‘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’ [‎248] (309/470)

i4 g The Voyages of lohn Strays, V oy, III'
began a^aiu to tremble and (hake, infomuch that all was in a con-
KOn fternation , but none fuftained any confiderable lofs that 1 could
1670,
ttrtmt- ' ie Upon the 6 dito , it frofe very hard infomuch that the River was
Biej ujei to Upon this were the Ceremonies ot the Confecration of Water
%% ins foiemiuzed by the Armenian Chriftians , in prefence of the
in CM>his Son , our AmbafTador . the FcJIamck or an Courier,
~< w ho was difpatched for Mofcoti, and then at Sumach? , all the Nrjian
Nobility and Armcnitiit Chnftians from all Villages round aboutj
and from afar in the Countrey, who came with Croffes, Flags and
Bells, fmging Hymns all the way till they came over the
lery fa Bridge fo called) where they fate down. Gn the morning very
early the Bifhop came out with great Pomp and fungMafs, after
which an Oration was made fuiting the Day , being Epiphany,
which he performed with great Zeal and Pains. After that was a Feall
which they call Chalfc Schur.in , or Dippingof the Crofs.
Thefe Ceremonies were performed as follows: On each fide the
River were placed the Chans Guards, and all the Soldiery, to pre
vent any Tumult or abufe of the who pay dear enough
for the fame. After the Chan had taken his placeinaTentexpreffly
provided for that Prince , and the Watch fet in good order, the
Bifliop went to beg permiflipn 3 before which obtained he dare not be-
gin So foon as the Token was given, fome of the ran
naked into the Water, and cut up the Ice with Bills ; the Bifhop
all the while continues reading and the Common people ling. Alter
this they begin to play upon Bels and Cymbals , then the Biihop
ftepping foftly to the River fide , pours in Oyl and Water. Then
he took a litle Silver Crofs, fet with Diamonds and other precious
Stones , which he dipt 3 times in the Water. This done he took
a llaft ["or Crofier] and ftretched it feveral ways over the River, pro
nouncing feveral Benedidions. Immediately upon this all the
People ran together, and ftrove who Ihould be hrft at the River to
drink and wafli their Faces. This was obfervantly don of all fo rt s
of People, young and old. Men and Women. Laft of all fevera
youths uncloathed themfelvs, jumped into the River and fwam
to and again, diving feveral times together, as ifithadbeeninth
midft of Summer. The Biihop departing homewards, wasaa:om-