‘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’ [‎27] (68/470)

C hap. III. The Voyages of lohn Strtiys.
kets , whither they retired to ilielter themfelves from the too power-
full raies of the fcorching Sun , and thofe anfwered again by the it**'
foft whifpering gales of the gentle Wind ,and the bale murmurings ,
of the great Cataracls and Water - falls at a diftance, raif'd and de-
preff'd with the unconftant turnings of the Wind: all which fcemed
to have fuch Harmony, that it ravilh'd us as much, as ever the re
nowned J hejjdun 7" empe could the men of old.
The Land is for the moil part level, of a clay and fandy earth ;
few Hills appear, or any thing elfefeems to furmount the Horizon,
fave the high Towers and Pyramids , whereof we found an incre
dible number.
About 8 leagues up the River is a fmall City, of a triangular Plat
form, and environed with a wall, called In the fame City
is the Kings firll Toll-or Cuftome-houfe, whieh they call the Canon
Bmkok , and every Ship and Junk to whomfoever they belong are
obliged to come to anchor there, and give in their information , upon
what account they come, and from whence; as alfo what Men and
Goods they have aboard. Having performed that Duty, they pay
their Toll, and receive their Billet, with Letters of Conducb, to
go fo far up as they lift , till they come within a League of Ww ,
where the fecond Toll-houfe is , called , the Canon and
here they are a fecond time bound to anchor, and exhibit their Coc
kers, which having Ihown, they have their liberty to go further. This
fecond Canon , is erefted only to fee that the Prince have his due,
and to examin whether that the Stranger be not defrauded by the
Commiffioners of the firftj and to give Licences to enter the Town,
and traffique. It is alio to be underftood , that when any Ship is
outward bound , they are to pay their Toll at the
which at coming up was the fecond, now the firft Cuftome-
Houfe ; and are to pais anExamen at the as they did
before at the •other, without paying any thing, if they can mariifeft/""wi
by their Cocket , that they have already paid": and this every Veffel Sch
how mean foever it be , is bound to do , or in cafe of refufal to ^
forfeit Ship and Carga. k
Siam although it have abundance of Towns, yet there are but 5 gwhw*
that are walled , in all the Kingdom , whereofis the ftrong- SV
eft , being about ^ * mtch mties in circuit : The walls -are coS-
D z fide- ^