‘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’ [‎234] (293/470)

*34
The Voyages of
V o Y. III.
and I had but had the fame opportunity they had to be unchain'd
1670," we fhould not have dallied long about a Rcfolution , whether to
ftay or betake our felvs to flight, for it was not above 12 [
vltsh [ miles from Derbent. We often contrived to break or file the
"Chain in funder, but the Links were fo mafly that we durft not at
tempt left we Ihould not perform it at one time. They were alfo
taken by the Dagefian-Tarms , which are reputed the more mercifull,
but we by the Calmucs, the one being under the ofmm and the o-
ther under the Sctmkd. C. Brak was fold by the Scernkd for three
years j after the expiration of which time his Patron was to have him
again : His Wife whom the Prince had ravifhed , was alfo taken
from him and made ufe by the faid Prince for a Concubine, being
attired in Princely Habit, and had much favour fliown her.
therefore intending to make hisefcape, intimated his Defigntohis
Wifej who would by no means affent to the matter, becaufeofher
Child , and told him further that if he did offer to go that flie
would deteft the matter to the Prince. To this he replied,
that inafmuch as fhe was taken from him they were never like to
come together again, and that he probably for that reafon fhould
be carried farther within Land , where he fhould be out of all
hopes of ever being redeemed} whereas on the contrary if ever he
came to Derbent that there he fhould not only himfelf be free, but
alfo feek a mean to get her redeemed , yet all this was but in
vain, for flie would not hear of it } infomuch that he was fain to
run away without her knowledge} but what then became of him,
and whether he was retaken by fome others, or is dead, I could
never yet be fo happy as to know. As to his Flight, we were well
aflured, for his Patron fent to us at to enquire after.him,
but had a very unwelcom Anfwer : and the , to hearing
that fuch a Perfon was come to feek for them, gave order to ap
prehend him, and fo continued him Captiv till he proved that
he only came to feek one that he had bought for ready Money,
and was not of Intention to meddle with any body elfe } upon
which the Sultan , ordered him enlargement.
O
CHAP,
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