y haue 7. wiues. They be a kind of
craftie people, worse then the Iewes. When they salute one another, they
heaue vp their hands to their heads, and say Rame, Rame. [Sidenote:
Ganges.] From Agra I came to Prage, where the riuer Iemena entreth into the
mightie river Ganges, and Iemena looseth his name. Ganges commeth out of
the Northwest, and runneth East into the gulfe of Bengala. In those parts
there are many Tigers and many partriges and turtledoues, and much other
foule. Here be many beggars in these countries which goe naked, and the
people make great account of them: they call them Schesche. Here I sawe one
which was a monster among the rest. He would haue nothing vpon him, his
beard was very long, and with the haire of his head he couered his
priuities. The nailes of some of his fingers were two inches long, for he
would cut nothing from him, neither would he speake. He was accompanied
with eight or tenne, and they spake for him. When any man spake to him, he
would lay his hand vpon his brest and bowe himselfe, but would not speake.
Hee would not speake to the king. We went from Prage downe Ganges, the
which is here very broad. Here is great store of fish of sundry sorts, and
of wild foule, as of swannes, geese, cranes, and many other things. The
country is very fruitfull and populous. The men for the most part haue
their faces shauen, and their heads very long, except some which bee all
shauen saue the crowne: and some of them are as though a man should set a
dish on their heads, and shaue them round, all but the crowne. In this
riuer of Ganges are many Ilands. His water is very sweete and pleasant, and
the countrey adioyning very fruitfull. From thence wee went to Bannaras
which is a great towne, and great store of cloth is made there of cotton,
and Shashes for the Moores. In this place they be all Gentiles, and be the
greatest idolaters that euer I sawe. [Sidenote: A pilgrimage of the
Gentiles.] To this towne come the Gentiles on pilgrimage out of farre
countreys. Here alongst the waters side bee very many faire houses, and in
all of them, or for the most part they haue their images standing, which be
euill fauoured, made of stone and wood, some like lions, leopards, and
monkeis, some like men and women, and pecocks, and some like the deuil with
foure armes and 4. hands. They sit crosse legged, some with one thing in
their hands, and some another, and by breake of day and before, there are
men and women which come