‘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’ [‎150] (199/470)

j^o The Voyages of lohn Struys. V o y. III.
ujtvi. beMufffiered , or frozen to death , ordiebyany unnatural or vio"
1669. lent means j whether cafual 3 or thereto condemned to ia^fy Tultice*
the Corps is not permitted to enter the Sanctuary , but carryed to
a place to that end appointed , which they call frecaus ,
where it is expofed to public view, and if it be a. perfon unknown, is
to remain there 3 or 4 days to fee if any will own the Body , which if
none come to olaim it is immediately carried to another Place without
Town , which they call Boghze Dome , that is Gods Houfe , and there
thrown into a great Pit, wl ere fometimes a Hundred or more Bodies
lie on a Heap uncovered j till about Midfummer, at what time, the
Priefts go and cover them, with a few Rites and Ceremonies.
The Ceremonies which are ufed in fome places differ from
others. About die Corps is follow'd by a Train of Gentle
women who ai-e neareft: in Confanguinity or Affinity , who with a
great Noifeand Howling bewail the early departure of their Friend,
then prefently all are filentj that not one is fo much as heard towhif-
per V or give a Sigh, and then on a fudden elevate their Voice and
yell out like fome of the more bruitifh and favage
On each fide the Herfe go the Priefts , Chaplains and Monks,
bearing Images, Torches, and a Thurible, or Incenfe - pan, which
is all the while waved to and again , to expell Evil Ghofts which
they believe ftill haunt the Body of the Deceafed. After the Corps
follow the Friends and Acquaintance , without any order, each car
rying a Wax-tapour in the Hand. When they come to the Grave,
theCoffinis opened and the Incenfe pan fwing'd 3 times over the
Corps in remembrance of the HT rinity, and then the Image of that
Saint which he in his Life time made choice of for his Patron, is
thrown into the Coffin with him, upon which all his Relations come
near and take their laft view of him , kifs the Coffin and go back
ward. When the Friends have fo taken their leave the Prieft delivers
him a Letter fuperfcribed to Saint , containing a hearty
recommendation of the Deceafed. A copy of one of thefe came
once to my hand which before I had Tranfcribed it out , was taken
from me by a Prieft being the Brother of the Gentleman who lent it
me, for it is not lawfull for a Rajstan himfelfe to know the Contents,
much lefs for a Heretic. TheParaphrafe of the Fragment was after
JVlanner,
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