‘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’ [‎179] (230/470)

) m
Chap. XII. THe Voyages of lohn Struts.
and Infolencies of Night-Robbers and the Cdmuc-lartars , who mL ^
fometimes furprize them at anawares, and carry away both Men and >669.
Cartel. They have no faft Towns, or Cities, but ufe Tents, as their
Anceftors have ever done. Their Tents are built round, the Diameter
of the fund being about 10 foot: thefeare twilled with Reeds or Barks
of Trees, and to defend them from the Rain covered with Felt. The
Chimney is turnedroundwithaWeather-cockj in the midle of the
Tent they make the Fire , which is commonly of Cows-dung and
fmallTwigs dried together in the Sun about which they fit , and as
they are ready for a Nap drop down one after another.
<^4jirachan being almoft on every fide furrounded with fuch a fruit-
full Countrey, has good plenty of all forts of Fruit brought every
day to Market; and thofe very cheap. Melons I have bought 1 o or 13
for the value of a penny and other fruits after a conformable Price.
Fifti and Flelh they have in better plenty than any where elfe I know
in the World. For the value of 3 d I bought a huge Sturgeon, a Carp
weighing 30 pounds, and 25 Herrings, greater and fatter than ever I
have feen m Holland. Pearch , Pike , Bream and Sandaks are there fo
plentifully taken , that only poore people eat them , of which a
family of 8 Perfons may have as much as will fuffice them, for the va -
lue of 3 farthings. The filh Sandach is a great Rarity , and proper
only to the Ifolga , and fuch Rivers as run into it : being about the
bignefs of a Haddock, andfomethinglikeitintaft, but much more
delicate and fafter , if taken about Noyember and the 3 following
Moneths.Their Beef and Mutton is exceeding good,fold ufually for a
Farthing the pound. All kinds of Water-Fowl are very plentiful
and cheap, efpecially a fort of Wild-gees and thofe we call Mofco-
vy-Ducks which the T.artars take with Hawks , and bring them in
fuch plenty to Market , that they may be had for a peny the dozen.
The Tartars who live chiefly by Filhing and Fowling ufe alfo Hunt
ing, and in feveral woody lilands about Afirachan take many Wild-
fwine which are fed with Accorns, that being known for the bell mail
that is, for Hogs. Thefe they alfo bring to Ajlrachm which by reafon
that that Flelh will take Salt well,they buy and ufe it aboard the (hip
ping, that trade to and again in the Cafp'un Sea, the more becaufe of it's
cheapnefs for none but the LMofcoyians and buy it, the Per funs
and T^mmhemfelves being moftly iMahometans , and therefore not
per-