‘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’ [‎335] (406/470)

C hap . XXXI 1L The Voyages of lohn Stniys. 335
as fuffieiently appears by what is llill remaining. Thefecondfeems
to have been nothing inferior to the firft for Beauty nor Strength, '672.
and twice as high; The third was 120 Foot high; on each fide was
a Faflage to enter, where were many Watch-Towers and Gates of du
rable and hardeft Marble. Thefe Fortifications were alfo environed
with Pallifados of huge Beams, and many Batteries, to the Terror
of the Enemy. It is neither to be known nor gueffed what an im-
menfe Treafure this vaft Fabric has coft , when it has bin firft:
founded: and it is highly to be lamented that fuch a ftatelyFabric
fhould be laid waft upon fuch a light account, which in fom manner
might be thought intranlitory, or not to-fulFer decay fo long as Art
had any Countenance upon Earth. The Hillorians all concurr in this
Opinion that it was burn'd by *\^4iexa in a drunken «Qu <
mood, at the inftigation of the notable Whore , who perfwa- Cimius
ded him that he could not gratify the Greeks and fpite' the
more, than to-fet this City on Fire, which hid ever bin a Terror, not
only to Greece but to the whole World. Upon this Motiv the King
went himfelf in Pcrfon and lay the firft: fire to it, being imitated
by a Train of Courtiers and Whores all befotted with drink , fo
that this wonderfull great and the moft fplendid Palace in theUni-
verfe was in a moment laid in Rubbifh, there being much Cedar in
it; When the Soldiers law all on a flame, they ran to quench it but
feeing the King very bufy in fetting it on Fire, they fell to a con
trary work, and in ftead of indeavouring to quench it brought wood
to increafe the Fire j whence it appears that the ftrongeft Fort, 1 pre-
fume, that ever was, or is in the World, was demoliihed by the power
ful Intereft of Women and effects of Wine.
About 2 Leagues from chehilmimr are the Ruins of fom Statues,
and amongft others one which they fay was the Image of Ruflan, a
Verfien Champion of great fame 5 for which reafon every great Hero ftan ^
among them that has performed any valorous Atchievment is called
Eujlan , and glories as much in that, as the of old by the ufurped
name of Achilles,or the Romm Stage-players in the name of
This Image as alfo all the reft are about 3 times as great as the Life,
and armed with Clubbs and other ancient Armor. But to rehearfe
all the Fables that the told me ofthofeHeros , would rather
impair the Credit of what is already faid in conformity with Truth