'The travels of Sir John Chardin into Persia and the East Indies, through the Black Sea, and the country of Colchis. Containing the author's voyage from Paris to Ispahan. To which is added, the coronation of the present King of Persia, Solyman the III.' [‎102] (131/594)

cfl e Travels of Sir John Chardin into Perlia,
fit down at the Table. There is not one Prieft among em
all that underftands the Form of Baptifm, fo that 'tis a Qtje-
ftion whether their Baptifm be to any purpofe or no. Which
is the reafon that our Theatin Monks Baptize as many Chil-
dern as they can : which they generally do under the pretence
of fome Phyfical Application : by that means concealing the
Office of the Priefthood under the difguife of Phyfical Ope
ration.
There are very few People in whether Ecclefi-
aftical or Seculars, that make any Confeffions; and I think I
might well fay there are none at all. For they believe it to
be a fufficient Satisfaftion for their Sins to offer a Prefent to
their Idols, which is the utmoft addrefs of their Worfliip, and
limit of their Religion. They never make ufe of Extream
Unftion, which is a thing of which they are utterly ignorant.
They do not believe that Ordination imprints a Charader
not to be defac'd. And therefore they Ordain anew thofd
who have been degraded, as if they had never been in Or
ders.
They do not allow Marriage to be in the Number of the
Sacraments. 'Tis a Contrad by way of Bargain and Sale ;
for the Parents of the Maid agree upon the price which the
perfon that demands her in Marriage is to give for her. The
price of a Woman repudiated is lefs, then that of a Wi
dow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. j and the price of a Widow lefs then that of a Maid.
When the Match is concluded, the Party concern'd makes
it his Bufinefs to raife the Sum agreed upon for the purchafe of
his Miftrefs: which he raifes by the Sale of his Sub;e6ts if he
have any, or their Childern to the either for Ready
Money or Commodities. However, while he is railing the
Sum, he has Liberty to go privately and fee his Miftrefs j nor
is it any fcandal if her Belly fwell before (he is married. At
length when the Young Man has rais'd the Sum agreed upon
by the Parents, he carries it to 'em : and that Day they make a
great Feaft together, and that is the firft Day of the Nuptials.
The next Day the Parents Conduit the Bride to the Bride
groom's Houfe : and ufually give him either in Slaves, Cattle
or Houfliold-Goods the value they have receiv d from him :
and upon the fourth or fifth of thefe Feafting Days the Cere
mony is concluded, according to the Cuftom of the Grce\
Church, only in this, that the Ceremony is perform'd not in
the Church, but over the Door. But if any one have mar-
r y'd a Barren Woman, or of an ill Difpofition and ugly Hu-
i* mour,