‘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’ [‎201] (256/470)

C hav .XVL The V oyages of lohn Struys zoi
his intent or defign (in building of thefc Watch-houfes) only to be
forewarned of any danger , but to prey upon the Merchant
men, who were bound for i^ijlrachan. From hence to the Circas-
Mountains we often founded and found it never more , orfeldomlefs
than 12 toot Water. All along the Coaft wefaw abundance of Wild-
geefe Pelicans and other Fowl which now and then we bellowed a
litle powder upon. The ftrand was all grown over with Reeds, which
grow to an incredible heighth, and the Water there we found deeper
than off at Sea, in fomuch that it were very commodious, in a ftorm
for any fmall veffel to Ihelter themfelves , dropping anchor a litle
without, for the Reeds break of the Winds and the impetuous
beatings of the Water. In the afternoon towards the Evening it
began to thunder and rain very hard , the Wind was very high at
South and by Eaft , and our Courfe lay South and by Weft, The
Water all the time beat over the Gunhil, and two men forced to
heave out with their Backlers , though hardly to any purpofe, for
notwithftanding all the pains they took the Shallop was ftill full , the
Tempeft continuing I'o till 5 in the next morning , at what time it
began to grow very calm and moderate, yet not fo but that we were
driven with a fine frelh Gale. The Water here is frelh and potable,
and affoards all manner of Filh, that ufually breed in frefh Rivers ,
Pike, Carps, Breams, See. Befides Sturgeons, Seals and other crea
tures that will endure both.
On the 15 we loft the fight of Land, and came about midday into
the Bay KiefeUrke , which is otherwife called the Golden the fand
whereof Ihines as fire, and is therefore by fome called KifcUrfche
hoeh , which is no other than Golden My curiofity was often to
taft the Water j fometimesl found it laft of Sulfur , fometimes of
Saltpeter, and fometimes of an od bitter taft , whence I collefted
that this came from the property of the Ground and bottom. The
River KifeUr is a Branch 3 or an Arm of the , rifing about 8
Vutch Leagues above Tcrki, and runs paralel with the V^olga about 65
leagues, fo disbanding its floods into the Ctfpun Sea. But now we
were in a more defperate Condition than ever , partly for that our
Shallop was fo loaden that we were not a foot above Water,and on the
other hand Wanted bread > for We had not above 6 or 7 pound among
all the Company. The Wind began to grow high and boyftrous, and
C c towards
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