‘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’ [‎274] (339/470)

274 The Voyagesof lohn Struys. oy.III
jul . were feen great balls like burning Brimftone falling down. About
167 g in the Evening I faw a great maffy lump of Fire, which made the
Earth fliake again when it fell, and fo burft all to pieces. Formidable,
I thought, were the great Ordnance in the DardamlU when they were
difcharged , being reputed the greateft in the World: But there
was as much difference between this and them, as there is between a
Mountain and a Mole-Hill. About 2 hours alter fell down 6 more,
which were as big as Hogs-heads , thefe confumed and wafted a
great part of the ground where they light. This Tempeft conti
nued about 4,8 hours; after which followed a very calm feafon.
On the 15 we had news from , how that Monfr.
with P. K^irentfz, his fervant were arrived there fafe and well, altho
not without iom difficulty by the way , meeting with fome Rob
bers , but the Konjack telling them that he was fent to the on
an Exprefs, they let him go without further trouble.
xhe next day fell abundance of Rain, that all the whole Face of
Countrey round about Scamachy lay under Water, and the ftreams
coming from the Mountains brought down huge Pieces of Rocks
and Stones which came down into the Town and carried away feve-
ral Houfes with them, as alfo many People who were on every fide
environed with the Floods that they could not help themfelves. This
Tempeft concluded with fearful Thunder-claps and Lightning, as
if the laft day were com.
mny On the 17 the Chart had a Robe efFay our fent him from the King.
^rowmd The Envoy e who brought it being arrived at the Kings Houfe with-
' out the City fent notice and acquainted the chm with his coming ,
who according to the Ouftom fet his Houfe in order and took leav
of his Friends, fearing that this was upon a fharper Errand than
the laft, the more I fuppofe, becaufe my Patrons Brother had been
at Ifptthm to acquaint the King , that his Brother , the Pohjh Am-
bailador had fuch a fum of Money due to him from the Chm, and
could not for the want thereof undertake his Journey for
The ch.zn makes preparation to go and know the Kings Pleafure,
beihg mounted on a ftately (^Arabian Horfe , and followed with a
great Retinu of Nobility and Courtiers, all well mounted, as before.
So foon as he was com there the Envoye fulfills his Commiflion and
delivers the Robe , after the fame manner & with the fame Cere
monies