Page:Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes Volume 12.djvu/516

 c. 1604. Hoaquan a three eyed Monster.

Portugall customes odious to Chinois.

Fasts and processions.

Locus unluckinesse.

they brought to the Jesuits house their Idoll Hoaquan, made with three Eyes, one in his forehead (for though the Chinois have no Idols representing any formes but humane, yet they admit Monsters) as their God of Eye-sight, for whom they intended to build him a Temple, and carryed him from house to house a begging to that purpose; the Jesuites refusing to give them. Rumours also of Mathans detayning the Presents were soone apprehended; as likewise certayne Stage-players which comming from Amacao, set forth in Pictures those things which the Chinois hated in the Portugals, as their short Garments (seeming to them ridiculous) praying on Beads by men in Temples, with Swords girded to them, kneeling on one knee; their quarrels one with another and combats. Women going with Men in company, and the like; a Magistrate also accused the Jesuites to the Tauli, who spake for them and visited them. It happened also that by occasion of a great Drought, Processions and Fasts were commanded, and the Shambles shut up, the Governour and people in divers places appointed thereto, begging rayne with their bowings; and when this prevayled not, they brought an Idoll out of the Suburbes, called Locu, which was carryed about, adored, offered too, with no better successe. Hereupon they consulted a Witch, which sayd the Quoayn or Goddesse was angry, that her backe was daily scorched (spoken of the Converts burning their Idols) which caused some conspiracie, quenched with the Taulis favour and the rayne following. At Nanquin one borne at Scianhai, and first pronounced Licentiat in the examination of 1597. was Baptised hy the name of Paulus, who converted his whole Family. Anno 1604. hee was made Doctor, amongst three hundred and eight, of which number foure and twentie were chosen of Hanlin Colledge, after the China course of best Writing, of which hee was the fourth: this Choise of foure and twentie is but for probationers, for at the most after long tryals by the Colai, but twelve or fifteene are set in possession, in which examinations hee was still a principall.