‘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’ [‎304] (369/470)

504 The Voyages oilohn Struys. V" o v. III
dec. moft delighrfull places we had hitherto feen. The People confor-
i6 7 i * mable.to the place they inhabit gave us great Satisfaction, and were
very fociable and friendly to converfe withall.
CaCwin On the Ninth we fet forward again , and came at night to the
' ie - cr ' M ' Cky Cafaia, wkith is a Town of no fmall repute. Itisfituatedin 36
■degr. 15 ma. Northerly Latitude, lying in the Countrey of Erak,
upon a level, but dry and fandy ground,. having on the Weft the
Mountains of ElTvind which reach as far as , or , as it
is now called. This City is about 6 EngUfh Miles in circuit, and has
•f. bin formerly the Refidence of the King and Court of Perfia but
finee die fa:rfte \vas tranilated to./^/Mw, it has continually run to de
cay, and day lyioofes it's glory. The Walls and Fortifications which
feem to have bin very ftrong, lie buried in their Rubbifh and unre
paired, for that this City lies far within the Perftan Dominions and
dreads riot any fudden lrruptian as thofe that lie on the Confinesare
.evertfearfull olv and therefore either without any Fortifications at all,
* to the end they may not prove a Check, if once invefted and taken
in by the Enemy , or elfe fo ftrongly munited that they may refift
a durable Siege : and another reafon why the City fears no
, Forreign Invafion is the Strength of the Inhabitants , who are fo
numerous that upon occafibn they can make up a mighty Army. The
Houfes are , as moft other Towns in , moftly built of Brick
which is only hardned in the Sun: fo that without they appear with
no Statelynefs or Magnificency, but within neatly painted with Com
partments and Foliage. The Streets are not paved as in other places ,
fo that when it is windy they are not paflabie, for the Duft that flies
about, which befides the aptnefs it has to hurt ones Eies, is no fmall
annoyance to thofe who areapparreled in a gay Garb.
tj ,,, In this City Schach Tamas kept his Court as alfo his Son Ifma'cl
T*iaceof w \y 0 built that Magnificent Palace before the , which ftill
Tamas. remains as a lafting monument of that puiflant Monarch , and the
Footfteps of a glorious Court, which, had nottheUnthankfullnefs
of the Inhabitants been id great, might have been there till this Day.
The Gates are very high and ftately, the Rioof and Walls within are
all laid with Tiles of Porceiine , and fomeofthemembelliflied with
Flowers of Gold, which are annealed or burned in, as tMsdaaorsbitaat
whom 1 prefume theyJliave tiutt Ait. Within the Chambefs