‘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’ [‎208] (265/470)

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Arms are only Bow Arrows and a Scimmatar , although fome have
alio Spears and Launces : when they ride out , or go upon any ex
pedition, they put themfelves in Harnafs, to wit , a Helmet and a
Target. They are great Men-ftealers, not flicking if they find oppor
tunity t o fell their own Relations,or Children of their neareft Friends,
which the/ bring to the Turks and Pe They are very bold , and
not eafily daunted at any forreign Power, trufting to the fteep craggs
and Mountains which are to others inaccellible. They are Mahome-
tms by profeilion , but forry Zcdots for their Religion. The Women
feed and keep cattel, but their men go out a Robbing. ThefeMoun-
tains are very barren and fandy except where it is chalky.
The next day we weighed anchor and came before the
town Boy mk, which v/hen we had juft palled by, it began to blow very
hard, from the Sea ward, we having then about 16 fathom Water.
In the mean time the Sea began to grow very rough and hollow ,
that we were forced to run the Shallop immediately a ftrand for
fear of overturning} being then but 5 leagues from Derbent , which
was the neareft Land. Diredly before the coaft lay a long Rif or Bank
and round about vis was rocks, which we by the grace of G O D efca-
ped , tho very narrowly } for indeavoring to get our felves afloat
again we ran into a Circle of Rocks about 3 or 4 foot under Water,
and had much labour to get clear. Having now wrought our felves
out we gave our felves over to the mercy of Heaven, letting the Boat
drive what way it would, tillat laft by a great Sea we were thrown
upon the flrand, without either lofs of men or Goods , every man
packing up what they thought fit to carry along with them. The
Goods which belonged to Capt. Butler and Mr. leYmmd we buried
in the Sand, thinking to fend for them upon occafion by the
But moft unhappy proved this our landing here, for no fooner were
we come alhoar but we were efpied by the who came and
delved up the Goods we had fo hidden , and carried it away upon
their Horfes to a litle Village hard by, and brought the news of fuch
an accidental Booty to J/j Sultan , their Prince, who came on Horfe
back with a guard of Troopers to feek us. Altho by day we hid our
felves in the Woods, and by night went forward on our Journey.
Having remained one night in the Woods where we took our reft.
Our Company confulted what was belt to do , whether to march
for-