‘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’ [‎143] (192/470)

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C hap . V. The Voyages of lohn struys 143
each fomething upon tkeir Heads which will be requifiteat the M ar
riage. Having once entfed die Chamber flue takes the Bed and fpreads
it upon 40 fmall Garbs of Ry, winch is fir ft brought thither by her
Husband, together with a great number of litle Barrels , containing
feveral forts of Grain, fetupand down the Room , which perhaps
will fignify Fruitfullnefs in procreation.The next morning the Bride
groom goes to the Home of the Bride accompanied with the
Prieft who is to marry them, where they are kindly received by the
Friends of the Bride j and invited to lit down, and here they have 11
forts of Diflies brought before them, which they neverthelels touch
not. Here the Bridegroom is to tarry fo long difcourfing with the
Friends of the Bride, tillflie fends a Servant "to introduft him into
her Chamber, where being come (he is brought in, ftately apparrel'd,
and fet by his fide, buthenotfufFered tolook her in the Face , nor
Ihe him, and when they cannot withhold their curiofity but offer to
lookafide, as longing to fee that dear Vifage, whichever after they
may mutually do with more freedom than any other in the World,
there is a Flag or Tablet of red Silk fet between them , to hinder it!
When they are fet the Brides STvacha plates the Hair of the Bride
and fets a Gold or Silver Coronet upon her Head , richly fet with
Precious ftones and Gems, to which are fixed two long Pendants of
Diamonds , or (if it be Perfons of a lower Calibre) of bafer ftones,
thefe hang down to their Breafts. So foon as the Bride is drefs't, the
Bridegrooms STvacha likewife combs his head; upon which all the
Women fall a dancing- After they have dane'd a litle, there come in
two young men with aBasket of White bread and a greatCheefe upon
a Barrow,covered with Sables, which is confecrated by the Prieft and
fent to the Church. When this Ceremonie is ended,they bring a great
Silver Charger, and fet it upon the Table , in which are laid fome
pieces of and 7*/, with feveral Square plates of Silver, as
alfo a handfull of Hops, Barley and Oats, niixt together: upon that
that the STvacha arifes and covers the Face of the Bride , and ftrows
the mentioned things out ofthe Charger amongft the Guefts , when
as thofe that are minded may take up the pieces of Silver. When
that is done the Parents of the Parties interchange the Rings of the
young people.
When thefe Ceremonies are ended, the Svacha fets the Bride in a
Riding