The Country Between Surunga And Jedo We Found Well Peopled,
With Many Fotoquis, Or Idol Temples.
Among others which we passed, was
one having an image of great reputation, called Dabis, made of copper,
hollow within, but of substantial thickness.
We estimated its height to
be twenty-one or twenty-two feet, being in the form of a man kneeling on
the ground, and sitting on his heels; the whole of wonderful size, and
well proportioned, and being dressed in a gown cast along with the
figure. Some of our men went into the inside of this idol, and hooped
and hallooed, which made an exceeding great noise. It is highly
reverenced by all native travellers who pass that way. We found many
characters and marks made upon it by its visitors, which some of my
followers imitated, making their marks in like manner. This temple and
idol stand in the main road of pilgrimage to Tencheday, which is much
frequented for devotion, as both night and day people of all ranks and
conditions are continually going or returning from that place.
Mr Adams told me that he had been at the Fotoqui, or temple dedicated
to Tencheday, to which image they make this devout pilgrimage. According
to his report, one of the fairest virgins of the country is brought
monthly into that Fotoqui, and there sits alone in a room neatly
fitted up, in a sober manner; and, at certain times, this Tencheday,
who is thought to be the devil, appears unto her, and having carnally
known her, leaves with her at his departure certain scales, like unto
the scales of fishes. Whatever questions she is desired by the bonzes,
or priests of the Fotoqui, to ask, Tencheday resolves. Every
month a fresh virgin is provided for the temple, but Mr Adams did not know
what became of the former.[21]
[Footnote 21: The editor of Astley's Collection, vol. I. p. 487, note b.
very gravely informs his readers what they certainly are aware of, that
the gallant must have been one of the bonzes, or priests. - E.]
We arrived at Jedo on the 14th September. This city is much larger
than Surunga, and much better and more sumptuously built, and made a
very glorious appearance to us on our approach; all the ridge-tiles and
corner-tiles of the roofs being richly gilded and varnished, as also the
door-posts of the houses. They have no glass in their windows, but have
large windows of board, opening in leaves, and well adorned with
paintings, as in Holland. In the chief street of the town there is a
great cawsay all through from end to end, underneath which flows a
river, or large stream of water; and at every fifty paces there is a
well-head, or pit, substantially built of free-stone, having buckets
with which the inhabitants draw water, both for their ordinary uses and
in case of fire. This street is as broad as any of our best streets in
England.
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