‘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’ [‎227] (286/470)

C hap . XX. The Voyages of
appears verv plain, and is about four Foot thick. Round about this
City are alfo divers flone Redoubts, whereof Four are furnilhed l6 7®.
with Ammunition and a Garrifon of Soldiers luitable to the Occallon
of the T imes. In the Countrey round about are alfo the Ruins of ma
ny ftrong CaftleS, infomuch that it plainly appears in what efteem
this Place has bin with the CMedian and Perjian Monarchs in times paft.
Not far from this City are alfo fom Watch-towers of Wood, which wwc*
are raifed exceeding high lb that they can with eafe defcry the ap-1™"/
proachment of an Enemy in time of War. On that fide of the Town Dcrbcnt:
which faces the Countrey are many Sepulchrets, or Tombs, fom of
an oblong form, and others femicircular, being in breadth about a
mans length and hollowed, fo that a Man may eafily ly in them. In
this great Sepulchre was in times paft a famous Battel fought,between
Cajjun King of the Mcdcs , and the DageJIan , where the former
had a notable overthrow, with the lofs of feveral Thoufand men, and
the principal Heros and Leaders were buried in thofe Tombs. Be
tween this place and the Sea is alfo another Plat of Ground, environed
with a high wall, wherein are 40 Tombs, under which are fo many
Terftan and Median Princes interred and made facred to Memory..
Upon the Walls are feveral Flags pitched, and by each an old Man
to beg an Alms of fuch as out of Devotion and a Religious Zeal come
to viut this place, as it is throughout all held very meritorious
to vilit the Sepulchres and Graves of the Deceafcd. This Superftition
befides that of Bathing is all the Ceremonies and Rules which their
Religion prefcribes the Women, who receiv their Directions and
are injoined by their Parents and Husbands what to do, being feclu-
de d out of the -Mofquees.
Within Derhent live no Chriflims but altogether ex
cept a few leivs who boaft themfelvs to be defceiided from the houfe of
Benjumin : thefe commonly follow bafe and dilhonorable Traffic, as
buying of Prize-goods and Booty taken at Sea, which the
Tartars bring thither to market: The reft of the Inhabitants likewife
trade in buying and felling of Slaves that being the main and almoft
only Merchandize they deal in, which they buy of the Plagia-^ 5 ^'
nes and fend all over Perjia, making an incredible gain thereof. Thofe
that are brought hither for Slaves are very unhappy, for they are no
more looked upon than an unreafonable Animal or Bruit: and when
F f 2 they