46 
Relation 
[1671 
Baignam I have spoken above of the town of Surat, & said that 
orBanjans. t k ere are severa i SO rts of Nations which there profess their 
Religions freely. I have said that there’s among them 
one kind whom they call Baignans , who are the richest 
merchants of the world. These Baignans believe in the 
Metem - Metempsychosis , or the passing of Souls from one body to 
another, believing that, according to the good or the evil 
which they have done, their Souls pass into the bodies of 
animals either more noble or more vile: ’tis wherefore 
they never eat or kill any animal, nor of that which comes 
from them,—on the contrary they are merciful to all 
animals indifferently, of whatever species they may be, for 
many of which they have Hospitals, either dogs, cats, & 
other animals, even for flies, fleas, bugs, & other little 
beasts, which they maintain at the expense of some poor 
beggars who expose themselves voluntarily to be bitten 
by these animals and nourish them, provided they pay 
them. 
When any one of them dies, the most part leave con¬ 
siderable sums for this object, & gifts to the Governor of 
Surat to prevent the hunting & slaughter of animals & to 
prevent any one catching any fish in the sea or elsewhere, 
the whole during a certain time. The Governor grants 
them this for their money, & prevents hunting & fishing 
as much as he can. They can beat & maltreat these 
Baignans without apprehension that they will revenge 
themselves. 
They have some temples which they name Pagodas , 
where there are figures of animals, & have their Doctors, 
whom they name Bremans or Bramennes , for whom they 
have a great veneration. 
They believe in one God alone, & three Persons in him; 
but I do not know how they understand it. 
’Tis many ages since the wives of these Baignans 
exercis’d much wickedness on their husbands; & when 
