Parents and Rela- 
tions, in the prefence of a Prieft and the 
Judg of the Place (without whofe Confent 
no Marriage is valid ) : The Prieft having 
read certain PafTagesout of a Book, the 
Bridegroom fwears, that in cafe of a 
Divorce from his \Vife, he will be ready 
to refiore her Dowry \ which done, the 
Prieft gives the Benedictions, and they 
are married, the whole being concluded 
at that time with a Prefent of Betel and 
Araclilo the Guefts, yet not to any ex- 
cefs, tho afterwards they keep the Shed- 
ding for three, four, fix, feven or eight 
days together, according to every ones 
pleafure and ability, 
mvmes. Hovi/ever Divorces are very frequent 
among the Aloors (or Indian Mahome- 
tans ) which is foon done, if the Husband 
purfuant to his Promife returns the 
Dowry, which conlifts commonly in no- 
thing elfe but the Woman's Apparel. 
A Man is at liberty to kill his Wife in 
cafe of Adultery, but a Woman may not 
fo much as fue a Divorce upon the fame 
fcore. When a Woman is divorced from 
her Husband, fhe takes generally her 
Daughters along with her, leaving the 
Sons to the Husband's difpofal. The 
next morning after the Bridegroom has 
lain with his Bride, and found her a Vir- 
gin, publick Proclamation is made there- 
of throughout the whole Town (for the 
honour of her Parents ) when the Bride's 
JMother haftening to her Daughter's Bed- 
chamber, and finding the ufual tokens of 
Virginity in the Sheets or Clothes laid for 
that purpofe, fhe carries them to the 
Bridegroom's Parents, who rejoice with 
her at the Conqueft of their Son over the 
Maiden's Virginity. But if thefe Tokens 
are not apparent, matters are carried off 
with lefs Pomp and more Silence, 
The Aiahometans in general are Ene- 
mies to Inceft, fo that even the Grand 
Signior's Son after the death of his Father 
never touches his Concubines, but ftiuts 
them up in a certain Caftle ^ on the other 
hand, they are extremely addided not 
only to Luft, but alfo to Sodomy it felf, 
and Combination with Brutes. There 
are Inftances, that two Proftitutes in 
Ferfia have been condemned, one to be 
occupied by a Horfe, the other by an 
Afs ^ the firft died, but the fecond efcap'd 
with Life. 
The Moors feed generally upon Rice 
inftead of Bread, which is well tailed 
here, and grows in great plenty in Btn- 
gale^ and divers other Provinces 5 the 
fame is in much requeft throughout the 
Indies^ in China^ Japan ^ in the Hies of 
Formofa, Java^ Celebes^ Borneo^ Ceylon^ in 
Malabar^ and other places, tho Japan and 
Bengale produce likewife very good 
Wheat. The poorer fort, who can't get 
above 4 or 5 c/. a day to maintain theni- 
felves, are forc'd to be contented with 
Kitz.cry (a mixture of Beanfiower and 
Rice) boil'd in Water. Their Habita- 
tions are alfo very low and mean, made 
of Clay, and their Houfliold-ftufF futable 
to their Houfes -, for befides a few Vefiels 
of Brafs, and the two Bedfteds where the 
Man and Wife lie (who never deep to- 
gether ) there is nothing to be feen there, 
they having neither Benches nor Chairs, 
but only Mats to fit upon. In feme places 
they ufe Cording inftead of Wood for 
Fuel : But the Houfes of People of fafhi- 
on are fpacious, and divided into many 
Apartments, flat on the top, whereupon 
they take the cool Air in the Evenings 
They are very fplendid in their Enter- 
tainments, Wives and Houfes, but efpe- 
cially in Gold and Silver Plate. 
Their Clothing is very grave, and they 
fcarce ever change the falhion thereof ^ 
the Men wear Coats of Callico, or rich 
Tiftues and Silks ^ they are ftrait above, 
clofe to the Body, faftened with a Girdle 
round the Wafte, and reach down to the 
Knees : their Breeches are wide above, 
and narrow at the bottom, reaching down 
to the Legs, and trimm'd with Fringes i 
their Shoos are of gilt Leather, which 
they turn down at the heels, for the 
conveniency of throwing them off upon 
occafion. When they falute one another, 
they touch the Turbant with the Hand 
only, but never move them as we do our 
Hats. TheV are girt about their Loins 
with a Girdle of fome fine Stuff, over 
which they v?ear another of fine Linen, 
and a broad Dagger on the left fide. 
The 
Baldaiis. 
The Maho- 
metans £- 
ncmks to 
Inceft^ but 
addiHidto 
Sodom^„ 
Their Food., 
Habitati- 
ons; 
Their Clo- 
thing. 
