‘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’ [‎323] (390/470)

C hap . XXXH- The V oyages of lohn
ztd Mehedt , akho they rather chufe to dwell in the Suburbs 3 that they
may be retire from the Calumny of the , and the better
enjoy the Benefits of a Chriftian Society. The is a Diilnct
of the Suburbs lying on the Weft fide of the City , fo called from
the Kehbns, which are a fort of ancient Pagans, who following
the old opinion of the t'erji/tm, when they were yet Heathens , will
not embrace Mahometanifm, Thefe differ from the reft in Habit, as
well as in Cuftoms and Religion , wearing loofe Drawers , with a
long Coat only faftned at the Collar, open at the ihoulders: Their
Hair they let grow, all over their Head and Face. The Women arc
attired as the Men only with this difference, that they wear a long
Silk or Cotton Scarfwhich trails on the Ground. The Language they
fpeak is ftill the ancient Lingua Perfi for they are very curious in
preferving their ancient Tongue without any Innovation, infomuch
that the Perjians who fpeak the modern Language cannot underftand
them [as the EngUJh cannot underftand the old Brmifh , or \Vel(h~\ yet
thefe can both underftand and fpeak the prefent Tongue.
They retain alfo the Ancient Characters, and adore the Sun and the
Elements for Deities performing Monethly Sacrifices. Befides the
veneration they have for the Sun , they do worfhip to the Starrs,
but have little or no Judgement in the courfe of the fame. Snakes
and all other venemous Animals they hold for unclean, fo that whofo-
ever touches any of thofe, whether voluntarily, or by accident,
muft not enter into their Temples till he be purified. Their Dead they
do not burn as moft Pagans do , but when any Perfon dies, whether
it be an Infant, or one com tofull growth and Maturity, they wafh
the Body very clean, and carry it to a Place far diftant from any Hou-
fes, and there fet it upright againft a Poft, where they wait till the
Ravens com and pick out the one Eie , which ifit be the right Eie,
they are of opinion that the Soul ofthe Departed is in Paradife, and
therefore interr him very decently j but if the Bird pull out his left
Eie firft, then they hold it for a fure Token,, that he is damned, and
for his wicked Life to fuffer perpetualTorments, and therefore efteem
him not worthy of fuch folemn Exequies , but caft him head-long
into a deep Pit.
Without the City of ifpahan are many fair Gardens and Summer-
houfes , belonging to the King and divers great Perfonages. The
S f 2 moft