‘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’ [‎271] (336/470)

C hap. XXV■ The Voyages of lohn Stmys.
Carcafe, thrown out into the ftreet where it lay an hour or two, anil
afterwards by his order was dragged into the Fields, to be devoured
of the Eagles , and other Birds of prey : but he not fatisfied here
with took the Skin and nailed it upon the Wall for a Monument and
Warning to his other Wives, which were 12 in number, who never
faw it but trembled , as indeed I my felf did , fo often as I went
by the Houfe, or palled by that way. It is a plain Proverb, notfo
common as true. The Old Woman hadnotf
had/he never bin there her felf: and fo the Men in Perfu , or at left about
thefe Parts, being generally prone to Venery 3 and without the bounds
of Continency, harbour and fuftain an ill Opinion of their Wives , ' he Pcr "
whom they will have to be chaft and loyal. This Jealoufy is therea- ^
fon that few who covet a good name and would be reputed honeft
go with any part of their bodies uncovered, fave only their Eies, their
Face being muffled up in Silks or Cotton. Thofe who go with un
covered Heads ,are fuch as we commonly call Gamefters , andpro-
ftitute. So foon as any one comes in a doors, the Woman runs into a
Chamber and locks her felf up that flie may not befeen , althdthe
Slaves have often the Opportunity to violate their Mailers Couch
notwithftanding all the Indeavours they ufe to fupprefs them. But
the King and the Great ones of the Realm prevent that by gelding
their Slaves > which they doe veryeffeftually, but Mo defty forbids
me to make further mention of the Manner. They do it commonly
when they are young , buying Children that are ftollen from their
Parents , and are therefore m regard of their bringing up, held in
greater value than others , as alio becaule that there" is hardly one
in three that both live and like. The price which is fet upon them
is one reafon why ordinary Ferfons have them not, and another is
becaufe that if they thrive they grow very fat and lazy, and confe-
quently unfit to do any fervice they have occafion for. And by rea
fon that Women-Slaves are fomewhat rare among them , the Mer
chants and Citizens Wives are moftly attended by Men, who if they
have a Iprightly and airy way and Carriage, arefomtimesadmitted
to enjoy thofe illicit Pleafures, which in procefs of time they recom- ^
pence with the lofs of their Lives.
It happened once that my Patron received a fuddenMeifage from
the Prince to com to Court, upon which he gave me Order fo faddlc
his