And  if  it  chanccth  (which  is  feldome)  that  any  woman  refufeth  tWisfieyie  comu>iUion ,
they  cut  the  haire  cleanc  off  from  her  head ;  ney  ther  may  fhc  after  that  weare  a  jewel!,
but  is  accounted  a  difhoneft  woman.  This  cultomc  is  (as  may  appeare)  very  ancient,

and


488  Of  the  Indian 'Br  ameneSj<urc.  Chap.9.
and  fuppofcd  to  hauebecne  ordained,  becaufc  pfthe  libidinous  difpolicion  of  the  In.
dian  womcn,which  for  their  lufti  would  poy  fon  their  husband?.
The  Bramenesobfcruefafting-daycs  with  fo  great  abftinencc,  that  theycatc  no-
thing that  day,ar)d  fometimc  not  in  three  or  foure  dayes  together.  They  tell  many  mi-
racles of  their  P-s^Ci^f/,  Theyholdethcimmortalitieof  thcfouic,  both  of  beaftsand
mcn.and  jhat  fo  often  mentioned  Pythagorean  fucccflion.and  remiing  ofmens  foulcs
inbcafts;  andcontrarivvife.  They  by  the  dire>Stion  of  the  Diuell(  the  author  ofthcir
miracles)  frame  fuch  deformed  ftatues  to  their  Idols.
The  Indian  women  in  Goa,  when  they  goc  forth.haue  but  one  cloth  about  their  bo-
dicSjWhich  couercth  their  heads,  andhangeth  downe  to  the  knees ,  otherwifc  naked.
They  hauc  rings  thorow  their  nofes>  about  their  legges,  toes,  neckes,  and  armes,  and
fcuen  or  eight  bracelets  vpon  their  handes  (according  to  their  abilitie)  of  glalTc  or  o.
ther  mettall.  When  the  woman  is  feuen  years  o]de,and  the  man  nine,thcy  marrie.buc

b  RJitth.  come  not  together  till  the  woman  is  able  to  beare  chMienM'.Fitcb  ment:oneth  ''the
folemnitic  of  thefc  marriages, and  the  caufe  to  be  the  burning  of  the  mother  when  ihc
father  is  de ad,that  they  might  haue  a  father-in-law  to  bring  them  vp.
