The Commentary of Father Monserrate 2.4.5

2.4.5

Nor is the Idaean festival of the Hindus less savage and degraded. For during a space of fifteen days they are at liberty freely to cast dust upon themselves and upon whoever passes by. They plaster with mud their own bodies and those of any persons they may meet. They also squirt a red dye out of hollow reeds. Having thus degraded themselves they come at length, on the fifteenth day, to the most abominable part of the whole festival. On this day they dedicate a tree, of a species somewhat similar to the palm, to that Mother of the Gods, who is called by many names, (the ancient Romans knew her as Cybele and the Great Mother and 'Idaea'). Such superstition is indeed senseless and absurd. When the tree has been dedicated, they make offerings to it as though it were a god. At last, having vowed that they will dedicate another tree the following year, they build up huge piles of logs, as high as towers, in front of the houses, in places where three ways meet. When night comes they pace round these piles singing: and finally burn to ashes the consecrated (or rather most execrable) tree. The party came to Goaleris in two days after leaving Xaroaris. This city is embellished by a very strong fortress on the top of a rocky hill, on which there is also a royal palace; the city itself stands at the foot of this hill. There is only one path up to the fortress, and that a rough and difficult one. In front of the gates is seen an immense statue of an elephant.