‘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’ [‎148] (197/470)

t 48 The Voy ages of V o y. I1I (
a (^ rc . I ktve ieen the Children walking over the Ice, without either Boots,
' 66 9- Shoes or Stockings, and that in fuch piercing cold Weather that we
could not go out of Doors. 1
The Dutch Merchants that have their Refidence at , have
alfo ( conformable to the manner of the Covin trey } their Baths j
which they ftrow with odoriferous Spices and Flowers, and make
frequent ufe thereof. When they have bathed fo long as they think
goodjthey have a Retiring-room in which is a Sweating-tub or Stove,
whither they go and rub themfelves.
The Ruffians as they differ from all other Nations as well in Reli
gion as in Habit, fo they have feveral Cuftomes , Geftures and
Adions proper folely to themfelves. Their Shirt they wear above
their Breches and tie it above the Waft with a Girdle, like their upper
Garments ; When they Whiftle they do it through their Teeth ,
not with their lips, faying, that in fo doing they abufe their true lliape
in wliich G O D has formed them : When they are furprized either
with Wonder, or a fudden Danger , they do not throw back their
Head, like the Hollanders , nor fhnnk up their Shoulders , as do the
SpMimds, but throw their Head firft upon one Shoulder , and then
upon another, or perhaps turn it round , as a Fencer flounfhes his •
Rapier, or an Enilgn his Colours in token of Victory.
When they pray they do it not upon their knees as we do, thinking
that G O D is difpleafed with fuch an irregular pofturerand when they
write they never make ufe of a T able, altho they have one at their el
bow , but alwaies upon their knees •, and what they write is altogether
in Rolls,pafting one fheet to another as they writethem. Fatnefs they
hold for a prime token of Beauty, as alfo long fore head and eies for
which they pull and draw as much as they can to correct nature,
which in things of fmaller moment they feem to abhor and deteft, if a
property of other People. '
Ceremo- About the Sick and Burial of their Dead the havethele
tiiesinri- following Cuftomes. When any lies Sick,and by his Friends thought
^ef "heir danger of long Continuance or Death, they fend for a Frieft who
sick, adminifters the Communion to him, he firft corifeflrrig the moll noted
Sins he can remember that he has done in his life time , to the Prieft
alone, adding a Promife and Refolution to live a pious and devout
Life, if G O. D grant him recovery. When he has communicated,