‘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’ [‎283] (348/470)

C hap . XXVil. The Voyages of lohn Struts. 18^
mon kind, but far thicker than either the Sfamjh , or that kof .
which is brought from -MoJcoytA ,for I have feen fom of it that was l6 7 1 ' ,
thicker than my Arm.
On the 3 of Noyember we travailed 5 leagues over the Heath of
Mochan, and faw by the way many Hurdles and Boors Cottages, but
durft not call at any to provide our felvs with Refreihments , being
fenfibie of the penis, for hither are all thofefent to Exile whom the
Such thinks good to banifli, and hither refort all the Mutineers j fo
that thefe like the Bmdttii in the Alps render the way very unfafe
and incommodous to travel, fomtimes furprizing and a flailing the
Cur ay an s , when they find themfelvs of Force enough, or the
too weak to withftand'em.
On the .fh. dito, we fet forward, and in the way found the River
Bulth-trti , which for Greatnefs gives place to all the before named > TmoffH
but, for the Multitudes of Tortoifes that are taken here about, no lefs * lout
famous nor inferiour to any other in all the furface of the Countrey.
All along the Banks we faw holes and caves which thofe Animals had
made in the Sand , the Ihoar appearing like a Coney-borrough.
Thefc Caves have their mouth or entrance alwaies to the Southward ,
where they lay their Eggs. On the Countrey through which this Ri
ver foftly glides we faw feveral Cottages or Tents, as we did the day
before, but found the Inhabitants harmlefsand very poor, yetmer-
ryandjocund, the Children were ftarknakedjand the Men and Wo
man had hardly cloaths enough to cover their middle. They received
us in very friendly manner according to their ability, bringing us
Milk for our felvs, and Provender for the Camelsand Horfes, which
they fold at a very mean and inconfiderable Price, confidering under
what neceifity we were then. This day we travailed 6 [Dutch] Leagues.
On the 5 we travailed about as far as we did the day before, but were
fain to take up our Lodging under the great Canopy ot Heaven,
fetting down with the whole Car ay an, near fom Water-pitts, where
we found good pafturage for the Beafts , confidenng the feafon of
the year.
The next day we found an end of the Heath Mekm , and had
High-land to travail over, as the Mountains of Bethz,jryan, or Beth-
z-jrum. This day we croffed a fmall River (if 1 well remember} 12
times, having a crooked or ferpentine Courfe, which the Merchants
N n 2 of■