‘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’ [‎239] (300/470)

1
i nc v oyages ot lohn
Zlcj
but the Tolls about the Mountains of are very great, and tshi
oftentimes long a clearing, fo that they rather chufe to go the other
way. In former times this was a Town of fome confideration as to
matter of llrength} but in the Wars of ^Abas, the or King
of Perjza againil the 'lurks, it was by him difmantled and made an
open village, which was ever by him a Maxim of Military Policy,
by reafon the Turks were wont to retire into fortified Places under
pretext of Refuge , and after a few Moneths proving ftrong and
numerous would furrender up the Town to their own Nation in
time of War, or upon an Uproar: fo that all the Walls to ward the scama-
South were demohflied and only thofe on the North-fide leftilan- ^M?-
ding, which will not much avail upon fuch fudden Occafions.
The Northern Quarter is far lefs than the Southern , and the
Mote lo (hallow together with the mean condition of the Walls,
that one may enter in as they pleafe in many Places, notwithftan-
ding their due fliuttmg of tne Gates , that are in number 5. The
Streets are all thro the Town very narrow and the Buildings low,
made up of Clay, Planks and Twigs daubed over. In the South-
quarter is a fpacious Market-place which they call a Bagan, having
roundabout it feveral rich Shops in Galleries and Piazzas, wherein
are feen many rich Merchandizes and vlanufadories, as Silks, Cot
tons, Furrs, Cloth of Gold and Silver, Tapeftry, &c. Nearthis
place are alfo two great Warehoufes having feveral Portics or Alleys,
where all Merchants-ftrangers buy and fell feveral forts of Merchan
dizes. The one of thefe is called Scack CarTvan/ira , or, the Empe-
rours Lodgings , whither Ritfims for the moft part have recourfe,
and barter their Tin , Copper , Sables and other Commodities;
the other is called LefgiCdnvanfera , i. The Tar tars Lodgings; and
'hither repair moftly the Dagejian and other , whofe Trade
confifts chiefly in Men and Children, ftole either from their own
Nation or the Ruftans , as alfo in Horfes .- hither alfo repair maijiy
Jews who deal moftly in Bedding and Cottons. This Town upon
my arrival there was altogether new built, altho about 3 yearsbe-
forc it lay on heaps. This place is very fubjeft to Earth quakes and
in the fpace of one year were 3 great ones, but that in the year 1667
was the greateft that has been known or heard of in any Age. It con
tinued for the Ipacc of 3 moneths, but not with that terror and
vio-