'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎307] (330/448)

Their Cir
A fee is to be paid amid the ceremony, for want of which, the pooreft fort are feldome
cut. The ceremony is more or lefs according to the difference of their degree, aded
cither at home or in the Melchits. If Ion to a Mirzaj Chawn, Sultan, or Chelaby, it has
more pomp for, his kindred and friends in their heft equipage aflemble at the parents
houfe, as a fymbol of their joy, prefenting him with gifts of fundry pricesand after
foiall ftay, mount the Boy upon a trapt Courfer, richly vefted, holding in his right hand
a fword,m his left his bridle: a flave goes on either fide.one holding a Lance, the other a
Flambeaux ■, neither of which are without their Allegories. Mufick is not wanting, for
it goes firft, the Father next, and according as they are in bloud the reft, others follow
promifcuoully : the Hodgee attending at the entrance into the Mofque, helps him to
alight, and hallows him. To work they ftraightway go : one holds his, knee, a fecond
difrobes, a third holds his hands, and others by fome trivial conceit ftrive to win his
thoughts to extenuate his enfuing torment. The Prieft (having muttered his orifons)
dilates the prspuce, in a trice with his Silver SciiTers circumcifes him, and then applies
a healing Powder of Salt, Date-ftones and Coton-wool, thettandersby to joy his in
itiation into Mahometry throwing down their Mmiera Nat alma falute him by the name
of Muffdman. But if the ceremony be at home, they then provide a Banquet: before
which, the Boy enters well attended, uncloathed before them all and circumcifed; and
in commemoration of fuch a benefit (imitating therein when was wean
ed) continue a Feaft for three dayes together: at the end whereof, the Child is led about
inftate, bath'dand purg'd, aTurbantofwhiteSilk putupon his Head, and all the way
as he returns, faluted with acclamations.
But fuch as turn Apoftates to fwiil in luxury the more, or to robe themfelves with
fome title or advancement, (forgetting that for a bale and momentany applaufe or plea-
fure they difrobe their Soul ofeverlafting happinefs, fuch as run parallel with the lines
of Eternity) are brought before the Caddi, who upon this fignification leads him into the
Mofque and without much ceremony, onely by cutting the fore-skin, are thereby Believ
ers. Which done, thofe Devils incarnate to witnefs their new perfwalion, or rather to
aggravate and indeed accelerate their damnation, ipurn with their accurfed Feet the
Crofs, the hieroglyphic of our falvation: which in the primitive and pureft Age was
of that honour amongft Chriftians as not onely they ufed it in Baptifm but upon their fore
heads to defpight the Jews and Heathens, and to glory in that fame thing the more which
the Enemies of Chrifl upbraided the Chriilian with as a calumny. Superftition 1 deteft
but that itihould become a derifion, is miferable and to be pitied. To return.
The Renegado in token of defiance Ipits thrice at it, having this mif-belief. That Chriffc
never fuffered, but Judas j and then exults in the ufual Battologie, La, la, la Utah, Hyl~
Ma, Alio ugh, ayhyr, Mahumed refuUAllongh: God is firft, praile him, and next him, Maho-
homet. After which imprecation the wretch holds up one Finger, thereby renouncing a
Trinity : three Muilulmen then dart three ftaves three times towards Heaven, and e're
any touch ground his new name is impofed. Which done, he is led flowly upon an Afs,'
his emblem, about the City that every one may note him for a Denizon and Profelyte to
Mahomet. But (praiiedbe God) I have not heard of any European Chriftian, who in
this Countrey of late times hath denied his Faith, which is caufe of rejoicing.
Their Weddings have not much variety. Firft, obferve that Polygamy is tolerable y
for Mahomet to excufe his own infirmity (but borrowing it from the Romans) honours
fuch moft as have feveral Wives and beget moft Children: wherein they agree with Sca-
Uger, That the pleafure of Generation is a fixth fenfe: but their common excufe is, To fur-
nifh the Emperour with Souldiers for defence, Paradife with Saints ', and to refoundthe
meritorious praifesof their Mahomet: the DervilTe an order of begging Friar excepted,
who from a tranfcendant conceit of their own purity forbear Matrimony, but fuppofe
Naturesblackeftvillany no fin, producing Mahomet for theix: prototype, who both by
precept and example defended it. I have peradventure tied your chafte ears too long
to fo impure a fubjed. Such therefore as dare wed provide a fum of money and buy her
good-will, her Parents being no further charged than to bath and purifie her. They chufe
their Wives more from report of others than particular acquaintance, the friends of ei
ther party commonly recommending and concluding. The day being come, the Bride is
veiled with a lawn and bravely mounted, a troop of friends accompany her to Church,
in the mid-way fhe is met with an equal number of friends, all together aggrandize the ce
remony. Entring the Mofque, the Mulay takes the proteft of their good liking, ihe
demands three things (fiich as the Jewilh Women did of old;) bed-right, food, and
cloathing; Their Fathers having declared themfelves content, the Prieft circles them
with a cord, conjoins their hands, takes a reciprocal oath, and calls Mahomet to wit:
Rr 2 nefs.