that is Darius's City Beyond Darabghierd we see the Villages Dechair and beyond that the Wilderness of Moghokiel Next you come to a Mosque of an Imamsade's Tomb who was call'd Meir Abas Son to Iman Giafer Sadick a Man highly esteem'd amongst the Persians yet the Mosque is quite ruin'd notwithstanding it is near a Village About it are pleasant Gardens with all sorts of Fruit-Trees water'd by a little Brook At the entrance is a Court where several People superstitiously desire to be bury'd In the middle of this Court stands a great Palm-Tree by whose Foot runs another Brook replenish'd with all sorts of Fish for the Service of the Court. Meir Aba 's Tomb. On one side of the Mosque is Meir Abas's Tomb cover'd with sleight Turkish Linnen Here Della Valle says he found a bound Book and also some Leaves of an old Book with certain Medals which were brought from Kierrila and the famous Hossein's Tomb on which were Imprinted in Arabick Letters the name of GOD and some other pious words as Elhemdu lillah that is God be praised Beyond this Tomb you come between narrow Mountains which formerly serv'd for the Boundaries between the two Provinces of Persia and Lar when Lar was a peculiar Dukedom and not subject to the Persians Somewhat farther you come to the Village Furg and beyond it to several Heaps of Rubbish being the Ruines of an ancient Structure by the Vulgar call'd The Mountain of the King of Behmen who as they report Reign'd a considerable time in Persia before Darius was conquer'd by Alexander the Great Next you approach the Village Tascui and Seid Geuder in the County of Tarom the salt Water of Absicur the Village Pelengon and the Tenghi Cebarrud or Narrow Gate beyond which a Brook glides gently into a Moat near which Travellers commonly resting themselves cut their Names and Verses on the Rocks which shadow this Brook from the heat of the Sun all the day Hence you go to Pise or Pisce a little Village in the Countrey of Gurhe not far distant Next appears the Town Curihazirgon and Serzehirevevon the Mountain of Ginan and Countrey of Issur where the Way again parts into two one running by the Village Abidunghur to the City Mina and the other to Cambru In the Road to Cambru lies the Village call'd Ciah Ciacor the common Resting-place for Travellers beyond which is a Row of Houses nam'd Pailulon or Pailuli Dagheli that is At the foot of the Lulen full of Leaves for by these Houses grow abundance of Trees by the Inhabitants call'd Kuli Dagheli as if they would say Trees full of Boughs for out of the great Branches grow many lesser down to the Ground which taking Root produce new Trees which being very common in India are by the Portuguese nam'd Arbores de Raiz that is The Rooting Trees Lastly you come to the Fort and City Combru at present by the Persians call'd Abassi The nature of the Inhabitants of Wild and Great Carmania The Inhabitants of Wild Carmania are most of them Thieves and Robbers but in Great Carmania the Women work all sorts of Shapes on Cloth of Tissue or Silk of divers colours as also on Curtains Hangings Cushions and the like In this Province are made also excellent Saddles Bridles Spurs and all manner of Weapons for War The Inhabitants drink a kind of Beer in stead of Wine and make use of the Arabian Abe The Inhabitants in the Wilderness Reobarle which lieth in this Province live by Pilfering and are great Sorcerers like the Arabians Their Turbans are long but narrower than those of the other Persians with a great Lappet behind Herb Daru Kermon Amongst many other soveraign Herbs growing here there is one exceeding good against Worms call'd Daru Kerman or Daramnack Kermony which is to be understood two several ways viz. for a Medicine for Worms or for a Medicine from Kermon for Kermon is a compound word signifying not onely This Province but A Worm and Daru or Daramnack is a Physical Herb. The chiefest Commodities with which the Inhabitants Trade are Rose-water Wormwood or Daru Kermon and the Stone Surmah Commodities of the Countrey The Carpets made here are by the Persians call'd Caluchey by the Portuguese Alcatifas and commonly by other Europeans from their Example corruptly Alcatifs which are made in three several Places in Persia viz. the richest finest and dearest are made in Izad a City in Hierack where some are sold for a thousand Ducats the second sort are those of Kerman and the third from Carason There is also a black and glittering Stone found in this Countrey which looks as if it were strew'd with File-dust or Sand and is call'd Surmah of which there are two sorts one is found in Kerman as also in Carason which is of greatest value and the other Moches because it comes from Mochi or Mecha The Arabians Indians and Persians use this Stone much against the Distemper of the Eyes for the cure of which it is very prevalent being prepar'd with other things It is good to preserve Beauty insomuch that both Men and Women wiping their Eyes with the Stone wetted account themselves much younger and fairer Gedrosia or Circan Cache Guadel and Macran The several Names of Gedrosia THis Countrey by the Ancients call'd Gedrosia is at this day according to Castaldus nam'd Circan and by Olearius and Melam taken to be the Kingdom of Tarsus of which the Psalmist speaks Niger thinks it is compris'd in Carmania Maffeus calls the Gedrosians Nautaques which are the same the Portuguese call Motages Cluverius will have Gedrosia to comprehend Kesimur and Guzaratte and anciently the two Provinces of Paradene and Parisene and several People as the Orbites Parsires Musarnes and Rhamniers The chiefest Towns were Parsis the Metropolis Chief Towns Arbis and Cuni. Ptolomy borders Gedrosia in the North Borders at Drangiana or Cagisan and Arachosia or the Countrey of Cabul Carmania bounds the West the East borders upon India or the Kingdom of Cambaya and the South fronts the Indian Sea and includes the City Guadel with the Lands belonging thereto and the Towns Calamare and Partinis beyond the Mouth of the River Ilment sometimes call'd Arke near which the Motages and Nautaques reside The County of Mecheran In the same Tract in the Province of Kirman lies another County Eastward call'd Mecheran otherwise Macran and by Texeira Macron who hath given it the Name of a Kingdom with the Denomination of Kyche or Chike by the Portuguese call'd Cache between the Dominion of Guadel and the Abindes of Indostan and betwixt the Countreys of Persia and Send or India and to the Eastward of the Kingdom of Sistan The known Towns of Mecheran are Thir Kitz and Chalack The Metropolis is by some nam'd Mecheran The Inhabitants of Erack seldom come into this Province There is also a City by some call'd Cobinam where very excellent Looking-glasses or Mirrors of Steel are made The
will not suffer them to come into their Houses nor touch any thing that belongs to them The Brahmans have their Denomination from one Brahma or Bramma Original of the Brahmans from whom they boast their Extract and though they ascribe the original of the other Tribes likewise to him yet they affirm that they have gotten the Name or Bramma because they proceed from the chiefest part of him viz. the Head as the Settrea's out of the Arms the Weinsja's out of the Thumb and the Soudra's out of the Feet The Vedam is the Book of their Law How and from whence this Brahman had his original some of his Sect relate out of their Vedam after this manner Before the World was created Wistnow that is God had some inclination to have a new place to recreate and delight himself in are and that upon the Leaf of a Tree he swam on the Water for according to their opinion there was nothing but God and Water before the Creation like a little Child with his great Toe in his Mouth in the form of a Circle in testimony that he is without beginning or end and that God caus'd a Flower in the Countrey Language call'd Temara and by us a Water-Llliy to grow out of his Navel and not long after out of that this Bramma sprang So soon as he had receiv'd Life he stood with great admiration and consider'd from whence lie was deriv'd which because he could not possible find out God declar'd it to him whereupon he shew'd great signs of thankfulness and obedience wherewith Westnow was so well pleas'd that he gave Bramma power to create the World who thereupon created the same and gave Life to all things in it Barthruerri an Indian Writer in his Book of the Way to Heaven confirms this and says One of great prudence and understanding created this World and more plainly in another place Why hath Bramma made the Mountain Merouwa and again in another Bramma hath made nothing in the World that is constant by which it appears that this is really these Pagans opinion viz. That this Bramma was the first Man as they say that by the power which God gave him created the World with all things therein Yet nevertheless few amongst them positively ascrib'd the Creation of the World to one Man but either to God himself or his Son whence we may suppose that the Brahmans judge their foremention'd Chief to be the Head of the Angels or the Son of God These further affirm that this Bramma had anciently five Heads but from the power which had been given him growing more ambitious he attempted to defile Eswara Wistnow's Consort which when he heard he was so enraged that he caus'd her to bring forth the Daemon Beirewa the chief of the Devils who with his Claws scratch'd off the middlemost Head of Bramma as a punishment for his bold attempt so that he kept onely four Heads with which he is represented in their Pagode Not long after which Bramma made many Verses in praise of Eswara who was so delighted therewith that she promis'd to let him live in great Honor and Repute with his four Heads and put the fifth on her own The same Bramma as the Brahmans affirm shall in the other World serve in a lower Degree and that Annemonta a faithful Servant to Wistnow shall enjoy his Place all which will be inflicted on him as a punishment for his ambition But the Brahmans do not onely ascribe the Creation of the World to this Bramma but also the Government thereof God as they say not once taking cognisance of it for they alledge that as a King will not take the trouble upon him to Govern his Realm himself but appoint Vice-Roys or Lieutenants for that purpose so likewise God doth not concern himself with the Government of this World but gave the Charge thereof to Bramma The same Brathrouherri in the foremention'd Book ascribes the limitation of time which a Man is to live here on Earth to Bramma saying The longest time which Bramma hath granted Men to live is a hundred years and All things which happen to Mankind on Earth is by the appointment of Bramma which in his Book of good Conversation he thus expresses According as Bramma designs so it shall be for it is with a Man as with the Bird Tzataca who whether it Rains much or little he gets not above one drop thereof His meaning is That though a Man strive never so much to raise his Fortune it will be in vain for whatever Bramma hath appointed for him he shall attain to and no more The Bird Tzataca as the Brammans relate drinks not of the Water which falls on the Earth but in rainy Weather holds open his Bill to receive the Drops so that whether it Rains much or little it avails not the Bird not being able to take above a Drop at once The same Author affirms in another place that whatever Bramma hath decreed for Mankind that will happen to him and if any one be poor it is by his appointment For saith he he hath appointed the Winds to feed the Serpents and the Grass for Beasts whereby it appears that this Bramma is the principal who hath some others under him to whom he commits the care of some peculiar Places but these are not accounted Gods but onely Geweta's or Angels The most eminent of them is a Dewendre who bears great sway and is chief over all the Heads of the eight Worlds to seven whereof they say those that have liv'd well here go after their Decease and are all commanded by Dewendre otherwise call'd Indre as the supream Governor besides whom every Place hath a peculiar Tutelary Angel who Commands one of the eight Worlds which are plac'd above the Earth Next follow the foremention'd eight Worlds lying between ours and Bramma-lokon that is The Residence of Bramma the one in the North the other in the South the Brahmans call them as followeth viz. the first Indre-Lokon where Dewendre or Indre hath his Residence the second Achmi-Lokon the third Jamma-Lokon which is Hell wherein the Wicked are punish'd the fourth Niauti-Lokon the fifth Warronna-Lokon the sixth Cubera-Lokon the seventh Wajouvia and the eighth Isangja-Lokon But these Worlds are not such as we inhabit onely places of happiness like the Elysian Fields Besides the care which these Governors have of their peculiar Places they have other Concerns to look after viz. Achmi hath the Charge over the Fire Warrouna commands the Waters Wajouvia the Wind Cubera Riches c. Some account this Bramma to be the same with Pythagoras and accordingly the Brahmans have some Books which they firmly believe to be Pythagoras's own Works which agrees with what Jarchas according to Philostratus told Apollonius Thyaneus viz. That the Indians believ'd that which Pythagoras taught them concerning the Soul and instructed the Egyptians therein But Diogenes Laertius who writ the Life of Pythagoras makes mention in no
Philosophy Notwithstanding there are not so many in Persia as in Europe which learn the Liberal Arts and Sciences yet they highly esteem those that study therein which they corruptly call Filosuf The Persian Phylosophers in Matters of Phylosophy and other Sciences highly esteem the Christian Books especially such as treat of Morality natural Phylosophy and Religion They also hold Disputations with great Confidence concerning the Mystery of their Religion with People that are or another Opinion quite contrary to the Turks who out of stubborness will not admit any to speak thereof Their Universicies For the Instruction of their Knowledge there are several Universities or Schools in the Cities which they call Madresia or Madressa and the Scholars Mederis the Chiefest whereof are at Ispahan Schiras Ardebil Mesched Tebris Casbijn Com Jest and Schamachie to all which the Sedder or Governor must allow a sufficient Maintenance which he receives from such Countreys as are free from Tribute and other Taxes to the King as Cochtzeh by Erwan Utzatznik near Carabach Tabachmelick lying between Georgia and Carabach and also Agdasch and Kermeru What they study The Learning in which they instruct them is Geometry Surveying Poesie Astrology moral and Natural Phylosophy Physick and Law They have all Aristotle's Works translated into Arabick and call him Danja piala that is The Cup of the World for as we may use the Cup to refresh our selves so we may likewise to inebriation so according to their opinion we may use and misuse Phylosophy for they say that strong Liquor and Phylosophy make good Orators but excess of both makes wise men Fools They teach their Youth Arithmetick so soon as they can write and read the Common-people use the Indian Figures but the Learned the Arabian Their Poesie and Orations are comprised in short Lessons and are studied both together because their Histories and Disputations are mixt with Verses and other Eloquent Expressions Their chief Book is as we said before Culustan that is Rose-Valley made by the famous Poet Schich Saadi Their chief Books and some Years since Translated into the German Tongue by Olearius it consists not onely in pleasant Prose but delightful Verses and therefore every Persian hath this Book in his House nay some there are which carry it in their memory and are therefore accounted very learned this they repeat at all Feasts and other Merry-meetings Delight in reading Histories Moreover they delight much in reading of Histories especially those of Aly's Life and Death as also of Hossein Aly's Son which are written in a lofty Style They have likewise several other Books as Chronicles as well of their own Kings Reigns and Wars as other eminent Transactions and these are term'd Mirchond Emveri Tzami Walehi Nussegri and the like amongst which the chiefest is Mirchond who in an excellent Style hath written a Persian Chronicle in Four Volumes which are there sold for two hundred Crowns but we cannot credit the Persians much in their Histories and Matters of Religion because they often mix fabulous Invention with real Truths The number of Books that treat of Philosophy are but small in these Countreys and those few are in the Hands of the most learned Persons who keep them as a great Treasure The Books that are generally sold there are either Romances or Verses treating of their Law besides which they have no Books worth mentioning Arms. THe Persian Horse-men are arm'd with Bowes The Housemens Arms. Arrows and a bending Sword like a Scymetar their main strength consists in the Cavalry and though their Horses are small and lean yet they are strong and swift The Hilt of their Swords is onely a cross Bar yet sufficient to defend the Hand and for the most part set forth with inchased work the Scabberds are either of red or black Leather and plated after the same manner as the Hilt their Belts are narrow and plain without any other Ornament or Colour than the skins naturally bear their Bowe-men are call'd Curtschi and their Musquettiers Tufenktschi for they have Musquets and also Pistols which they say Schach Abbas first brought in use among them They also have some great Guns which they use more in their Fortifications and Sieges than in a Field Battel Yet Anno 1604. Schach Abbas had one hundred and fifty Cannons when he beat off Vlutzali Bassa from Cigale They use many Stratagems In former times the Persians always engag'd their Enemies on Horse-back but since the use of Musquets was brought amongst them they have made a Body of Foot which in these last Wars hath done them great Service Moreover they are very subtile in contriving Plots and Stratagems to circumvent their Enemies At the Siege of Iruan Anno 1633. the Persians had a sort of Poyson in little Glasses which they shot with Darts into their Enemies Forts by which means they so infected the Air that it swell'd the Inhabitants Arms and Legs to an extraordinary thickness and by that means made them unable to resist Their defensive Arms are Brest-plates Shields Coats of Mail and Helmets The Soldiers of Persia made up of three Bodies The Soldiers of Persia are made up of three sorts The first sort are Turkomans which are like Hirelings and have Ziefs that is Pensions which the Sons inherit from their Fathers and are bound to furnish the King with a certain number of Horse as often as occasion shall require The second sort is that which Leunclaivus and Soranzo call Corrises or Coridsches but in the Turks Language might more properly be call'd Curchins or Georgians which receive no pay but have onely their Dyet Horses Apparel Arms Tents and all other Necessaries The third sort are Friends and Allies viz. Armenians and other Georgians who are Enemies to the Turks Four Degrees in their Militia In Persia are four Orders or Degrees in their Militia the first are Musquetiers or they that use Fire-arms not many years since brought in by King Abbas through the perswasions of Sir Anthony Sherley one of our three famous Sherleys so much celebrated in former times All the Musquetiers are Natives and Inhabitants of the Cities Musquettiers Towns and Villages though more dwell in the Villages than the Towns or Cities and they are accounted Tat or ignoble and may not wear the Tag but the common Turbant Formerly they continually fought on Foot yet march'd on Horseback like our Dragoons All the Captains of these and other Companies are by a Turkish Name call'd Juzbassi that is The Head of a Hundred for Juz is a Hundred and Bassi the Head notwithstanding they often have above two hundred and sometimes under one hundred in their Companies Those that dwell in several Provinces or Places meeting at a general Rendezvouz march together to the Army either with the Chans of the Province or else alone especially those that have no Chans Those of Mazanderan are accounted the best Musquettiers but there are more beside them
to follow it Sofy's are as much as Clergy-men The Clergy as we may so call them are term'd Sofy's living poorly and receiving daily Alms from the King's Court they dwell altogether under one Superior call'd Basci-Sofi with great appearance of Humility so that they are highly esteem'd not onely by the Common-people but by the King because they are the Successors of Schach Ismael Sofi whom Schach Abbas accounted the Head of their Sect which he manifested in his Prayers for having nam'd God then Mahomet and Aaly he addeth Sofi Sciah Imam Dinum that is Sciah Sofi the High Priest of my Law They live at the King's Allowance At all times there are two or three hundred of these Sofy's with the King where so e're he goes Every Evening they have several Dishes of Meat brought them out of the King's Kitchin which they eat either in publick in the first Court or some other place appointed for that purpose whither many of the Nobility repair to see them at Supper There are some Zealots which fall down at the feet of these Sofy's confessing their Sins They confess their Sins and imploring Absolution for the same whereupon he gives the Penitent several blows on the back with a small Cane by means whereof they believe their Sins to be pardon'd how great so ever they are This kind of Absolution is in the Persian Tongue call'd Astaraet There are also amongst them several Sects Other Sects viz. Camaraths and Mutazelis which allow of nothing but what they can make out by Natural Reason like our Scepticks There are also Mahadelis or according to Ananias Molochadis which denying the divine Power affirm that all things are govern'd by the Starrs especially the Planets The two chiefest Teachers after Sofi and in high esteem amongst the Persians were Xeque Aydar and Imam Harust these the Turks and all other Mahumetans in Barbary and other Parts of Africa and also in Tartary abhor more than all others being transported with much fury against the whole Nation so that they think they do God and Mahomet greater Service in killing one Persian than a hundred Christians nor do the Persians less resent the Turks upon the same account holding them a hundred times more pernicious and less Believers than the Christians The Parties that follow the Persians are spred over all Armenia Assyria Diarbeck Hierack The Followers of the Persians Persia Corassan Hircania Carmania Sagistan and a Part of India It is very common in Persia to see the Metzids without a Roof yet notwithstanding they are very large nay some that were built by King Abbas at Ispahan are yet uncover'd Their High-Priests They have also a High-priest call'd Mustaed Dini that is the Head of the Law who is like the Mufti of the Turks and hath his Seat in the Metropolis Ispahan In the lesser Towns are others nam'd also Mustaed Dini but they are inferior to the first Their inferior Priests yet he hath not power to elect them because they are onely chosen by the Grand Sophy under these Mustaed Dini are the Califs who perform daily Service in their Temples Two other Sects and their Opinions In several Provinces of Perfia especially in that of Lar are two other Sects the first was introduc'd above two hundred years since by one Magmud of Babylon and these have the most Disciples which are call'd Ehl el Tabquid that is Men of Truth These affirm that there is no other God but the four Elements which they conclude out of the Name Allah that is God in the Arabick as also from the four Parts of the World They hold also that there is no rational Soul nor another life after this but that each Creature is a mixture of the Elements of which likewise Man is compos'd during his life after which the Soul who kept he Elements together being fled they return to their first Principles They mock at all things that have either been written or said by the Prophets Saints or ancient Law-givers alledging that they were either ignorant in the Truth or else would not reveal it to them Paradise and Hell they affirm is in this World for he that hath once enjoy'd the Nature of Man returns again into the World after Death either in the shape of a Beast Plant happy or unhappy man great and powerful or poor and despicable according to his Merits and this is all the Reward or Punishment of a good or bad life What Books Novices may read The Followers of this Sect have many Books which they will not permit people differing from their opinion to read If it happens that any one of their own Sect which is not fully instructed therein or another desirous to embrace their Religion requests to see the Books they first give him an Oath of Secrecy which they call the little Oath and then give him such of them as contain the lesser Mysteries upon perusal whereof if he continues in his Resolution then they give him another Juramentum magnum a greater Oath which impowers him freely to receive all their Books for his better Satisfaction and Instruction in the more mysterious parts of their Tenents They bear great respect and kindness to each other dealing with the greatest Amity imaginable and shew extraordinary obedience to their Governors or Chiefs in the Persian Tongue call'd Pir that is old men whom they also furnish with all things necessary for their Subsistance The greatest part of the Inhabitants of a Village built near the way to Sciras hold many of their opinions so also do the Provinces of Arak and Persia proper Another Sect and the Tenets of it's Disciples The other Sect hath not so many Upholders and is call'd Tarick Zena Deca that is the way of the Covetous they deny the transmigration of Souls and believe that God is in all places and performs all things from whence they conclude that whatever appears to the eye is God These resemble either the Saduces or Manichees Della Valle thinks that this Sect may be a Relict of the Saduces because they are of the same opinion concerning Transmigration or else are Manichees for Manes as Suidas relates had his Original from the Indian Brachmans and was flead alive by Behram King of Persia and therefore this Sect is sometimes call'd Manei Zendick that is Manes the covetous Reverence old Trees The Persians shew peculiar Reverence to old and great Trees out of a superstitious belief that they are the Residence of happy Souls and therefore call a Tree Pir that is old man from the signification which that word hath in the Persian Language wherefore when they call a Place or Tree Pir they mean thereby the Soul of a happy Person residing therein The Seyds have great Priviledges Amongst the Persians are also many Mahumetans call'd Seyd which in the Arabick signifies Lord which name is onely given to those in Persia who boast themselves to be
descended from Mahomet's and Aaly's Family and accordingly to their Successors wherefore they have great Priviledges and are honor'd by several Titles The Turks call those of Mahomet's Extract Emirs and the Arabians Scherifs The Persians nevertheless distinguish the Successors and Relations of Scheich Sofi from all others of Mahomet's Relations and honor them by a peculiar name of Scheichavend that is the Line of Scheich being as the say two thousand in number and most of them resident in Ardebil because that City was the Habitation and Birth-place of Scheich Sofi The Seyds in Persia shave their Hair two Fingers breadth above their Ears Their Habit. but let it grow long on their Crowns and in their Necks they wear a white Habit and a kinde of Pumps as also a peculiar sort of Mendils or Turbants They may not marry out of their Families nor drink Wine yet are free to go to Feasts where in stead of Wine they drink Water The Seyds which dwell in the Cities are generally rich People for they possess whole Villages and are free from all manner of Taxes which makes them not a little proud There are another Sort that pretend themselves Seyds that go from Town to Town shewing their Marks and living on the Alms of People but these are commonly Deceivers and are call'd Cherseyds that is Cherseyds what they are Holy Asses some carry Hair in a round silver Box alledging that it was cut from Mahomet's Head which through a little hole they shew to the People This Hair is sold at a great Rate and laid on their Books when they read or pray At Kisma in Kilan was one of these Deceivers who with a piece of Crystal held in the Sun would fire Cotton or Paper and perswaded the People that he was of Mahomet's Race and had made a Contract with the Heavens There are also a Sort of these who boast their original from Aaly and are here as the Dervises among the Turks which are such as live retir'd lives like Recluses There are others call'd Abdalles Abdalles what they are and their Habits resembling Monks wearing course Coats stitch'd like quilts and girt about them with a Copper Serpent which when they are made Abdalles is given them by their Masters as a Testimony of their Learning and Wisdom At Ardebil they are receiv'd into this Order by the Sofi-Chans at Ispahan and Meschet by the Sofi-Baschi or Chief of the Sofy's These Abdalles are frequently seen in the Markets and other places where calling the people together they preach of the Miracles wrought by their Saints Aaly and others railing against Abubeker Omar Odsman and Hanifa the Saints of the Usbekes or Tartars wherefore these Abdalles dare not approach the Turk's Borders These are for the most part a vile debauch'd thieving and sodomitical People yet there are several little Chappels built for them near the Metzids or Temples wherein they reside in Ardebil they are the most numerous A general Tolleration All Strangers of what Religion soever have according to antient Custom in Persia Liberty of Conscience being permitted to live after their own Manner and after the Laws of their several Princes Admit discourse of Religion The Persians also speak with great freedom concerning the Mysteries of their Belief to strangers and are also very curious in matters of Religion willingly spending their time to discourse thereof nay harken with patience to such as argue against their Religion which is quite contrary to the nature of the Turks They hold Christ our Saviour in great Reverence and call him Isael Messih that is Holy Messiah thus much of Scheich Sofy's Doctrine The Heathen Persians are call'd Mayucy Heathen Persians or Maurigy and Gaoryasdy of which the last Name is very common the Pagans of Zuratte and Cambaya by a general Name call'd Banjan have among other superstition Customs that of worshipping Cows which the Persians call Gao and he that keeps them Gaopon and call and these kind of Idolaters Gaor They also call them by another Name Zarduxt that is Friend of Fire though Zar in the general Language signifies Silver and the Fire is call'd Attex These People worship the Sun and Fire which last they have kept above three thousand years on a Mountain call'd Albors Cuyh or Atez Quedah that is The Residence for Fire lying a days Journey from Yazd These Idolaters are very numerous and the more because all the Kingdoms in Persia were such before the Arabians coming thither How they dispose of aged People They also have a Custom not to suffer aged People to die a natural Death but to carry them to the beforemention'd Mountain where they set them in a kind of Cage in which they can but just stand upright and leave them there without any other Subsistence than what the Air will afford them till they die and because there blows a continual Wind and the Air being very thin the Bodies keep entire a long time But if any one dies young they take the Corps and tie it on an Ass in a sitting posture setting on his Head a Pot full of Cream in the Persian Tongue call'd Mast with which they wash his Face and Eyes and then drive the Ass with a Whip cross a Field where generally the Ravens coming about the Corps pick out the Eyes whil'st the Followers narrowly watch which Eye is first pickt out for if it happen to be the right they judge that the Deceased's Soul is happy but if the left that it is in a state of perdition Great numbers of Jews in Persia There are likewise above nine or ten thousand Families of Jews in Persia who have a general Toleration as also many Christian Armenians and Nestorians brought in by King Cozroe when he was conquer'd by the Emperor Heraclius whom he suppos'd to vex by being of that Opinion destroying at the same time all the Roman-Catholick Churches throughout his whole Dominions for the Persians once embrac'd the Catholick Religion first Preach'd there by St. Thomas Chistianity Preach'd in there by St. Thomas till such time as their King Sapor put to death seventeen thousand of them with the most exquisite Tortures imaginable Whereupon Constantine the Great sent Letters to perswade him to be favorable to them wherein when he could not prevail he proclaim'd War against him But when Christianity was by these Persecutions in a manner extinguish'd it was restor'd again in the time of Maruthe Bishop of Mesopotamia and Abdias Aclatus Bish of Persia and though many oppos'd it yet about the Year 411. the Churches were re-built as before but since that by the Mahumetans again utterly extirpated There are also Melchites in Persia Melchrites and their Opinions who have spread themselves quite to the Countrey of Chorazan These People are infected with the ancient Opinion of the Greek Church condemn'd in the Council of Florence which Doctrine is also follow'd by the Georgians Mengrelians and Circassians who
painting them with divers colours which makes them look more like Devils than Men. These Giogi are undoubtedly the same with the ancient Gymnosophists who liv'd after the same manner Vertiaes their manner of life There are also Indians call'd Vertiaes which shave their Heads Peruschi tells us That the Vertiaes live together in great numbers go cloth'd in White with bald Heads and bare Chins for they pluck out the Hair by the Roots leaving onely a little Tuft on the Crown of their Heads They live poorly upon Alms remain single and drink warm Water because they believe the Water to have a Soul and that they should kill that Soul which God hath created if they should drink it cold For the same reason they constantly carry little Brooms or rather Mops in their Hands made of Cotton Thrums with which as they walk they sweep the Ground so to prevent accidental treading on any Animal Wherefore some will not sit down before they have swept the place very carefully where they intend to rest themselves They are under one Supreme Head to the number of a hundred thousand and wear a piece of Cloth of about four fingers broad before their Mouthes with a hole on each side through which they put their Ears Their Opinions They say that the World hath been created many hundred thousands of years and that God in the beginning sent twenty three Apostles and a four and twentieth in this third Age which is not above two thousand years past since which they receiv'd written Laws which before they had not The Opinion of their Sect is written in Books with Surat Letters and Characters There are several other Sects which differ very little from those beforemention'd as the Janjema the Giaugami c. and therefore we will not here any farther particularize concerning them Priviledges of the Brahmans The Brahmans have four things allow'd them in their Vedam or law-Law-book First They may freely keep the Feast Jagam And Secondly They are permitted to instruct others therein whereas the Weinsja's and Soudra's may neither keep nor learn the manner thereof Their third Privilege is to read the Vedam and teach it to others which is forbidden to all else but especially to the Family of the Weinsja's which may neither read it speak any Words that are in it nor hear them spoken by others nor may they look into the Jastra by which Name all Books are understood which treat of Religion Their fourth Privilege is That they may give Alms if they please and ask the Charitable Benevolence of others And though those of other Families may give Alms yet they are not allow'd to beg They give many Alms. In their Books they write much of giving Alms highly extolling all Charitable Acts though they themselves seldom practise it unless perchance among some few of their fellow Brahmans And if any other Sect happen to come to their Gates or Doors they have nothing but the Word Po Po that is Away away because the Brahmans believe they should be defiled if they should admit the Conversation of any other Tribe Their Office The Office and Exercise of the Brahmans agrees very much with that of the Levites amongst the Jews yet some of them study Astronomy others Physick others are put into Offices by Princes and Governors some teach Children to read write and cypher and all this without receiving any Reward for their Pains But those that are poor and have little to live on may take a small Reward from their Scholars The Brahmans also govern and serve in the Pagodes and notwithstanding the large Munificence of their Kings and though they swallow a third part of the Revenue of the Countrey yet by reason of their great number many of them are very poor and forc'd to beg However the greatest Necessity must not compel them to learn any Trade nor perform any servile Office though for the King himself For if any Brahman should offer to do the same he would not onely be despised by his Companions but excommunicated Nevertheless they are permitted to be employ'd as Secretaries Agents Counsellors and the like for which Businesses they are very fit and few Persons else follow those Employments In former Ages in the time of King Rama-raia the Brahmans according to his Command receiv'd onely one half of the Revenues of the Villages which had been given them before by his Predecessors the other half being receiv'd by the Lords of the Countrey but they have since retriv'd the whole Revenue into their own Hands The Policy of the Brahmans to keep what they have got Sometimes the Countreys or Villages are taken from them which to prevent they use this means viz. When the King hath given them a Village they desire to part it amongst some of their Poor which if granted they have a Letter of License graven on a Copper Plate by vertue of which they make their intended Division And after this such Places are never taken from them by the King or any of his Successors For as they suppose it to be a Duty to do good to the Brahmans which is a Work acceptable to their Gods Wistnow and Eswara whom they serve so they believe likewise that by doing them any prejudice they should offend their foremention'd Deities and incur their heavy displeasure Ceremonies at the Birth of Children The Brahmans never marry out of their own Tribe for those which do so are accounted to be no Brahmans And though any one out of Zeal or to be accounted a Saint be permitted to lead the same course of life as the Brahmans yet they cannot be made Brahmans but must be so born The Brahmans account all Children unclean during the space of ten days after their Birth after the same manner as the Infants and Women in Child-bed amongst the Jews none daring to touch them but those which tend them Moreover the House wherein the Child is born is accounted unclean during the foremention'd time wherefore no Stranger or Friend is permitted to go in till ten days are expir'd after which viz. on the eleventh day the House is made clean and all the Womans Clothes being of Cotton are wash'd all Earthen Vessels are thrown away and the Copper ones scowr'd On the twelfth day they make a Hamam or Fire which they account Holy and throwing Myrrhe into it say several Prayers After the Fire is extinguish'd they give the Child such a Name as is usual amongst them as Mainopa Naraina Beiaewa Damersa Padmanaba Ragoa Tirrenata Marlepa Dewela Tannopa Carpa Wellopa Rama Goyenda Warreda Weinketi or others of that kind The Child thus nam'd they make Holes in the Ears wishing it also much joy and felicity This making Holes in the Ears is not done to hang Jewels therein as many do but is done in compliance with a Promise of Obedience made to Wistnow and Eswara and for a Testimony that they will ever acknowledge them as their
World which we inhabit they call Boulocon This Boulocon say they comprehends seven Worlds more each separated from the other by a Sea The World seated at the Center they say is surrounded with a Sea of clear sweet Water the next to it with a Sea of Milk on which they make the Mountain Tricoweta stand which is 10000 Leagues high and as many broad the third with a Sea of Butter the fourth with a Sea of Tayer or Cream the fifth with a Sea of Wine the sixth with a Sea of Syrrup the seventh with a Sea of Salt Water which is our World all which have their Names from those Seas which surround them According to others there are seven Seas in this our World alone viz. one of Water one of Milk one of Cream one of Butter one of Salt one of Sugar and one of Wine Matsjas of Matx autaer d'eerste Kaurams of Kourmas autaer de tweede In the Watery Sea they place five Paradises in the Milky Sea the Spiritual Priests which are call'd Jogues in the third by them nam'd The Glory of Divenderen those which are inclin'd to Bodily Pleasures in the fourth which is The Glory of Brama the Happy and Fortunate in the fifth which is The Glory of Wistnow the Unfortunate in the sixth call'd The Glory of Kailasan the Poor and in the seventh call'd The Glory of Vajacandam the Rich. The Mountain Merowa In this World they place the Mountain Merowa which they affirm higher than the eight foremention'd Worlds which are above Boulocon and extends a vast way downwards below Patalam or The Infernal Pit and that the Sun Moon and Stars move about it and that those which shall taste of the Fruits which grow thereon will never be hungry dry nor grow old On this Mountain come no Humane Creatures except the Deweta's which are the Sons of Diti Wife to Cassiopa And notwithstanding they ascribe the Beginning and Creation of the World to Bramma yet they seem to make the World in a manner perpetual ascribing to it four Ages The four Ages of the World The first they call Critaigom or Cortesuigke the second Tretasuigke or Treitagom the third Duaparugam or Duapersuigke the fourth Caligom or Calisuigke The three first are already expired but the last is still in being The first Age say they continu'd 17 Lak and 28000 Years each Lak they reckon to be 100000 Years the second 12000 Lak and 96000 Years the third 8 Lak and 64000 Years the fourth Age which is yet running will last 4 Lak or 432000 Years of which according to their Annual Accounts are already expir'd to this present Year 1671 4772 Years So that the World according to their Calculation will scarce ever have an end for they certainly affirm That a thousand times turning of the Four Ages Cotesuigke Tretasuigke Dwapurâ—gam Callisuigke is but onely one day in the Account of Bramma who they say is to live a hundred Years of such Days and that fifty thereof are already past and the one and fiftieth running on They believe a general Conflagration of the World After the expiration of this time they believe the World shall be consum'd by Fire after which the surface of the Earth will be cover'd with Water and the Rain fall in such abundance as if it were powr'd out of the Trunk of an Elephant and not long after Bramma will die In these four Ages great Miracles and Wonders have as they affirm been perform'd by four of their Idols of which they make mention in their Writings call'd The Ten Altars The ten Appearances of Wistnow And as they affirm their Supreme God Wistnow or Mahadeu performed these Miracles in this lowermost World in ten peculiar Bodily Shapes which is also mention'd by Barthrouherri in his Book of Conversation where he saith Wistnow hath taken the trouble upon him of being reborn ten times and that these Births were in the manner following First Wistnow was born and appear'd as a Matja or Fish Secondly As a Gourma or Tortoise Thirdly Like a Warraha or Hog Fourthly Like a Narafimha half Man half Lion Fifthly By the name of Wamana a little Brammasary Sixthly By the name of Paresje Rama a Settrean Seventhly By the name of Deserratha Rama An Ajot-ja Eighthly By the name of Cristna Brother to Bella Rama a Settrean Amongst all the ten Appearances this is accounted the most eminent for when Wistnow came into the World by the name of Cristna he was accompanied with his whole Godhead and left the Heavens empty when as in the other Appearances he came onely with a part of his Godhead like a Spark which flies from a Great Coal of Fire Ninthly By the name of Boudha And tenthly In the shape of Kelki or a Horse Kircher relates from the Information of Henry Roth a Jesuit long conversant in these Parts That the Heathen Indians which live about Ganges acknowledge in some measure a Trinity They acknowledge in some measure a Trinity and affirm that the second Person hath already appear'd nine times in the Flesh and is to appear once more The Persons of the Trinity are by them nam'd Brahma Bexno and Mahex which are all one and the same in Nature though distingush'd by several Names as Acher that is Immovable Paramanand or Supreme Lord On s or Being and many such like Moreover that which Mahadeu perform'd in the World in each of the formention'd Bodily Shapes some relate more at large and being written in their Vedam or Law-book is to this effect Matsjas or Matx Altar the First The charge of Bramma BRamma who is represented sitting on a Water-Lilly with four Heads and as many Arms and resides in the Air hath the charge of the Vedam or Law-Book which the Giant Sancasoor otherwise call'd Bhensasar taking from him dived with them into the Sea whereupon Bramma complain'd to Mahadeu or Wistnow and desir'd his Assistance who granting his Request descended into the Sea in the shape of a Fish and swam through the Ocean to find out the Giant Sancasoor whom he slew and brought back the Book of the Law to Bramma wherewith Matx Altar which had lasted 2500 Years ended Caurams or Courmas Altar the Second The Riches of the Sea THe Sea with its Surging Billows swelling up to the Clouds burst forth in these Words viz. Who is so powerful as I and possesses as many Riches as lie hid in my glased Halls the Moon hath her habitation there The Water of Everlasting Life which being drunk makes all Men happy is hid therein There is Hierawanhsti the Elephant with seven Trunks the seven-headed Horse Exmognogora or Sepmogroot and whole Fields of Corral c. This highly incens'd Mahadeu who commanded the Deytes a Family of the Giants and the four-headed God Bramma to go to the River Siamboerwetty and the Golden Mountain Meerparwat or Merouwa 40000 Leagues high and lying in the Center of the World near the foremetion'd River
and to throw the same into the Sea and further that they should cause therein such violent emotions as should force it to throw up and disgorge that Wealth which was the occasion of its Pride Whereupon Mahadeu himself assisted on Bramma's side and the Deytes or Giants on the other so moved the Sea by shaking this Mountain that first it threw up the Money call'd Lecseny secondly the invaluable Jewel Consenchmany or a Carbuncle which in the night gives as great a Light as the Moon Thirdly the Tree Paersatich Fourthly her Silver Pot with the Water Sora Fifthly the Physician Dannewanter Sixthly Indema or the Moon Sevently the white Cow of Superfluity Camdoga Eighthly the Water of Everlasting Life call'd Ammaril Ninthly the Elephant with seven Trunks call'd Hierawanesti Tenthly the beautiful dancing Maid Remba Eleventhly the seven-headed Horse Exmognogora Twelfthly the Bowe Dennock Thirteenthly the Horn Sank And lastly the Poyson Sahar The Sea having by this great motion vomited up all these things became very calm Whereupon Mahadeu commanded the Mountain Meerparwat to be carried again to its place and left the Serpent Signage or Soesja to perform the same Then giving the conquer'd Treasures to several Countreys and People he return'd to Heaven Thus Kaurams Altar ended having lasted in the first Age 2500 Years Waras or Warrahas Altar the third WHen in the First Age the World was wholly spoil'd and no Belief amongst Men the Serpent Signage or Seesja with a hundred Heads who supported the World fainted through the weight of the Peoples sins insomuch that not being able to bear the same up any longer he went from it and thereby turning the whole World topsie-turvey at last thrust it into a bottomless Sea where all the Creatures were drown'd Thereupon Bramma the four-headed God implor'd Wistnow to fetch the World out of the bottomless Water and place it on the dry Land again Mahadeu's strange shape in his third appearance Mahadeu consenting to his Request descended in the following Shape viz. He had a Head like a Hog with two mighty Tusks bigger than those of an Elephant a Body like a Man with four Arms and Hands in one of which he held the great and terrible Sword Godda and on the first Finger of the other Hand a Ring in the third the before-mention'd great Horn which they call Sank and in the fourth the Book Kittaep In this manner Mahadeu descended first no bigger than a Dwarf but grew ere long to that horrible bigness before he came quite down that had the Earth been above the Waters and he stood upon it he would undoubtedly have touch'd the Heavens with his Head In this horrid Shape he div'd into the Deep where he kill'd the Monstrous Giant Hirnacks or Hirnacas which colour'd the whole Sea as red as Blood and Mahadeu made him his Footstool to tread on and striking his Tusks into the World pull'd up the same out of the Waters and calling the Tortoise and thousand-headed Serpent Signage to him he plac'd the Tortoise above the Waters and upon the Tortoise the Serpent Signage and above him the World This done he ascended again into Heaven and with one word Bramma created new Men. The Brahmans and other Tribes of the Indians seem highly to esteem this Appearance of Wistnow in the shape of a Man with four Arms and a Hogs Head for in the City Trimottam about Zinzi is a Pagode or Temple call'd Adi Warraha in which a Hogs head stands to publick view which the Brahmans affirm grew out of the Ground and worship as the Image of Wistnow in commemoration of his Birth in that shape Above Wistnow or Mahadeu sits the fair dancing Maid Remba with her Legs across under her The Giant Hirnacs representation The Giant Hirnacs lying under Mahadeu's Feet is represented in the shape of a horrible Demon with two Horns on his Haed mighty great Ears and bristly Hair on his Forehead and the Crown of his Head Cross his left Shoulder hangs a Black String his Body from Head to Foot full of bloody Spots His Fingers are like those of a Man but his Toes are rather Claws Thus ended Waras Altar having lasted 2700 Years in the First Age. Narsings Altar the Fourth WHen in the First Age the Giant Hirrenkessep had by great Penance and Religious Exercises moved Bramma the four-headed God to appear unto him and had obtain'd his Request he ask'd him what he desir'd whereto Hirrenkessep replied Hirenkessep's Request to Bramma Most powerful Bramma make me by your Favours a Monarch and mighty Prince on Earth and thereby grant that I may never be kill'd either by Heaven Earth Water Sun Moon Planets Clouds Wind Hail Snow Rain Thunder Lightning Birds Beasts Fishes Men Devils Serpents Adders Poyson Swords Arrows nor by any other Weapons neither without my House nor within it by Day nor by Night All which Bramma promising him the Giant Hirrenkessep raised himself and left off imploring Bramma any longer but marching into the Field conquer'd many Towns and Countreys and by Degrees subdu'd the whole World Which done he publish'd an Edict His Edict whereby he commanded all Men on pain of death to worship no Deity but him onely and that all those which should be found to do the contrary should die without mercy Waras of Warrahas autaer de derde Narsings autaer de vierde Wamans autaer de vyfde Mahadeu having perform'd all this in three days ascended up to Heaven again and so ended the fourth Altar in the first Age Cortesingke after a Reign of seventeen hundred twenty eight thousand years in which hapned all the foremention'd Wonders And notwithstanding the time of these Miracles doth not amount to more in all than seventy seven hundred years and three days yet it is to be understood that the seventeen hundred and twenty thousand years and three hundred and sixty two days were expir'd before between and after the Miracles Vanam's Altar the Fifth begins with the second Age Tretrsingke MAhadeu in the first Age had plac'd a Ragia Inder in Heaven to Govern the happy Souls as a Reward for his pious Life and continual Offerings which whil'st he liv'd on Earth he made every day in honor of Mahadeu with promise moâ—â—over that he should enjoy that place till some body else should exceed him for he had made a hundred Siasjas which are costly Offerings in honor of Mahadeu and besides all that forsook his Estate Wife and Children nay his own Life and spent all his time in Fasting and Praying Moreover in this second Age was born a Bell Ragia who growing up to a Youth betook himself to the reading of holy Books and amongst many other things read that a King was plac'd in Heaven to Govern the happy Souls till such time as some one should exceed him as abovesaid Since which this Ragia being a powerful King to exceed Ragia Inder in Piety spent whole days in searching and reading of holy Books nor
had he any sooner ended one Siasja or Offering but he immediately prepar'd another insomuch that the ninety ninth Siasja or Offering was burning in honor of Mahadeu Ragia Inder fearing that he should be conquer'd in Piety begg'd Mahadeu to prevent Bell Ragia that he might not exceed him in his constant Devotion whereupon Mahadeu answer'd Be of good chear Ragia Inder I will never permit any one to pluck you out of your Throne and immediately after descending in the shape of a black Dwarf and taking upon him the Name of Vanam he in that manner went to Bell Ragia's Court before the Gates whereof the Priests and Brahmans were continually reading of holy Books and explaining them for which they receiv'd a Reward according to their merits from the King who to some gave Jewels and Precious Stones to others Money and the like Amongst these learned People Vanam betaking himself read with wonderful exactness and distinction and explain'd the most mysterious places so well that he was admir'd by all that were present especially by Bell Ragia who causing him to be brought before him ask'd him if he was the Person that read with such wonderful exactness Vanam replying Yes was answer'd by Bell Ragia in this manner I have long study'd and read the words of God and have heard many a Learned Brahman but never any equal to you pray tell me who you are and of what Family To which Vanam reply'd I am a poor distressed Brahman and come to beg Alms of you for Mahadeu 's sake Then Bell Ragia bid him ask what he would and it should be granted him Whereupon Vanam desir'd that he would give him so much free Land as he could stride over at three Paces This is but little reply'd Bell Ragia you had better have ask'd a a pleasant Dwelling with a great Tract of Land and Springs of Water belonging to it some rich Jewels or large Sums of Money which might afford you a Maintenance as long as you live But Vanam persisting in his former Request and Bell Ragia agreeing to it Confirm this to me said Vanam which Bell Ragia did by taking a golden Cruise fill'd with fresh Water and pouring the same over both Vanam's Hands which from that time to this day hath been us'd amongst the Heathens to confirm any thing of great consequence this being done Vanam made one step from Bell Ragia and took the second step from the Earth into the Clouds which when Bell Ragia saw it so amaz'd him that he cry'd out This cannot be done without Divine Assistance the Hand of God is in this Business Then Vanam ask'd where he should take the third step Bell Ragia reply'd I know no other place for you have already stradled over Heaven and Earth which I command but my Heart and Body on which you freely step Whereupon Vaman stepping with wonderful swiftness and strength on Bell Ragia's Breast forc'd him into the infernal Pit call'd Patalseegh or Patalam where Nagelook or horrid Serpents like Men reside over which Vanam made him Prince or Ragia and chang'd his Name from Bell Ragia into that of Worron Bell Ragia's Wife being much troubled hereat ask'd Mahadeu why he had dealt so by her Husband and if that were the Reward for all his pious Actions To which Mahadeu answer'd Be of good chear Woman you shall be brought to your Husband to live with him in the place where he is which he had no sooner said but he convey'd her to Worron whom as a Reward for his many great Offerings he made Prince of the Pit of Darkness and in token of Honor debased himself so low as to be his Porter for nine days in his dark Realm At last Mahadeu ascending again to Heaven ended the first Altar in the second Age though the fifth in order after the expiration of a thousand years Prasseram's or Paresje Rama's Altar the Sixth IN the beginning of Prasserams or the second Altar of this Age Braman and Braminin a Marry'd Couple dwelling near the Stream Bewa liv'd a long time very piously but the Woman being barren had neither Son nor Daughter which made them both very melancholy because it is a great reproach amongst the Benjans to be barren But that they might not be despis'd nor scorn'd they resolv'd to go from thence and went into a solitary and thirsty Wilderness that there they might worship Mahadeu out of sight of all People and implore him to open her Womb after long ranging through divers Wildernesses they at last came into a Wood near an ancient consecrated Pagode shadow'd by a great Tree under which they lying down together to rest the Woman said to her Husband Let us call upon Mahadeu here in this place that he may open my Womb and make me fruitful then both kneeling down on the Ground they Pray'd with great zeal but not being heard the Woman said to her Husband Perhaps Mahadeu is not pleas'd that we should worship him with so much ease in so cool a place and therefore would be better pleas'd if we should first chastise our Bodies and so humble our selves come therefore and let us forsake this shady and delightful place and in the day-time expose our Bodies to the heat of the Sun and in the night to the cold Winds Rain and all other hardships for his sake that he may hear our Prayer and make me fruitful After having a long time been thus earnest in their Prayers they still as before had no audience whereupon the Woman said to her Husband I have no mind to live longer but had rather die if it would please God than live under this reproach To which her Husband reply'd Let us try the last means and continue so long Fasting and Praying till we end this miserable Life by hunger and hardship or else be heard Whereupon they both betook themselves to Fasting and Prayer more than ever they had done before and after they had spent nine days without eating or drinking Mahadeu appear'd to them in the likeness of a little beautiful Child and ask'd them what they requested of Heaven in this their humble Posture whereupon they reply'd Our Prayers are to Mahadeu onely for a fruitful Womb and that I said she may bear as fair a Son as your self Mahadeu answer'd Why do you ask for Children to trouble you more in this miserable Life had you not better have begg'd for Gold Silver or other Riches to make your days happy in stead of spending them in sorrow and trouble The Woman replying said No Treasures or Pleasures of this Life can bring such joy as a Son of that perfection with your self Mahadeu hereupon reply'd Your Desires shall be fulfill'd and as you have Pray'd three times one after another so shall you have three Sons one after another which said he vanish'd and both the Brahman and his Wife being consum'd and wasted by long Fasting dy'd and the Ghost of the Woman was sent into the Body of