The burning of their dead.] Another most vile custome the foresaide nation doeth retaine:  for when any man dieth they burne his dead corps to ashes:  and if his wife suruiueth him, her they burne quicke, because (say they) she shall accompany her husband in his tilthe and husbandry, when he is come into a new world.  Howbeit the said wife hauing children by her husband, may if she will, remain with them, without shame or reproach; notwithstanding, for the most part, they all of them make choice to be burnt with their husbands.  Now, albeit the wife dieth before her husband, that law bindeth not the husband to any such inconuenience, but he may mary another wife also.  Likewise, the said nation hath another strange custome, in that their women drink wine, but their men do not.  Also the Women haue the lids and brows of their eyes and beards shauen, but the men haue not:  with many other base and filthy fashions which the said women do vse contrary to the nature of their sexe. [Sidenote:  Mobar, or Maliapor.] From that kingdom I traueiled 10. daies iourney vnto another kingdome called Mobar, which containeth many cities.  Within a certaine church of the same countrey, the body of S. Thomas the Apostle is interred, the very same church being full of idols:  and in 15. houses round about the said Church, there dwell certaine priests who are Nestorians, that is to say, false, and bad Christians, and schismatiques.

Of a strange and vncouth idole:  and of certaine customes and ceremonies.

In the said kingdome of Mobar there is a wonderfull strange idole, being made after the shape and resemblance of a man, as big as the image of our Christopher, et [sic passim—­KTH] consisting all of most pure and glittering gold.  And about the neck thereof hangeth a silke riband, ful of most rich and precious stones, some one of which is of more value then a whole kingdome.  The house of this idol is all of beaten gold, namely the roofe, the pauement, and the sieling of the wall within and without.  Vnto this idol the Indians go on pilgrimage, as we do vnto S. Peter.  Some go with halters about their necks, some with their hands bound behind them, some others with kniues sticking on their armes or legs:  and if after their peregrination, the flesh of their wounded arme festereth or corrupteth, they esteeme that limme to be holy, and thinke that their God is wel pleased with them.  Neare vnto the temple of that idol is a lake made by the hands of men in an open et common place, whereinto the pilgrimes cast gold, siluer, and precious stones, for the honour of the idol and the repairing of his temple.  And therefore when any thing is to be adorned or mended, they go vnto this lake taking vp the treasure which was cast in.  Moreouer at euery yerely feast of the making or repairing of the said idol, the king and queene, with the whole multitude of the people, and all the pilgrimes assemble themselues, and placing the said idol in a most stately and rich chariot,