Chap. III. 
the Eaft- India Pagans, 
855 
Diverfions, and appear in all their beft 
Apparel. 
The fixth The fixth Transformation happened 
Transfor- ^^^^ . ^ftg^ the appearing of Hanumans 
mentioned in the 5tfc Cha^. Pan i. one 
Braman and Bramani being joined in 
Wedlock, did for a confiderable time 
lead a pious and contented Life near the 
River Bewa j but the Woman being bar- 
ren (a thing much defpifed among the 
Benjans) they refolved to retire into 
fome Defart, there to implore God's Af- 
fiftance. Having thus for fome time 
led a Vagabond Life, they came to a 
certain Pagode built in a Foreft, near 
which flood a very fine Tree, under the 
Shade whereof they repofed themfelves 
for fome time, and fent forth their Pray- 
ers upon their bended Knees. After fome 
time finding their Prayers inefFeftual, the 
Woman told her Husband, that they 
ought to leave this fhady Place, and in 
lieu thereof to expofe themfelves to 
the Injuries of the Sun, Rains and Storms, 
to try whether perhaps by this Humilia- 
tion and Penance, God might be pre- 
vailed upon to blefs them with Chil- 
dren. They perfevered in this Aufteri- 
tyand continual Prayers for fome lon- 
ger time, but in vain ^ the Woman grow- 
ing beyond all Patience, told her Huf- 
band, that being quite weary of Life, 
fhe defired him to fait with her, till 
thereby they could put a Period to their 
miferable Life. Accordingly having 
fpent nine days without eating or 
drinking, Fiftnum appear'd to them in 
the Shape of a Child, asking them, 
what was the occaflon of their Mortifica- 
tion and fervent Prayers. The Woman 
anfwered. All our Prayers are direded 
to Vijlnum^ to blefs me with fuch a hand- 
fome Child as thee. J^iflmim replied, And 
do you inftead of Gold and Silver defire 
Children, who commonly prove the 
Toils of Life ? Bramani anfwered, all 
the Riches and Pleafures of this World 
are not fo valuable to me, as a Son of 
liiy ov/n, fo v/ell ftiapM as thy felf. Vift- 
mm replied, Your Prayers are heard, 
and as you have three feveral times mor- 
tify'd your Bodies, fo three Sons (hall be 
born thee fuccefTively ^ and fo he vanifh- 
ed. 
Being both exiiauHed with Falling, 
tliey died foon after ^ but the Soul of 
Bt^amani was infufed into the Body of 
the new-born Rcneca^ and that of Bra- 
hian into the Body of the new-born Bra- 
man^ firnamed Siatndkhemi^ who being 
come to their riper Years, were joined 
together in Marriage ^ Renecah Sifter 
being at the fame time married to the P-^a^ 
Great Ra\a Sejiraarfmn. who had 1000 ^^'daw. 
Arms. ^ ' ^-^ 
Siamdkhemi retired with Px.encca to a 
Solitude, near the River Ganges^ where 
they built a Hut of Straw, with an In- 
tention to live upon the Fruits of the 
Earth, and pafs their time in praying to 
Fijlnum. 
It was not long before Reneca (purfu- ^^^^^'^^'^ 
ant to the Proraife made by Fiftnumy^^^^^^'J 
brought forth a beautiful Son, unto whom 
ftie gave the Name of Prajfaram^ who 
being carefully educated under the Tuiti- 
on of his Father, did in his 1 2th year 
interpret the molt abllrufe Charadrers 
that could be laid before him. His Mo- 
ther having received a certain Cloth from 
Fijlmm^ which keeping Water as well 
as any Earthen Veffel, Reneca going to 
fetch Water one time out of the Ri- 
ver Ganges^ fhe happened to fee the great 
Raja Seftraarfum with his Spoufe (her 
Sifter) a hunting near the River-fide. Re- 
neca asked one of his Attendants, who 
it was, and being anfwered, that it was 
Raja Sefiraarfum with his Queen, fhe ad- 
vanced towards them ^ but finding that 
her Sifter took no notice of her, flie fat 
down in a very melancholy Pofture up- 
on the Bank of the Ganges, complaining 
of the vaft difference there was betwixt 
her Sifter and her. 
uilas, faid fhe, O^e is a Queen^ dnd I 
a poor Brahman'i Wife , /he js poffcjjed of 
Riches, Honour and Plenty, and J know no- 
thing but Want and Alifery. 
She was then a going to fill her Cloth 
with Water, but found it, to her great 
Aftonilhment, leaky ■-, and being afraid 
to return home, ftaid abroad till after 
Sunfet. Siamdichemi furpriz'd at her 
long ftay, lookM out at the Doors, and 
finding her fitting in a melancholy Pof- 
ture, ask'd her whether (he had brought 
no Watery but fhe anfwering, fhe had 
not, and giving him the reafon for it, 
he told her, that he was certain fhe had 
uttered fome ExprelTions contrary to his 
Zeal and Piety ; and being exafperated 
to the higheft degree, commanded his 
Son Prajfaram to cut off bis Mother's 
Head with an Ax. Prajfaram would Renecsi 
haveexcufedhimfelf, but finding his ^si- ¥^^<^' 
ther refolute, he was forced to obey, and 
cut off his Mother's Neck. The Father 
being highly taken with the Obedience of 
his Son, told him, that he fhould ask 
him what he pleafed, and it fhould be 
granted him. Tfcew, faid the Son, »'f/«/c/- 
tate my Mother from the Dead ; the Fa- 
ther then taking fome of the fandtified 
Wa- 
