Sonderlinge reysen van Joseph, den geboornen Indiaan; bevattende een aanmerklijke beschrijvingh der landen,...

the Noblemen, or Naires warrior caste, are greatly despised and hated. If one of these meets one of the Naires, and does not immediately step aside for him, he has the right to stab him through.

Temples.

These three classes each have their own separate Temples: the women also have theirs separately, into which no one of the male sex may enter. They offer many fruits to their idols. They also pray to one God in the God of Heaven, how depicted. Heaven, whom they call Tambram God, and depict Him with three faces and folded hands, just as if they had some knowledge of the Holy Trinity.

Images.

Their images are draped with pure fine linen. When they wish to offer, they uncover them, as will be mentioned hereafter. Moreover, they have images of certain animals; Religion and strange curiosities regarding the same. yet they do not honor them anymore. When they go into their Temples, some cover their faces with earth; others sprinkle themselves with water. Every day they go into them three times: in the morning, at midday, and in the evening; and they perform their offerings. By means of a horn, or the sound of some other instrument, they call the people together, just as the Christians do with their bells. Then they sing until their High Priest comes, dressed in a priestly garment. He then proceeds to stand at the altar and begins a song in honor of his God, instead of a prayer. Immediately thereafter comes another priest, who similarly sings something and is answered by the congregation. This is repeated three times.

Uncommonly wondrous conduct of the priests.

After these performances, the priest goes completely naked out of one of the doors of the Temple, wearing a rosary on his head, along with two candles and two fashioned horns. In his hands, he holds two unsheathed swords. Thus prepared, he runs at great speed, just like a senseless person, towards his God; he opens the drapery and hands one sword to the High Priest: with the other