‘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’ [‎213] (270/470)

C hap . XVIII. The Voyages of
or that we ever were like to be redeemed by our Friends or Countrey iun £»,
men being in a remote Land, Havijig thus taken our laft Farewell of l6 7 0 »
each other, I was let upon a Mule, and committed to the Charge of
feme Slaves and Renegados, who were to bring me to the Court of
Prince Mahomet , being about 3 \putch~\ miles from
About Evening we came to a Village called feated upon
a high Mountain , where we took tip our lodging for that night.
While we ftayed here there came abundance of Women to fee me,
who wondred that I wore fuch long hair , for the Inhabitants
of thefe Countreys (being tjiuhomeuns') always fhave their Heads
bare.
On the 2 2 betimes in the morning we fet forward , and went
through a great Grove of Fruit - trees , where we faw abundance
of wild Swine mailing of the lhaken Fruit. Thefe Fruit trees do
not grow naturally of themfelves here, for they have an Ordinance
among them in that Countrey, That none, of whether Sex it be,
fhall marry, till they can prove that they have planted a Hundred
Trees with their own Hands , fo that they begin when they are
Children to plantj which having been obferved for fome Ages, is
the reafon that this Wood is grown fo wide. There are divers forts
of Fruits, as Apples, Pears, Cherries, Figgs, Almonds, Wall-
nuts and others, and that in fuch abundance that the hundreth part
is not confumed or us'd, for none are prohibited to pluck and carry
away. There is alfo veryfairMedow and Arable Ground, the Fields
full of Corn , affbarding many delicate and rich Plants, both for
Kitchin ufe, and Medicinal. Cattel is there both good and plenti
ful! , far furpafling ours in Europe for fatnefs, efpecially Kine & Sheep >
Goats and Swine, both wild and tame, run together in innumerable
Flocks , but incredible is the Plenty of Hens and Pidgeons which
are brought in and fold for trifles.
On the 30 th we arrived at VrTva» , or Eryan , a City fituated under
Mount Ararat , in the Countrey of the Medes about 65 Leagues
from the Cafpian Sea. The Town is not very wide, but fufficiently
munited with ftrong walls of ftone, being about the greatnefs of
maar in 2{orth-Hollmd. There are in it fome Per fun Mofquees, and
Churches, as alfo a Cloyfter of Carmelit Friars. They ufe no kind
of Commerce, or Merchandife , fave that of Slaves, which the
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