‘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’ [‎325] (392/470)

C hap . XXXII- The Voyages of 32,5
but afwell for lying upon their Difhes of Fruit, when they are brought
up to the Table, which is only laid on a heap in the middle of the l672 "
Dilh, and fo dillblves it felf, through all the Fruit. This is reckoned
for a good commodity if it be ahot Summer j and is fold as well along
the Streets ,as in Houfes.
On the 16 of Feb) mrf , was the Epiphany celebrated by the
n'un and Georgian Chriftians. So foon as I heard what was the matter ,
I rofe pretty early in the morning with intent to lee the Solemnity of
the Day. The firft I met was the fef , or Great Marfhal with
all his fubordinat Officers, who were ordered to prevent Tumults ,
and not to fufter Horfes and Camels with any Burthens to pafs
over the Bridges and thro the Streets that lead to and
which was not only don for the fake of the Chriftians, but upon the
account of one of the Kings legitimat Wives , whom he entirely
loved, being a Georgun by birth and educated in the Chriftian Reli
gion , and had a deiire to go and fee the Solemnities performed, which
the King would not deny her, for that Ihe was great with Child.
About 8 in the morning were all the Chriftian Ladies in Balconies ,
which were all hung with Tapeftry, and thofe of the greateftrank
with Canopies over head. Thofe of meaner degree fate on each fide,
the River Sender M , and had a Guard of Soldiers under the Command
of an Officer, to fecure them from being abufed by the
and to fuffer no Men to crowd in upon them. About 9 affembled all
thofe under Spiritual Orders and the Clergy belonging to the 10.
Churches of T^ulpha-, and the 2 Churches of Thofe were all
attired in white Stoles and Capps of Cloth of Gold upon their Heads ,
with long Labels hanging down to their middle , but more gorgeous,
was the Attire of the Patriarch , being all over richly embroydered
with Gold and adorned with coftly Gems. Every Fricft carried a:
Silver Crofs hung with litle Silver Bells and Bafons. The CrolTes-
which were carried by thofe of higher degrees and in the formoft
Ranks were fupported , each by 3 Men. The Inferior Clergy fol
lowed after with lighted Tapours in their Hands , accompanied
with the moft eminent of the Laity. The Superior Monks of
adjoyned themfelvs to the Patriarch, 5 of them bearing up his Pon
tifical Robes , 2on each fide and one behind.. About one a clock
came the King mounted on a ftately xHorfe, without any con--
Si; £ 'Sde»-