‘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’ [‎40] (81/470)

The V oyages of V o y . I.
mity. Now as the Parents alwaies make up the Marriage, fo
I<350 ' t he young couple may not of themfelves diflblve it j and the bet-
ter to avoid any diffatisfaftion, which may arife from the dislike
that the one may have of the other , they are generally married
before they come to maturity , when they are not capable of judg-
ing, as at 10 years of age. I have feen a Couple married , the
man at 12 and the Woman not fully 9- Another couple I have
known, who had 2 Children, and both their ages could not make
voiygA- up 25 years. Polygamy is here allowed, for every man may marry
^ fo many Wives , as he lifts, unlefs he be under fome particular
obligation to the contrary. They are fometimes divorced for llen-
der reafons , but alwaies when they cannot procreate^ Children j
and being feperate they may feverally marry again. Their Mar
riages are not confirmed by the Spiritual, but Temporal Magiftratej
yet always the Prieft, muft be prefent to do Sacrifice on behalfe
both the Parties, They are very punaual in obferving all the Ar
ticles fpecified in the Covenant of Matrim&ny, without the con-
ftringency of the Law. They regulate themfelves in Hous-keep-
ing, Education of their Children and the like , moftly after the
Law of Nature, without reftraint or compulfion. Their Children
are very flexible and obedient, without beating or other fevere
chaftifement. When they are young their Parents commit them
to the Bonz.iy who inftruct them in all Sciences and good manners,-
as alfo mechanical Profefllons and Trades , whereby they after-
iMnhg wards get their living: Although moft of them defire rather to
aniLur-fo^ to t; } ieir ftudies, and fo embrace the Fundtion of Prieft-hood,
Tnffcatfuch being among them efteemed honorable , that have any tinaure
tfleem. 0 f Learning.
rheiead Their Dead they bury not, but, after the manner of the old
b ™ h ei 10 Romans, burn them; which is celebrated with great pomp , andex-
pences, proportionable to the merits or abilitieofthePartie. The
•v Afhes they conferve in an Urn, which they inclofe in a Pyramid,
erected to the Memory of the Deceafed: others out of Zealcaufe
Churches and Monafteries to be built ; or bequeath large Reve
nues to the Pagods and Bonz,i: nay, there is hardly a Slave among
them but gives fomething for Religious ufes, or perhaps all that
jie was mafter of; and upon thefe occafions they are burned at the
char-