The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 02Hakluyt, Richard
History
The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 02
Hakluyt, Richard
Discoveries in geography -- English; Voyages and travels
the Kalends they set open their Temples, and the priests adorne themselues,
and offer vp the peoples oblations of bread and fruits. First therefore I
will describe vnto you those rites and ceremonies, which are common vnto
all their idole-Temples: and then the superstitions of the foresaid
Iugures, which be, as it were, a sect distinguished from the rest They doe
all of them worship towards the North, clapping their hands together, and
prostrating themselues on their knees vpon the earth, holding also their
foreheads in their hands. Wherupon the Nestorians of those parts will in no
case ioyne their hands together in time of prayer: but they pray,
displaying their hands before their breasts. They extend their Temples in
length East and West: and vpon the North side they build a chamber, in
maner of a Vestry for themselues to goe forth into. Or sometimes it is
otherwise. If it be a foure square Temple, in the midst of the Temple
towards the North side therof, they take in one chamber in that place where
the quire should stand. And within the said chamber they place a chest long
and broad like vnto a table: and behinde the saide chest towardes the South
stands their principall idole: which I sawe at Caracaram, and it was as
bigge as the idole of Saint Christopher. [Sidenote: Frier William was at
Caracarum.] Also a certaine Nestorian priest, which had bin in Catay, saide
that in that countrey there is an idole of so huge a bignes, that it may be
seen two daies iourney before a man come at it. And so they place other
idoles round about the foresaid principal idole, being all of them finely
gilt ouer with pure golde: and vpon the saide chest, which is in manner of
a table, they set candles and oblations. The doores of their Temples are
alwayes opened towards the South, contrary to the custome of the Saracens.
They haue also great belles like vnto vs. And that is the cause (as I
thinke) why the Christians of the East will in no case vse great belles.
Notwithstanding they are common among the Russians, and Græcians of
Gasaria.
De templis eorum et idolis, et qualiter se habent in officio deorum suorum.
Cap. 27.
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The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 02 — John Shaqi
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