Volume 1

The travels of several learned missioners of the Society of Jesus, into divers parts of the Archipelago, India, China, and America ... / Translated from the French [of 'Lettres édifiantes et curieuses, écrites des missions étrangères'].

  • Society of Jesus
Date:
1714
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The travels of several learned missioners of the Society of Jesus, into divers parts of the Archipelago, India, China, and America ... / Translated from the French [of 'Lettres édifiantes et curieuses, écrites des missions étrangères']. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    : Meee) = This Sacrifice of a Sheep feems to me very Refem- much to allude to that of the Pafchal Lamb; for 2lesthe _it is to be obferv’d, asito that Particular , that Fat as the Yews were all oblig’d to cat Part of the - -Viaim, fo the Brachmen, tho’ they are not al- low’d to eat any Flefh, are difpenc’d withvon the Day of the Sacrifice of Ekiam, and oblig'd by the Law to eat of the Sheep fo facrificd, and which they divide among themfelves. _ Several Indians worfhip Fire, and even their Perperms Gods have offer d. Sacrifice to that Element. a! Fire, There is a peculiar Precept for the Sacrifice of | Oman, by which it is ordain’d-always to keep up the Fire,and never to fuffer it to go out. He who _ affifts at the Ekiam, is oblig’d to put Wood to the Fire every Morning and Evening, to feed it: This nice Care anfwers exaGly enough to the . Coïimand given in Leviticus, Chap. 6. Ver. 125 ‘13. And the Fire upon the Altar hall be burning in it, it fhall not be put out, and-the Prieft jball burn * Wood on it every Morning. The Fire hail ever be burning upon the Altar, it [hall never go out. The Indiaus have done fomething more in regard to _the Fire. They caft themfelves headlong into the midft of Flames. You will think; my Lord, - as Ido, that they would have done much better in not adding this cruel Ceremony to what the Sews had taught them as to this Parti- ~. _ cular. ete hee : re The Indians have alfo an extraordinary No- serpenes tion of Serpents. They believe thofe Creatures worfhip’a, have fomething Divine, and that the Sight of them is fortunate. “Thus many worfhip Ser- _ pents, and pay themithe moft profound Refpeé ; but thofe ungrateful Animals, da not forbear biting their Worfhippers after a crue] Manner: Had the Brazen Serpent, which Mofes fhow’d to the People of God; and which heal'd by only looking