‘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’ [‎247] (308/470)

C hap. XXII. The Voyages of/o^ Struys.
Intii
:l5 ;
great m Commerce with Perfia > as tliat they would not do any
thing to quit it: However if he wo uld go clandeftinly and occafion
a Rumor as if he were gone for Mfom where in he
might imbarque himfelf as a privat Perfon. This I faid in hopes to
come that way home my felf. Yet he was various in his Intentions,
fomtimes taking a refolution to go for , and fomtimes for
Conjiantimple , or elfewhere. However during the time he was at
jemachy , he Lorded it fo bravely^ that the durft not check him
in any extravagancy he committed: for it feemsthat the faid
had taken up a coniiderable Sum of the Ambafiador upon Intereft
and not being able to pay was fain to reft contented. But the Am-
baflador willing to get in his Money and the not in a Capacity
to pay it upon demand, the Ambaflador fent his Brother to
to make complaint to the Schach , which when the Chan had under-
ftood y fent a Foil after him , who intreated him to return back, upon
promife of Payment, and full Solution both of Stock and Intereft.
On the 21 came a Per fun to Scam achy with WUliam Barentf^Kloppcr
our Chief-Mate , who had been taken by the and feverely
ufed all the time. The faid Perfun offered him to the Pohfh Ambaffa-
dor who on the 30 th -bought him. The had firft fold him to
a Perfim of Bachu for 150 \^4bas. This new Patron fet him to keep
Cattle , in a Pafture , between Der and Scam achy , where upon
our Journey to Scamachj I faw, but knew him not. He had a very
churiilh fellow to his Patron , and therefore attempting fcveral
times to run away wasftill caught again, and beat moft fevercly: and
now being redeemed came unexpectedly out of the Frying Paainto;
the Fire.
Upon the firft day of fanuarj 1671 , on which day weufuaHyin
our own Countrey wifh one another Happinefs: we were aware of
a mighty and moft dreadfull Earth-quake, which had in a moment
laid tome hundreds of Houfes in Rubbifli > moft terrible was it to
fee fo many Souls fwallowed up in the F,arth alive and as lamentable
to fee fome crulh'd to pieces and others half dead , fome fo faft clo-
fed up between Walls that they could not be got out. And others,
wanting their Legs j Arms and other Members , nor was there any
but fuftained fome lofs one way or other. When it cealed every
one hoped that all was done., but the next day. at night the Earth:
be rraii,
m
Sii: