‘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’ [‎199] (254/470)

h a p . XVI. The Voyages of lohn Struys.
vifit them left we fliould be taken and fold for Slaves. The Gountrey 7 N£
here about is very pleafant,moftly meadow ground , and plentifull
of Camels, Dromedaries, Horfcs, Sheep and Goats , which wan
der to the belly in grafs : There are alfofomefmall Woods in which
we faw many wild Swine with their Pigs playing together and ma-
fting. Here we were in a great ftrait not knowing what to do j for we
ftrayed from one Lake to another, and almoft ready to eat one ano
ther up for vexation. In the mean while the Clouds began to rife,
very thick at South-eaft which we thought did prefage ftorm , as at
laft it broke out into a Thunder , wherefore we were forced to put in
at a reedy Ifland , fo long as the Weather continued fo boyftrous.
When the ftorm was over and the Sky began to clear up , we betook
our felves to the Water and directed our courfe to the Southward ,•
where beating along the Coaft we difco vered a fmall
Boat which came diredly againft us and asked whither we intended j
we told them , For thf Cafpian Sea. They then again replied that we
werefaroutof our way, and if we went but a^itle further that we
would bein danger of beingtaken hjtheCrm-Tartars and made Slaves^
Hereuponfomeofour Companypray'd them that they would pilot
us down to the mouth of the River, which they promifed to do, and
agreed with us for a Ducat.- Wetookoneofthofe Tartars aboard the
Shallop, and kept company a while with the reft. After a few hours
failing we got Oetsjoege , which is the chief place where the Fifh Biloeqe
is taken,whereof Cavear is made, being far greater than a Sturgeon, but
of the fame kind. The olgais here all laid in with Stakes, after the
manner you fee in the Plate , thefe Stakes are fet in rows, wide at the
Entrance fo that they can drive in the Fifh , which when once in they
chace to the other end, where it runs up to a narrow angle, fo that (lis
can neither get forward , nor yet turn about, but is eafily taken? When
they have caught her they take out the Rows , which weighs ordina- -
rily 300 or 400 lb. but the reft of the Fifh they commonly throw
away , although fometimes they pickle it, and fend it to
where it is held in reafonable good eftfcem. The length of one of thofe
Biloeges is from 26 to 3ofoot if come to its full growth. Cayearis ufed
all over Rufia and 4/^oTwinftead of Butter during their Lent', which-'
as I have before remarked , comes 4 times a year ,- and is likewife
fen tin to all parts of Europe , fothat this Filhing is hard followed by
the"