The Religious at some certain Seasons of the Year come unto the River _Ganges_ (which they call the Holy River) in vast multitudes, even from many parts of _Tartary_, to wash away their sins, and make expiation for their faults. This _Ganges_ is a delicate fine River chiefly for the sake of its most sweet, pure and clear Waters, which have got it the greatest esteem of any River in the East. I have oftentimes sail'd many Miles up it, and have found it in some places not to be above a Mile broad, in others not half so much, and in one or two places not above one eighth of a Mile. In _April_, when the Water is at the lowest, it is almost dry in many places; but when it is at the highest, which is commonly about the middle of _September_, it is very deep, and many Miles broad. When the People are here gather'd together, they have a great many strange Customs and Ceremonies, and pay a kind of Divine Honour and Worship to the River, too long and tedious here to mention. The _Hindoos_ and _Bramines_ preach then every day to the people, teaching them their Duties, and ordering them to say such and such Prayers; but above all things to be Charitable to the poor and needy. It is reported, that upon the Hills by _Casmere_ there are men that live some hundreds of Years, and can hold their Breaths, and lye in Trances for several Years together, if they be but kept warm; and that every year some of them come down unto the People at _Ganges_, and do many great Cures; for whom they have such a Veneration, that they frequently drink the Water they wash their Sweaty Feet in. The Penances and Austerities that they undergo are almost incredible; most of them, through their continual Fastings, and lying upon the parching hot Sand in the Heat of the Sun, are so Lean, Dry'd and Wither'd, that they look like Skeletons or Shadows, and one can scarce perceive them to breath, or feel their Pulse beat. When any great Man dyes among them, but especially any of their _Jogees_ or Saints, they make great preparations for their Funeral; the Corpse is laid on its Belly, and Salt and Rice laid round about it at every corner of the Ground. Then the nearest Relations to the Party deceased carry a Pot of Water on their Shoulders several times about the Funeral Pile, when they burn them, then breaking it in pieces, spills the Water. Which Ceremony being ended, the Pile is fired, and then all the Relations begin to howl, and embrace one another, then washing themselves in some Neighbouring River, they depart every one to his Home; and as for the remaining Ashes, if he be Rich they gather them up, and cast them into the _Ganges_ or the Sea.