‘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’ [‎56] (99/470)

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"jtj ' The Voyages of V o y. I;
m^r. plants and Herbs , as CABBAGE , Hartichoaks, &c. Several
,6j0 " rich and medicinal Roots and Seeds , as , C/««^.Root,
Potatos (not much unlike ours} and
is a litle green feed almoft like that of Coriander, which they boyl and
pickle for a Sauce for frefli Fifh; and gives it an admirable good relifli.
F'okkafokas has the Shape of a Pear, or Qiiince, but 3 times as big, and
grows near the ground like a Pompion: above it is fmooth like glafs,
and below of a purple and whitilh colour: this they boil with Beef
and Pork, as we do Turnips in Holland. There are fomelheep in this
Ifland , but not very many. Harts and Roes there are abundance,
/?«rtc/ f ome!: ' mes 2 or 3 Thoufand in a Flock together, Wild-goatsand
duel. Swine w hich are very terriblcand noxious to Travellers that go alone
or unarm'd, fome they have alfo tame. Beafts of Prey do much annoy
the Inhabitants that they dare not adventure themfelves far within
Land, as, Tygres, Leopards, Bears, &c. Apes and Monkeys they
have , which are generally litle. There is a certain Creature on this
Ifland which the call, 2)fn smpm tian taj ovan;
that is . The Deytl of Formofa. Being about 2 foot long, and 5 inches
broad upon the back, with fcalesall over the body; it has four feet
with fharp claws , a fharp long head , and a tail thick at the rump
and fmaller towards the end,likea Crocodil.This litle beaft feeds only
upon Pifmires , which he catches by laying his Tongue upon a Hill,
where they come to feed upon a flimy matter , that runs out of his
mouth , and that holds them fo fall that they cannot get off again:
When he thinks that he has enough, he draws in his tongue and de
vours them. It cannot do any harm unlefs to the Ants , which are its
natural food, but if he fee a man come towards him, either runs into
the Earth , or rolls himfelf in, like a Hedghog : fo that to call it a
Devil feems a great improperty. This Great Defcription of a Litle
Creature , we thought not altogether impertinent , becaufe it is a
Creature proper only to this Ifland. affoards all kinds of Fowl
remwl^icl 1 other Iflands in the Eaft have, except Parrots. And were it
mous for the great annoyance of Serpents, Scorpions, Millipedes, Lizzards
creames an( j vermin, it were a very delightfom Land , being in a tole-
anZy- rable good Climat, and bleffed with a moft wholfom Air.
awe?. As to the Frame and Stature of the Natives, we cannot give you
any general D.efcription , lince thofe vary according to the places
" " ■ they