‘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’ [‎18] (57/470)

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The Voyages of Struys.
V o Y. 1.
Her.
164!.]
Their Hd-
bit and
.Attire
I heir
Mam*'
empty-handed by which means the Builder has not only the
Expences of his Feaft reimburf'd , but fometimes more than what
he has laid out in fuch a ftupendious Fabric, Thefe Encmia , or
Feafts Dedieatory , do ufually hold for fome days together, during
which time they live an Epicurean life , in Luxury and Riot, Danc
ing , Singing and Flaying. Moft of their Houfe furniture is what
properly belongs to the Kitchin: but as for Table. Stools , Benches,
Table-cloth, Napkins, Beds and Culhions they never ufe any, and
when they eat fit down humbly upon a Mat.
The Common People go almoll naked, but thefe of the beft rank
are aparreledin different vefhires, to diftinguilh the fexes > the men
wearing Breaches which reach from the midle to the Calf of the leg,
and from the midle upward a Cotton cloth, (almoft like a
Plad) thrown carclcfly about their fhoulders, girded about the mid
dle with a Surcingle. The Women wear a Garb, with, and without,
fleevcs, demitted to the knees, having alfo a kind of Drawers with a
Girdle about the body, and fometimes a litle mantle thrown about
their Shoulders Their Cloths are moftly of Cotton,Bombaft,and Silk
of various Colours, garnilhedwith loops of Silk, which is of another
colour than the Garment it felf.Both men and women go bare-headed,
and barefoot, except one fort, whereof the Man wears a Cap, fome-
thing refembling that of a Jefuit , and the Woman a Hood made
after the form of a Pyramid, which comes down to the Ihoulders.
Their Marriages are generally performed without many Ceremo
nies} and Polygamy allowed, every man taking to himfelffo many
Wives as he thinks fit, or is capable to maintain. They are alfo eafi-
ly divorced, Their men will not ftick to delight themfelves with the
Wives of others, and the W omen as inclinable to that way, as any in
the W orld, and are carefull to make ufe of every Opportunity they
meet with: This theyefteem no fin, but account it (iftheycandoit
cunningly without being catch'd in the Fa£t) but a kind of Filching,
or clandeftinTheft,whichmay be expiated, with fome inconfidera-
ble Prefent, or Gift. Their Young women are alfo great Traders
that Way; and without lhamefaftnefs will render themfelves pro-
ftitute, to any that will but give good wages, and thofe generally
moft oppkuded, which come off with moft Gain; and if they intend
to marry will not give theirConfent to their Party,till they have made
proof