[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) › [Les six voyages de Jean-Baptiste Tavernier](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier) › [Travels in India (Ball)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball) › 31.2.5 # Travels in India (Tavernier) 31.2.5 Travels in India (Ball) 31.2.5 - **Language:** English ### [31.2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.31.2.5) The natives of the country about Goa are idolaters, and do homage to many kinds of idols, of which I have given likenesses in this book, saying that the idols resemble those who have done good works in former times, to whom they should offer homage by adoring their portraits. There are many of these idolaters who worship monkeys, and also, in many parts of India, as I have elsewhere said, they have built pagodas, which have been endowed in order to feed a certain number, besides others from outside, which come twice a week in order to obtain food. In a village of the island of Salsette, there was a pagoda in which the idolaters kept, in a kind of tomb made of silver, the bones and nails of a monkey which, they said, had rendered great services to their gods by the diligence with which he conveyed news and advice from one to the other, when persecuted by some hostile princes, even to the extent of traversing the sea by swimming. People came from many parts of India in procession to this idol to make offerings to this pagoda ; but the clergy of Goa, and especially the Inquisitor, went one day to carry away this tomb and brought it to Goa, where it remained some time on account of the dispute which it gave rise to between the ecclesiastics and the people. For when the idolaters offered to give a large sum to ransom their relics, the people were of opinion that it should be accepted, because they said it could be used to make war against their enemies or for assisting the poor ; - [Previous: 31.2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.31.2.4) - [Next: 31.2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.31.2.6) - [Up: 31.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.31.2) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.31.2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.31.2.5) · Pramāṇa