‘The travels of Sig. Pietro della Valle, a noble Roman, into East-India and Arabia Deserta. In which, the several countries, together with the customs, manners, traffique, and rites both religious and civil, of those Oriental princes and nations, are faithfully described: In familiar letters to his friend Signior Mario Schipano. Whereunto is added a relation of Sir Thomas Roe’s voyage into the East-Indies’ [‎116] (137/508)

i i6
The Travels of Peter Delia Valle,
v ; w
length return'd, and the Proceflron re-entring the Court with
a great train of Men and Women of the Town, they went thrice
r^bout the infide of the Court^as they had done once before they
went our: But in thefe three Circumgyrations they obferv'd
this Order., that the firft time they walk'd as they had done in
thefheet^ the fecondj more leifurely, and thofe that (bunded
the Flutes, left off, and founded another kind of (hriller and
fweeter Pipe 5 the third time;, they walk'd more (lowly then be
fore,, and leaving off the fecond Pipes, founded others of a far
lower note. Which being done, thofe that carry'd and accom-
pany'd the Canopy of the Idol, flood ftillin the entrance of the
Temple right againft the Upper End, and one of thePriefts or
Minifters Ttanding at the Upper End direftly oppofite to the
Idol, (who was held (landing on his Feet by help of one of the
Minifter's Hands, who for that purpofe went alwayes on one (ide
near him began to (alute the Idol a far off with a dim Taper
in his Hand, making a great circle with the fame from on high
downwards, and from below upwards, diredlly overagainft the
Idol, which he repeated feveral times s and in the end of the
circles, which were always terminated in the lower part, he de-
fcrib d a ftrait line from one fide to the oppofite, and that where
the circle began 5 nor did he feem to me always to begin the cir
cles on the fame part, but fometimes on the right, and fome-
times on the left, with what Order I know not. This being done
within, the fame Prieft came to the Entrance where the Idol
ftood , paffing dire&ly through the midft of the Palifado of
L ] ghts, (through which, I believe, that for others, and another
time, it is not lawful to pafs 5 becaufe out of thefe Ceremonies
w hen any one enter'd to perform other Services, I faw him al
ways go without the Palifado on the fides) coming along, Ifav
lounding a Bell, and being followed by a Boy who carry'd a Bafin
or water with Santalus , ox Senders after him, (the fame where-
with, I conceive, they are wont to paint their fore-heads) and
alio with Drums and Flutes founding all rhe u*
ufually