‘The perillous and most unhappy voyages of John Struys, through Italy, Greece, Lifeland, Moscovia, Tartary, Media, Persia, East-India, Japan, and other places in Europe, Africa and Asia. Containing, I. Most accurate remarks and observations of the distinct qualities, religion, politie, customs, laws and properties of the inhabitants: II. A due description of the several cities, towns, forts and places of trust, as to their site and strength, fortifications by nature, or art, &c. with other things worthy of note: and III. An exact memorial of the most disastrous calamities which befell the author in those parts (viz) by ship-wrack, robberies, slavery, hunger, tortures, with other incommodities and hardships’ [‎263] (326/470)

C hap . XXiV". The V oyages of
Bridegroom in a gay and jolly humour was fudd.cnly ftruck at the
Heart, as if he had taken in fomthing that was a vigorous and fpeedy ,67N
poyfon, and immediately fell down and died in the arms of his Bride.
Immediatly upon this all was in a lamentable cafe : The Bride
grooms Mother was fo impatient and concern'd that Ihe took a Knife
and ript up her own Belly , that all her Bowels gullied out, and
ihe fell to the Ground. The Sifter feeing this , ran out of Doors as one
diftraded , tearing her Hair and rending her Flefli , that many
wondred to think how a young Woman of that tendernels could fo
mangle and abufe her Body, and at laft ran up to thetopofafteep
Rock, whence fhe threw her felf precipitantiy; fo that this fair Mor
ning had a foul Evening , and thefe Nuptial, Solemnities which
began with a Comedy, concluded with a deep Tragcedy.
On the 9th. was a folemn Procefllon made at Scamachy which is
yearly celebrated m Memory of St. the fecond Son of ,
and the Grand Expounder of the Jlcomn, who was ftoned to death,
or , as fom afcertain ftiot with Darts or Arrows. This Feaft they
call r ^djjlhur , which in their Language fignifies Ten, for that
feyn when he went from Medina to Ku was 10 days purfued by his
Enemies , fo that this Feaft continues 10 days. Tins Hojfeyn as
I faid before was the youngeftSon of the great for whofe death
they feem very forrowfull. About the Beginning of this Feaft thofe
that are able apparel themfelvs in Blew , which is their Mourning,
as Black is with us. During thefe 10 days they never ihave their Hair ,
nor take any Rafour in their Hands , whereas at other times they
make ufe of it every day. They hold alfo a very ftnet Fa ft drinking
nothing but Water, and all the time howl and make a very mourn-
full noife, breathing out many fearfuH curfes againft the Murtherer,
beating themfelvs continually and with that earneftnefs till they grow
black and blew. The Boys and Men run continuall y about the ftreets
with Flags and DafTels, raging and bawling as if they were either
drunk, or befides themfelvs , ever crying out Hojfeyn f
Others fit at the Threlholds and in the Galleries of the Mefqms , or
Churches , inceffantly crying, 0 Hojfeyn ,
Before every door, and at every Window were planted many Tor
ches, and not a Houfe how poor foever it was in all Scamjchy, with
out a great Number of Torches and wax candles fet all in Rows y ,
whichj