‘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’ [‎26] (65/470)

2 The Voyages of Struys. VoyT i
jju .Term of three years , at 18 Gild, per moneth.
Arrival the 15 January , I was put aboard , bound
rhfiiin* ^ 0r Sum 5 where we £lfel y arrived 3 and call anchor in the Bay.
lTo} g ' The Kingdom of Sum lies in the moft Eafterly part or Eaft
s&m de. Indii, , from 7 to 8 degr. Northerly Latitude. There are many
1 Cities, and 1 owns of note in it 3 and thofe very populous, among
which is the chief , being the Metropolis of
gem , and the city where the King has his Court and Relidence.
fhe land is very fertile, affoarding all that may ferve for the de
light and fuftenance of human Bodies , the Fields ftored with ma
ny forts of Cartel , the Rivers with Filh, and the Towns with
Magazines of rich Merchandizes. The Inhabitants are of a tawny
and yellowiih complexion , and fuperftitious Pagans in Religion >
as appeirs by their great Zeal, in adorning of their Temples'", and
llr & Reverence for their Priefts which are here too great and nu-
meioiu for the Laity. Their Government is Monarchical , and
the King for many ages has been abfolute Sovereign , over this
and the neighbouring Territories and Dominions , and that with
as much Power , Grandour , and Reverence from the Subject, as
any Potentate or King , under the canopy of Heaven. In ihort,
Siam in regard of it's Fertility , Wealth , Number of Inhabitants,,
and fubordinat Principalities , may paralel any other Empire in
the Univerfe.
j u j: a , I'd** 1 which ( as we have already faid) is the Imperial Town
of Siam, lies about 16 degrees Northerly Latitude from the
tor , and is feated on one of the faireft Rivers (without doubt }in
all the Eaftern orld , where a Ship of the greateft burthen may
come up clofe to the Kay, to load or unload , without fear of
fuftaining dammage.
■vet ant fr on11 the mouth of the River upwards about 30
v Might- Leagues , we found feveral Inlets and fwift Currents, which difgorge
fome themfelves into this great and noble River , with abundance of
there^ va ' r Orchards, pleafant and delectable Groves, an infinit number
aim. of Villages, Religious Houfes, Flamlets, and other amiable Pro-
fpects i the Fields all the while calling a fragrant fmell from her fpicy
]f lowersjand the Groves aftoarded a moft ravifhing melodie of Birdsj
warbling their wanton ftrains , and chanting in the lliades and thic
kets.