‘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’ [‎134] (183/470)

I 3<J The Voyages of lohn Struys, V oy . HI,
or rather Ovens; made altogether of ftone, which fometimes being
1 0ver heated, or by the negligence of the P eople, who are great affe-
iters of Brandy, is the occaiion of fetting their Houfes on fire 3 as it
happened about 6 Weeks before our arrival there, at what time , by
the negligence of a poor Woman, happened a moft dreadfull Con
flagration , that reduced about 35 Thoufand Houfes to afhes, and
that in the bell part of the City , which befides an incredible lofs of
Moftou. Houfe-furniture, Merchandife and the like there were many chil
dren and impotent People killed. The Merchants , who had
moftly their Refidence near the place where the Fire firft broke out,
fuftained an incredible lofs. Tis true the Houfes are upon fuch occa-
fions removed with as much eafe as ours are blown up , but if the
Timber be knotty the Sparks and Cinders fly abroad and kindle other
Houfes at an incredible diftance , which being covered with dry
Planks are not fo ealily extinguifhed, The Czar upon confideration
of the frequent Fires has appointed a party of the , to be
quartered in feverall places , at a due and convenient diftance from
each other throughout the 4 Wards ; who are continually to be at
hand upon fuch occafions. Now by reafoh of the great fcarcity of
W ater in CMofcou , the fir ft thing they lay their hands to, is to disjoynt
the Houfes, and therefore for the moft part are train'd up in that kind
of Architefture ,to be afliftant again in the rebuilding of the fame,
when all danger is fuppofed to be over.
Gteit but The ftreets of Mofcou are very fpacious and wide , but in rainy
Struts, weather fo miry, that in walking you are up to the very knees in mud,}
for which reafon both Men and Women are fain to wear Boots. Al
though 'tis certain that inconvenience might be remedy'd, by paving
it with ftone, ais they do in the Loiv-Countreys andclfe where. During
the time we were there , it was not poffible to thwart the ftreets if
they had not thrown great beams and planks acrofs the way.
rk Mr. l M o J coh , and all the whole Countrey towards the North is capable
ofaveryunwholfom Air , for thofe that are not brought up in it,
being in the Winter exceeding fliarp and cold , and in the Summer
hot and moyft. In Winter they muffle up their Nofeand Ears in Furs,
efpecially when they go upon a Journey. And in it is well
feen that many of the Inhabitants have neither Nofe nor Ear , which
they fay is by coming out ofthe bitter cold Air into a hot Stove : for
although