‘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’ [‎142] (191/470)

114 The Voyages of lohn V o v. Uf,
ujtl , go about and feek out a Virgin fluting his Degree and^Condition,
l66 9- whom having found, they apply themfelves to her Parents or Guar*
dians, to treat about the fubjed j where neither the Young man nor
any near Relation of his are to fee the Bride, in fum the Furchafc is
like a Pig in a Poke, for all people of fafhion keep their Daughters
chamber'd, fetting always an old Woman to look to her , who is as
vigilant in her Office, as a Turn-key at Wood-Jireet Counter. And hence
it comes that they live in perpetual Jarrs , and contention , when
fometimes in hopes of a fweet, well-ffiaped , and comely Darling,
they are chain'd to a ftinking , crooked and deformed Hag. This
induces me to a Tale of a young Squire , who thinking himfelf old
enough to be a man, intimated his Inclinations to a common Broker Often a local commercial agent in the Gulf who regularly performed duties of intelligence gathering and political representation. ,
or Match-maker , withall conditioning beforehand that he would
not come to any conclufion with the Parents of his Party, till he had
by fome means or other got a fight of her Face, which the man pro-
mifed to do j and accordingly goes to an old Couple who had long
intreatedhim to procure a Husband for their Daughter : this faid
Couple he acquaints with the bufinefs who no lefs joyfull to under-
ftancl it pray'd him to haften the Match : now you are to underftand
by the way that their daughter had but one eie , which made fome
difficulty in the carrying on the matter,by reafon that the Young man
would not venture upon the purchafe, unlefs he faw what kind of a
Bargain he had : However the Broker Often a local commercial agent in the Gulf who regularly performed duties of intelligence gathering and political representation. gives her inftruftions , how
to behave her felf in palling by the Houfe where this Youngman
was to be, and bad her look alwaies on one fide, which ffie did. The
young man peeping through a crevife, faw her have a good half face,
aifents to the Articles and Propolitions whatfoever they fhould be,but
comming before the Altar, was fo concerned that he took an Ax and
clove his own head.
T hey have many quaint Ceremonies about Marriage : thofe of the
highefl Rank ufe thefe following Rites. The Bridegroom and Bride
have each of them one to attend them , to prepare and provide all
neceiTaries; thefethey call Syackas. The day before the Wedding the
Brides S^acha goes to the Bridegrooms Houfe to provide and furnilh
• the Brides Chamber and Bed with what elfeis requifite , being atten
ded with 60,80, or perhaps loo Perfons according to the degree and
ability of the Parties. Thefe all go in their under-cloaths , bearing