[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Histoire de la dernière révolution des États du Grand Mogol](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier) › [Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable) › 6.1.3 # Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 6.1.3 Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable) 6.1.3 - **Language:** English ### [6.1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.1.3) At the time fixed for its appearance I took my station on the terrace of my house, situated on the banks of the Gemna, when I saw both shores of the river, for nearly a league in length, covered with Gentiles or idolaters, who stood in the water up to the waist, their eyes riveted to the skies, watching the commencement of the eclipse, in order to plunge and wash themselves at the very instant. The little boys and girls were quite naked; the men had nothing but a scarf round their middle, and the married women and girls of six or seven years of age were covered with a single cloth. Persons of rank or wealthy, such as Rajas (Gentile sovereign princes, and generally courtiers in the service and pay of the King), Serrafs or money-changers, bankers, jewellers, and other rich merchants, crossed from the opposite side of the river with their families, and pitching their tents fixed kanates or screens in the water, within which they and their wives washed and performed the usual ceremonies without any exposure. No sooner did these idolaters perceive that the obscuration of the sun was begun than they all raised a loud cry, and plunged the whole body under water several times in quick succession ; - [Previous: 6.1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.1.2) - [Next: 6.1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.1.4) - [Up: 6.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.1) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.1.3) · Pramāṇa