‘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’ [‎19] (58/470)

Cha P. II . The Voyages of lohn Struys.
proof of his Manhood. The Parents are delighted to fee their Chil-
drena£tive in imitation , and yet notwithftanding this licentious 1648
fenfuality be tolerated in the Action, yet they will be ofFended at their
Daughters ..if they utter any word without the limits of modefty.
When any Perfon comes to die, the neareft Friends and Allies,
do bath the Corps j and then adorned with Bracelets and Ear-rings,
and wrapt in fine cloaths,is carried in a Mat to the place of burial.But
the Funeral Rites of Perfons of the higheft rank are.performed with
greater pomp; for when one of fuch Qiiality dies, he isalfo bath
ed after that manner as we have already faid which done they
lhave him, and if it be a Woman put a hood upon her head, and
adorn her with precious ornaments. Then come in the neareft Kin
dred, as Father, Mother and others of the Confanguinity, with Wo
men , Children and Slaves, to bewail the Dead, making a lamentable
ho wling and yelling,the tears trickling down theCheeks.Others begin
by way of Elogy to recite the Prayfes ofthe deceafed Party, and o-
thers to beat Drums, the reft fall a dancing. Thefe Ceremonies ended,
one of them addrefles himfelf to the Corps, as if it were alive. Asking
thefe, or the like Queftions. Oh my dear Friend! lodie>
Or 3 didfithoulv ant for any thing? Hadji not thou Cat t el. Gold, Siher,
and other Goods enough? See. When they have deplored the Departure of
their Friend, anddane'd the whole day, they kill a Fading or two,
which is diftributed among his Relations in the Evening. So long as
the Corps is above ground they burn light by it; and when they are
ready to interr him, they clofe him in a Coffin made of the Trunk of a
Tree which is fitly fluit up, and carried toalitle Cottage made on
purpofe, in the midle whereof is a Grave about 6 foot deep^, here they
lay him, and fet by his fide a Basket of Rice,a Tobacco-box,an Earth
en Pan, a Chaffin-dilhj a fuit of Apparrel, a Girdle, with what other
things they conceive he.ihallhave occafion for, in fuch a long and
tedious Journey. S o foon as they have done that,they roll a great ftone
to the door of his fepulchre, and facrifice fome beaft or other to the
Devil , that they may not annoy or moleft him on his way to Paradice.
Ofall the Idolatrous CuftomsthatI could obferve among them,'ST
there is fome Nation or other that hath parity with them > But one
Barbarous and inhuman Praftife they have, as peculiar and proper to
themfelves, that is, making away of their own Children. True it is
C 2 . that