‘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’ [‎31] (72/470)

C hap . IV. The V oyages of lohn Struys. 31
upon his knees , his hands folded, and his countenance caft tothe
Ground} then bowing of his body and killing the Earth, he begins l6 ^ 0 "
his Harangue , which is alwaies done with a fubmiffive voice , and
at the end of every Sentence, rehearfes his Title , Jaoua Tjauw
Perre Boede Tjauw Jaoua , which by an Miotifm of our
own , is King of Kingsand Lord of Lords His fupreme Throne is of
maflive Goldjinade after the form of a Pyramid, andfo contrived
that none can fee him afcend. On each fide of the Throne ftandfe-
veral Statues, and Creatures of monftrous lhapes ; as is recorded of
the Judgment-feat of Solomon , which was guarded with Lions. His
Perlbn is fecured with a very noble Guard, and well arm'd; fe veral
Elephants alwaies ready in the inner court of the Pallace atfo,f or his
Pleafure and Service upon occalion ■,thefe are mounted with Trap-
pings of rich Silk, 'fimbriated and imboiled with Gold, and pre
cious Stones.
When he goes abroad to vifit his Pagods and Religious Houfes,
or to take his DiVertifement ( which is ordinarily twice or thrice
every year} -he is attended with an irifinit Retinue of Grandees, and
Officers at Court , ^s alfo all his Wives and Concubines, which
are very numerous , all mounted upon Elephants. When this Set
ting forth is not performed with a Cavalcade,but by Water; there
are a certain number of Pra^s ,brought up clofe to the Pallace.
Thefe are almoft like a Barge , but far greater , having 20 or 30
Oars a piece , with 5 men to anOar ; without they are richly gil
ded and charged with Feftons and Foliages on a diapered ground .
Others there are lefs noble and rich , which ferve only to trantport
the Sofdatefque , and aboard every Pra'sv are feveral that play upon
Wind Inftruments and Drums,which make a confufed noyfe; Upon
the hearing of this, everyone, whether Citizen or Peafant, Free-
manor Slave, Youngor Old , is injoyned to come forth and fall
proftrate , with all imaginable Reverence, upon very fevere Penal
ties , according to the Quality and Difcretion of the Party. This
Injunction is obferved very ftnctly, and certain QfEcers ordained
to take notice of the Delinquents , whofe Ruleis Arbitrary and
Mefures fuddan ■,they are fo correft in pumfhing fueh that few
efcape 5 I my felf having feen , while I was there , fome two or
three beheaded with a Scimitar,only for being too remifs , in doing
Wor-