[Footnote 252:  Twenty marks are L15:6:8 sterling.—­E.]

I mean to remain in Agra for six weeks longer, waiting an excellent opportunity of going to the famous river Ganges, about five days journey from hence, to see a memorable meeting of the idolatrous people of this country, called Banians, of whom to the number of 400,000 go thither, on purpose to bathe and shave themselves in the river, and to sacrifice a world of gold to that same river, partly in stamped coin, and partly in great massy lumps and wedges, thrown into the river as a sacrifice, besides many other strange ceremonies, worthy of being observed.  So notable a spectacle is no where to be seen, neither in this the greater Asia, nor in the lesser, now called Natolia.  This shew is made once in every year, on which occasion people flock thither from almost a thousand miles off, worshipping the river as a god and saviour; a most abominable and impious superstition of these brutish heathens, aliens from Christ.  As soon as I have seen this ceremony, I propose, by God’s help, to repair to Lahore, twenty days journey from hence, and so into Persia, &c.

   Your dutiful, loving, and obedient son,
   Now a desolate pilgrim in the world,
   THOMAS CORYAT.

Sec.3. Some Observations concerning India, by Thomas Coryat.[253]

Whereas in this country the beggars beg from a Christian in the name of Bibbee Maria, and not of Hazaret Eesa, we may gather that the Jesuits have preached our Lady Mary more than the Lord Jesus.

[Footnote 253:  Purchas informs us, that these were taken from certain notes written by Coryat, given him by Sir Thomas Roe; “whence, omitting such things as have been given before from the observations of Sir Thomas Roe himself, I have inserted a few.”—­Purch.]

A great rajah of the Hindoos, who was a notorious atheist, and a contemner of all diety, and who boasted that he knew of no God except the king, and neither believed nor feared any other, happened one day to sit dallying among his women, when one of them plucked a hair from his breast, which hair being fast-rooted, plucked off along with it a small bit of skin, so that a small spot of blood appeared.  This small scar festered and gangrened incurably, so that in a few days his life was despaired of, and being surrounded by all his friends, and several of the courtiers, he broke out into these excellent words:—­“Which of you would have thought that I, a warrior, should not have died by the stroke of a sword, a spear, or an arrow?  But now am I enforced to confess the power of the great God I have so long despised, who needs no other lance to slay so blasphemous a wretch and contemner of his holy majesty, such as I have been, than a small hair.”

Akbar Shah, the former king, had learnt all manner of sorceries; and being once in a strange humour to shew a spectacle to his nobles, he brought forth his favourite Sultana before them, and cut off her head with a sword in their presence.  Seeing them struck with horror and amazement at this action, by virtue of his exorcisms and sorceries, he caused her head to fix on again, and no sign remained of any wound.