‘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’ [‎238] (297/470)

i$8 The Voyages of lohn Struys. Voy. IIL
sept, that all hung with Iceicles. On this Hill appear the Ruins of fom,
1670." Watch-Towers j and below have been feveral Fortlets to check the
Tartars , and fecure the Medians from the Invafion of the
Robbers. Amidft thofe Ruins, is a huge deep Pit digged and laid
* Pf- in with ftone. I^aphta ,otherwife called or * PetreUum
f!!m the * s an coming naturally out of the veins of the Rock , which
fireek veins do run thro the whole ftones, as m Marble. There are 40 Pits
ew digged as Receptacles to hold the laid Oil, being convey'd thither
Oil, c by feveral Pipes , or Conduits > But there are three of thofe whence
aSck. it naturally flows or fprings, where you may fee it buble up like boil
ing pitch. Of this Oil there be two forts 5 the one tending to a
brown or black, which has a very ftrong fmell, but the other which
is white is of a lovely fmell when frefh , and held in far more efteem
than the other. ,
On the 6 dito we fet forward again , and went over very high
Hills, coming at night to Bachai a village feated in a low but fruit-
full Valley. Here grows much Rice, and that very good, it being
a marfhy Ground, where that Grain likes beftj Barley alfo grows
there in good plenty. The Inhabitants have an excellent way of
making Cakes, the main ftuff thereof being Honey and Oil: whereof
for the rarenefs and novelties fake my Mailer bought certain to
ufe on our Journey.
On the 7 dito we left Bachdl , andafter a good Days Journey carne
. into Cothany , which is a very pleafant Place: and here we took up
our Lodging. This Village lies in alow Valley which is full of
Woods of Halles and other fmall Trees, in which Woods are the
greateft plenty of Hares that ever I have feen in all my Life.
On the 8 dito we arrived at the famous ScamJchj, called alfo Sum.thi,
and Samachv. It is a Very famous Mart, and lies in 40 degr. 50 mm.
In the Province of SchirTvan , or It is handfomly feated in a
Vally , fo that one cannot fee it till he be within Cannon Shot of
the Town. The diftance between and is computed
a Weeks Journey, excluding Sunday, to wit, following the High
way which is crooked and Winding , for by reafon of Hills and
Rivers' they are fain to travel far about, or otherwife one-might go
it in 2 days: there is alfo another way which Paffengers take when
they go not with the Car ay an , the Caravan would alfo go that way,
but