so thin, that in the most plentiful Mines it's rare to find one in
digging, or till they have prepar'd the Stuff, and do search purposely
for them: They are also frequently enclos'd in Clods; and some of those
of _Melwillee_, the New Mine in the Kingdom of _Golconda_, have the
Earth so fix'd about them, that till they grind them on a rough Stone
with Sand, they cannot move it sufficiently, to discover they are
Transparent; or, were it not for their Shapes, to know them from other
Stones. At the first opening of the Mine, the unskilful Labourers,
sometimes to try what they have found, lay them on a great Stone, and
striking on them with another, to their costly experience discover
they had broken a Diamond. One I knew who had an excellent Stone of 8
_mangelleens_, served so by ignorant Miners he employed.
Near the Place where they dig, they raise a Wall with such rugged
Stones as they find at Hand (whereof all the Mines afford Plenty) of
about two Foot high, and six Foot over, flooring it well with the
same; for the laying of which they have no other Mortar than the Earth
tempered with Water. To strengthen and make it tight they throw up a
Bank against the side of it: In one whereof they leave a small vent
about two Inches from the bottom, by which it empties it self into a
little Pit, made in the Earth to receive small Stones, if by chance any
should run through. The vent being stopped, they fill the Cistern they
have made with Water, soaking therein as much as the Earth they dig
out of the Mines, as it can conveniently receive at a time, breaking
the Clods, picking out the great Stones and stirring it with Shovels,
till the Water is all Muddy, the gravelly stuff falling to the bottom;
then they open the vent, letting out the foul Water and supplying
it with clean, till all the Earthly Substance be wasted away, and
none but a gravelly remains at the bottom. Thus they continue Washing
till about Ten of the Clock before Noon, when they take the gravelly
Stuff they have washed, and spread it on a Place made plain and smooth
(like a Bowling-Alley) for the purpose, near the Cistern, which being
soon dried by the heat of the Sun at that time of the Day, they very
curiously look it over, that the smallest bit of a Stone can hardly
escape them. They never examin the Stuff they have wash'd but between
the Hours of Ten and Three, least any Cloud by interposing, intercept
the brisk Beams of the Sun, which they hold very necessary to assist
them in their search; the Diamonds, not forbearing to reflect them when
they touch therein, rendring themselves thereby the more conspicuous.
Some of the expertest Labourers are employed in searching; he that
sets them at Work usually sitting by, and overlooking; but it's
hardly possible, especially where many are employed, to watch them
so narrowly, but that they may steal part of what they find, as many
times some of them do, and, selling it privately, convert to their own
use. If they find a large Stone, they carry it not presently to their
Employer, but keep on looking, having an Eye on him till they observe
he takes notice of it, when with a turn of their Hand they give him a
glimpse of it, but deliver it not till they have done Work, and then
very privately, it being the general Endeavour to conceal what they
find, least it should come to the Knowledge of the Governour of the
Place, and he require a share, which in the Kingdom of _Golconda_ is
usually practiced, without respect to any agreement made with them.
The Miners, those that employ them, and the Merchants that buy the
Stones of them, are generally _Ethnicks_; not a _Musselman_, that
ever I heard of, followed the Employment. These Labourers and their
Employers are _Tellinga_'s, commonly Natives of or near the Place. The
Merchants are the _Banians_ of _Guzzarat_, who for some Generations
have forsaken their own Country to take up the Trade, in which they
have had such Success, that 'tis now solely engross'd by them; who
corresponding with their Country-men in _Surrat_, _Goa_, _Golconda_,
_Visiapore_, _Agra_ and _Dillee_, and other Places in _India_, furnish
them all with Diamonds.
The Governors of the Mines are also Idolaters: In the King of
_Golconda_'s Dominions a _Tellinga Brammee_ Rents most of them, whose
agreement with the Adventurer is, that, all the Stones they find under
a[19]_Pagoda_ Weight, are to be their own; all of that Weight and
above it to be his, for the King's Use: But although this Agreement be
signed and sealed unto, he minds not at all the Performance thereof,
but endeavours to engross all the Profit to himself, by Tyrannical
squeezing both Merchants and Miners, whom he not only Taxes very high,
but maintaining Spies among them of their own People, on the least
Inkling that they have been any ways Fortunate, he immediately makes a
Demand on them, and raises their Tax; else, on a false Pretence they
have found a great Stone, drubs them till they Surrender what they
have, to redeem their Bodies from Torment. Besides, the Excise is so
high on all sorts of Provisions, _Beetle_, and _Tobacco_, which to
them is as absolutely necessary as Meat, or at least in their Esteem,
that it is thereby raised to double that Price they bear without the
Government; and it is furnish'd only by some Licens'd Persons; if any
other should endeavour to bring in the least quantity by stealth, he
is Fin'd (even for one Leaf of _Tobacco_) if it be a Person of any
Repute, or worth any thing, else very severely drubb'd for it; by which
Course there is hardly a Man worth five Hundred Pound to be found among
them, most of them dealing by Monies taken up at Interest of Usurers,
who reside there purposely to furnish them, who, with the Governor eat
up their Gains: So that one would wonder any of them should stay, and
not betake themselves to Places where they might have better Usage;
as there are several in other Governments, and some few that have the
Sense to remove; but many their Debts, others hopes of a great hit,
detains. Both Merchant and Miner go generally naked, only a poor Clout
about their middle, and their Shash on their Heads; they dare not wear
a Coat, lest the Governor should say they have thriven much, are Rich,
and so enlarge his Demands on them. The Wisest, when they find a great
Stone, conceal it till they have an opportunity, and then with Wife
and Children run all away into the _Visiapore_ Country, where they are
secure.
The Government in the _Visiapore_ Country is better, their Agreement
observ'd, Taxes easier, and no such Impositions on Provisions; the
Merchants go handsomly Clad, among whom are several Persons of
considerable Estates, which they are permitted to enjoy peaceably, by
reason whereof their Mines are much more Populous and better employed
than those of _Golconda_.
It is observable, that notwithstanding the Agreement with the
Adventurers of the Mines, that all Stones above a certain Weight shall
be for the King's Use; yet in the Metropolis of either Kingdoms, as
the Cities of _Golconda_ and _Visiapore_ are, there is no seizure, all
Stones are free, and the late deceased King, _Abdull Cutopshaw_ of the
former, and _Edelshaw_ of the latter, would not only give very great
Prices for large Stones, but richly Vest, and present the Merchant that
Sold them with Horses or something else of Value, thereby encouraging
others to bring the like. But the present King of _Visiapore_ is a
Child, and the King of _Golconda_'s Delights solely pleased on light
Women-Dancers, and Trick-Showers, that he neither minds _Diamonds_, nor
many things more necessary, committing the Government of his Kingdom to
a _Tellinga Braminee_, which the _Musselmen_ not well resenting, does
in some measure threaten the stability of his State.
FOOTNOTES:
[18] _A _Mangelin_ is 4 grains in weight, saith _Linschoten_._
[19] _A _Pagoda_ weight is _9 Mangelleens_._
_A Letter from the _East Indies_, of Mr. _John Marshal_ to Dr.
_Coga_, giving an Account of the Religion, Rites, Notions,
Customs, Manners of the Heathen Priests commonly called
_Bramines_. Communicated by the Reverend Mr. _Abraham de la
Pryme_._
_Worthy Sir_,
The last time that I had the happiness to be in your good Company,
and to partake of those Favours and Blessings that your Goodness
was pleased liberally to bestow upon me and our Companions, at our
departure, and as it were Exile from our Native Land, does so loudly
call out for some recompence or other at our Hands, that I cannot
without the greatest Ingratitude imaginable, let slip this (tho'
sudden) opportunity of Writing unto you, and presenting of you at
this time with what I understand you more value than all the Riches
of the East; to wit, a few Specimens of the Knowledge of those People
whom we stile Barbarians, Heathens and Idolaters, which I have read
in their own Books, and gather'd from the mouths of those that have
been the greatest Speakers and Preachers among them. I have always had
a profound Veneration for the Dictates of Nature, and the universal
Traditions of Nations, for hereby are Infinite Things to be learned,
for the establishing of our Glorious Religion against Atheists, and the
more easie propagation of the same among Infidels and Heathens.
Upon what account or grounds it is that some Travellers have stiled
these People Polytheists, or Atheists, I cannot tell; or whether there
be any such People at all in the World, except some of the base common
sort in all Nations, I much question? It is very observable here, that
their Priests, or _Bramines_, and Holy Men, whom they call _Jagees_,
when they have occasion to Write any thing they always put a figure of
one in the first place, to shew, as they say, that they acknowledge
but one God, whom they say is _Burme_, that is, Immaterial. When they
preach to the People, and Instruct them, which is commonly every
Feast-day, full Moon, or the time of an Eclipse of either Luminary,
they tell the common People much of God, Heaven and Hell, but very
Imperfectly, Obscurely and Mystically. They say that when God thought
of making the World, he made it in a minute.
They account this World the Body of God, for all that they say he's
Immaterial; and say that the Highest Heavens are his Head, the Fire
his Mouth, the Air his Breath and Breast, the Water his Seed, and the
Earth and the foundations thereof his Legs and Feet. But assert in
general that God is the Life of every thing, yet is the thing neither
greater nor less for him.
They hold that God dwelt in a Vacuity before that he created the World,
and that as he dwelt in that Vacuity he created several Beings out of
himself, the first were Angels, the second Souls, the third Spirits,
all differing in degrees of Purity, the first being more pure than the
second, and the second than the third. The Angels, they say, neither
act Good nor Evil, the Souls either Good or Evil, but the Spirits, or
_Dewta's_, as they call them, act scarce any thing but Evil.
They have a good Opinion of the Angels, and think their State mighty
happy, hoping that when they dye they shall be made partakers of the
same Bliss and Pleasure.
They believe that every thing that hath Life hath a Soul, but
especially Man; and they accordingly affirm, that as these Souls
behaved themselves in their pre-existent State, so are their Actions
in this World either good or bad, by a sort of fatal Necessity, which
is very hard to conquer, or to overcome. Hence it is, say they, that
there are so many different Humours and Dispositions of Men, for their
Souls, before their entrance into their Bodies, being tainted with
different Affections, causes the like differences in the Parties,
whose Bodies are their Vehicles. So that if a Man happen to have a
suddain or unfortunate Death, they immediately ascribe the same to
the Party's own Wickedness, or the bad Life that his Soul led before
that it enter'd into his Body. For, say they, the afore-acted Evil
that his Soul did in its other Life, brought these accidents upon
him, by getting the upper hand of him, and by being too powerful and
strong. And those that dye thus, they believe that their Souls turn
immediately into Devils. They maintain _Pythagoras_'s Transmigration,
or _Metempsycosis_, but in a grosser sense than he did. For they
believe that Mens Souls, that have not lived so well as they ought, go
as soon as the Body dyes not only into Birds and Beasts, but even into
the basest Reptiles, Insects and Plants, where they suffer a strong
sort of purgation, to expiate their former Crimes: But as for the Souls
of the _Jogees_, or _Fuche's_, that is, of Religious Men and Saints,
they fancy that they go and inhabit with the good _Dewta_'s, or Angels,
among the Stars.
As for the Spirits, or Inferiour Angels, they believe that they are
very evil, and have a hand in all Wickednesses, Murders, Wars, Storms,
and Tempests; so that when they solemnize the Funerals of those that
are dead, they always present Dishes of Meat, as Offerings unto those
Spirits, and sometimes Sacrifice unto them, that they may not hurt the
Souls of the Dead.
As they acknowledge the being of a mighty God, so they hold that he
created the World, and every thing therein. They believe that there
are almost infinite number of Worlds, and that God has oftentimes
Annihilated and Re-Created the same. But how he came first to Create
the World and Mankind, they relate to have been thus--Once on a time
(say they) as he was set in Eternity, it came into his mind to make
something, and immediately no sooner had he thought the same, but that
the same Minute was a perfect Beautiful Woman present immediately
before him, which he called _Adea Suktee_, that is, the first Woman:
Then this figure put into his mind the figure of a Man; which he had
no sooner conceived in his mind, but that he also started up, and
represented himself before him; this he called _Manapuise_, that is,
the first Man; then upon a reflection of these things, he resolv'd
further to create several places for them to abide in, and accordingly
assuming a subtil body, he Breath'd in a Minute the whole Universe, and
every thing therein, from the least to the greatest.
They constantly believe that the Universe cannot possibly last longer
than 71 _Joog's_, which is a measure of time with them, and is ...
years. Which when it is come, God does not only annihilate the whole
Universe, but even every thing else, as well Angels, Souls, and
Spirits, as Inferiour Creatures; and then he remains in the same State
that he was in before the Creation; But say, that after he has a while
respired thus he Breaths again, and every thing is Created afresh, as
well Angels and Souls, as all other things; but as for the Spirits,
they are no more thought of. Yet for all this, after 71 _Joogs_ more
all is Annihilated again. How many _Joogs_ are past since the World
was last Created they cannot certainly tell; only 'tis observable that
in an Almanack of theirs, written in the _Sanscript_ Language in 1670,
they make the World then 3892771 years old from its last Creation.
The _Bramines_ of _Persia_ tell certain long Stories of a great Giant
that was led into a most delicate Garden, which upon certain conditions
should be his own for ever. But one evening in a cool shade, one of the
Wicked _Dewta's_, or Spirits, came to him, and tempted him with vast
sums of Gold, and all the most precious Jewels that can be imagined;
but he courageously withstood that temptation, as not knowing what
value or use they were of: But at length this wicked _Dewta_ brought
to him a fair Woman, who so charm'd him, that for her sake he most
willingly broke all his Conditions, and thereupon was turned out.
They tell a great many Stories Absurd and Ridiculous enough, of the
first Ages of this present World, which would be too tedious here to
take notice of; only I shall here give you out of one of their own
Books what they tell us of a great Flood that formerly happened. They
say, that about 21000 Years ago the Sea overwhelm'd and drowned the
whole Earth, except one great Hill, far to the Northwards, called
_Bindd_, and that there fled thither only one Woman and seven Men,
the names of whom were _Dehoolah_, _Sunnuk_, _Sunnaud_, _Trilleek_,
_Sannotah_, _Cuppyloshaw_, _Suraschah_ and _Burroopung_; these
understanding out of their Books that such a Flood would come, and was
then actually coming, prepared against the same, and repaired thither;
to which place also went two of all sorts of Creatures, Herbs, Trees,
and Grasses, and of every thing that had Life, to the number in all
of 1800000 living Souls. This Flood (say they) lasted 120 Years, 5
Months and 5 days: After which time all those Creatures that were thus
preserved, descended down again and replenished the Earth: But as for
the 7 Men and Women, only one of them came down with her, and dwelt at
the Foot of the Mountain, the other six turned _Fuchee's_, or Holy Men,
and spent there the remainder of their days.
They hold in general the _Ptolomaic_ System of the Universe, and say
that there are 8 or 9 Heavens, counting the Air and Earth, every one
exceeding another in Beauty and Glory.
Their Religion consists of nothing that I could ever see or learn, but
the leading of a Pure Life, the Washing away of their Sins in the River
_Ganges_, their muttering over of divers Prayers, and their doing of
strange and incredible Penances.
They say, that God is such a one, that whosoever seeks him, let it be
after what manner he pleases, whether by thinking that the Sun is he,
or the Moon, or the like, if they do it but sincerely and honestly,
with a right affected heart, they shall be received of him.
They report, that on a time a _Mussulman_ seeing a _Hindoo_, or
Pagan Priest, in Heaven, he ask'd God how that Infidel came to have
admittance thither, whom _Mahomet_ so often calls by the name of Bitter
Roots? To whom God answered, What if a Bitter Root bring forth sweeter
Fruit than any of you, why should I not receive it? Upon which the
_Mussulman_ had no more to say.
They hold, that such as suffer not their minds to wander after the
lusts of the World are perfect _Jogees_, or Saints, and hold that God
is always present with them in all their actions.
It is to be found in many of their Books, that there was a time, a good
while ago, in which God took upon him the shape of a Man, and spent
many Years in reforming the world, and giving better rules to walk by
than had been before: but at length having left them, they soon forgot
him and his Rules, and returned to their former courses; upon which he
told them that he would leave them to their ways, and never undertake
any such thing again.
The Religious at some certain Seasons of the Year come unto the River
_Ganges_ (which they call the Holy River) in vast multitudes, even from
many parts of _Tartary_, to wash away their sins, and make expiation
for their faults.
This _Ganges_ is a delicate fine River chiefly for the sake of its most
sweet, pure and clear Waters, which have got it the greatest esteem of
any River in the East. I have oftentimes sail'd many Miles up it, and
have found it in some places not to be above a Mile broad, in others
not half so much, and in one or two places not above one eighth of a
Mile. In _April_, when the Water is at the lowest, it is almost dry in
many places; but when it is at the highest, which is commonly about the
middle of _September_, it is very deep, and many Miles broad.
When the People are here gather'd together, they have a great many
strange Customs and Ceremonies, and pay a kind of Divine Honour and
Worship to the River, too long and tedious here to mention. The
_Hindoos_ and _Bramines_ preach then every day to the people, teaching
them their Duties, and ordering them to say such and such Prayers; but
above all things to be Charitable to the poor and needy.
It is reported, that upon the Hills by _Casmere_ there are men that
live some hundreds of Years, and can hold their Breaths, and lye in
Trances for several Years together, if they be but kept warm; and that
every year some of them come down unto the People at _Ganges_, and
do many great Cures; for whom they have such a Veneration, that they
frequently drink the Water they wash their Sweaty Feet in.
The Penances and Austerities that they undergo are almost incredible;
most of them, through their continual Fastings, and lying upon the
parching hot Sand in the Heat of the Sun, are so Lean, Dry'd and
Wither'd, that they look like Skeletons or Shadows, and one can scarce
perceive them to breath, or feel their Pulse beat.
When any great Man dyes among them, but especially any of their
_Jogees_ or Saints, they make great preparations for their Funeral;
the Corpse is laid on its Belly, and Salt and Rice laid round about it
at every corner of the Ground. Then the nearest Relations to the Party
deceased carry a Pot of Water on their Shoulders several times about
the Funeral Pile, when they burn them, then breaking it in pieces,
spills the Water. Which Ceremony being ended, the Pile is fired, and
then all the Relations begin to howl, and embrace one another, then
washing themselves in some Neighbouring River, they depart every one
to his Home; and as for the remaining Ashes, if he be Rich they gather
them up, and cast them into the _Ganges_ or the Sea.
Sometimes it happens that the Wife of the deceased Party, if she have
no Children, and be old, or ill to live in the World, will burn her
self with the dead Body; but this happens very seldom. It is said, that
in such cases the _Bramines_ give the Woman a stupefying Liquor, which
by the time that they are in the Fire makes them senseless of any Pain.
To know into what Body the Soul of the deceased is transmigrated they
do thus; they strew the Ashes of the Dead upon the Place where he
was first laid after his Death, and handfuls of odoriferous Flowers
about the same, and returning again in 44 Hours, they judge by some
pretended Impression or other in the Ashes, into what Body it is gone:
If the Foot of an Horse, or Dog, or Ox, or such like appear, then
they certainly give out that it is gone into such like Creatures; but
if nothing appear, then they think it is certainly gone to the Starry
Regions.
As for their Learning and Knowledge it is but little; they have indeed
several Books writ in divers Languages, but they contain nothing but a
great deal of Stuff and Cant about their Worship, Rites and Ceremonies.
They are ignorant of all parts of the World but their own; they wonder
much at us, that will take so much Care and Pains, and run thro' so
many Dangers both by Sea and Land, only, as they say, to uphold and
nourish Pride and Luxury. For, say they, every Country in the whole
World is sufficiently endow'd by Nature with every thing that is
necessary for the Life of Man, and that therefore it is madness to seek
for, or desire, that which is needless and unnecessary.
The last time that I was at _Modufferpore_ in _Indostan_, I had a
great deal of talk with a _Bramine_ somewhat more Learned than any of
the rest, his Name was _Ramnaunt_; he told me a great many Secrets in
Physick, and told me many Traditions and Stories. He says, that if you
bury a piece of Mony for some considerable time in the Mouth of a live
Frog, and then dig it up again at Midnight, that this piece of Money,
to whomsoever you give or pay it, will always return to you again.
He says, that if the little Worm in the Wood _Lukerakera_ be cut in
two, and the one part stirs and the other not, if the stirring part be
bruised, and given with half a Beetle to a Man, the other half to a
Woman, this Charm will keep them from ever lying absent one from the
other.
They have Books full of the like absurdities, and Cabalistick
complication of Figures; as for Example, if you write these following
Numbers, 28, 35, 2, 7. ---- 6, 3, 32, 31--34, 29, 8, 1, --4, 5, 30, 33.
in the squares of a square Figure, and your Enemies Name under it, and
wear it always about you, your Enemy shall never be able to hurt you.
So if you write the following Figures in the like manner upon the
left Hand, 2, 9, 2, 7, --6, 3, 6, 5, --8, 3, 8, 1--4, 5, 4, 7--with
Turmerick, and wash the same off with fair Water of _Ganges_, and drink
it, it will cure all manner of Venomous Bitings.
Multitudes of such like ridiculous Fancies they have; all which they
seem to have borrowed from the _Cabala_ of the _Saracens_, which is
full of such like.