‘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’ [‎324] (391/470)

3X4 The V oyages of V oy» ll[«
mod eminent of all thefc is the Tz , net far from the great Bridge,
being .ffquare, and about 2 [Engltjh~\ Miles in circuit. This ("as was
faid before} is watered with an Acpcdud that is conveyed under
Ground by fevcral fmall leaden Pipes from the Main, and here and
there vented by Fountains, which force the Water fomtimes 36 or
40 foot high. On each corner ftands a noble Summer Houfe, of an
admirable rare Fabric. The Garden it's felf has the moft and greateft
varieties of Fruit-Trees and Vegetables that ever Ihavefeen, alt ho
it was then W inter when I was there. And indeed the are great
Lovers of Planting, Gardening, and all manner of Tillage} fothat
there is hardly a Houfe in all If, but has lomthing of a Garden
behind it, more or lefs, whence it coms that this City is fo great in
compafs.
As to the manner of their Hous-keeping and other peculiar Cu-
ftoms, I hold it needlefs to treat any thing about, lince it may be
eolleded out of what I have already faid in the foregoing Chapters.
They are in general very fociable, and for their Urbanity towards
ftrangers, draw many Forreigners thither. They are alfo Lovers of
all kinds of Difcipline, and the Gentry very ambitious in Arts and
Sciences. The Land, about ifyahais very fertile , and affoards ail-
that is neccilary for human fuftenance iiTi good plenty. But the Town
being very populous thro the great concourfe of Strangers trom all
parts of the* World makes all things very dear, but efpecially Fewel,
info much that Wood and Charcoal are fold by the Pound, andnot-
withftanding it may feem to be in a warmclimac, yet in the Winter'
it is very cold,, or at left fo feeming to them , who are ufed to the
great heat of the Summer Solftice. During the time of my being
there they were very bufy about gathering their Ice , Which is got
and preferved after this manner : Firft they dig a great Pit in the
Earth , about 40 Foot deep, which they encompafs with a Wall,
about 10 Fathom high which is commonly made of Clay, but that
fide next to the North is lower than the reft,that the cool North Winds
may allay the violent Heat of the Sun; then they dig or plow certain
furrows in the Plains round about , which when it treezes-, they fee
all over with Water , and fo gather the Ice , and when they have
enough cover it with ftraw; This Ice is very common in ufe among
the richer fort in the.Summer time, not only for cooling the Wines >
bu,E;