‘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’ [‎138] (187/470)

Tjg The Voyages of lohn Vo y . III.
ftraw j and in Winter on the tops of their Ovens , or Cackels, where
* Man and Wife, Children and Servants lie all down together, with
out any diftindion at all. Utenfils they have not many, but fo many
as themfelves judge needfull, which are Earthen or Iron Pots, Woo
den Difhes , Brandy-and Metheghn-Cups , which they rarely
rince. As for rubbing and fcouring they are meet ftrangers to it , as
alfoto ornaments and Toys , unlefs it be a Figure which they call
St.TiichoUs, or perhaps fome other Saint for whom they have fome
particular or extraordinary veneration. Slaves they are by nature, and
born to fervitude and Bondage, feldomeverafpinng fo high , as to
indeavour to make themfelves franc , and yet will be excited to
nothing by fair means, or ufe diligence about any affair, fave what
they are driven to by conftraint and blows : and yet fo fweet this
Slavery feems to be to them, that rather than to become free upon the
Deceale of their Lords to whom they ow allegiance by nature or o-
therwife, that they will immediatly fell thiemfelves to fome
other Patron. They are very prone to Theft, yea and to Murther
when they think that they can do it clandeftinly, or to any advantage,
how poor foever it be , which feems to be primordially occafioned
from the Penury of their Lords, who hardly allow them what is re-
quilit to fupport and fuftain human Bodies : as for Brandy and To
bacco they hold it but a venial Tranfgreffion to filch when they can
come at it, notwithftanding the ftrid and fevere Laws againft Theft,
in the loweft nature and left importance.
This only is to be applied to the Vulgar fort, as for thofc of greater
Ability and Rank , they fpare not for what tends to a voluptuous
Life, and indulge their fences, as much or more than is tolerable. Free
they arc , and indeed generous enough at their Table , efpecially
when they treat or welcom Strangers, who are very welcom and re
ceived with all imaginable ^Urbanity, on Condition, that they obferve
theCountreyfafhion, which is to bring a Prefent with them , that
may countervail more than thrice the value of what is fet before them,
and this if you forget to bring, you may take my word. they'l forget
to make you welcom. The Slaves in are very hardly dealt with-
all and poorly fed, but much harder thofe that are in the open Coun-
trey, where their Lords are fparing of their Allowance, and therefore
connive at their Filching > thinking it falls out at laft to their own