‘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’ [‎351] (426/470)

Chap . XXXVI. The Voyag es of lohn Struys. 351
nefs like a Fig. Hither repair many lazy People to fhadow them-
felvs under it, being thick and impenetrable for the Sun. Under I67J-
this Tree is a Paged, orlittle Temple, wherein they fay the Foun
der^ being one ot their Holies) lies at reft; this Pagod is attended
alw-iies by one of their Saints, and is continually vifited by the Indi-
nns who go thither to perform their devout Offices. The Irtdtan who
keeps it never jfhaves himfelf, but lets his Beard and the Hair of
his Head grow fo long as it will, which by his permillion I mefured
and found it more than 6 Foot long. Alter I had don I gave him a
fmall piece ofMoney, valuingabout Twopence, for which he fhow'd
himfelf very thankfull , and brought me in to fee the Pagod and
Tomb. Above was a Canopy of filk, and on each fide were Lamps
that were never fuffered to go out. It was alfo painted round with
Beans, wherewith they fay that the Soul of the Departed Saint is
hugely delighted, I defired to knew the ground of that their Opi
nion and by what Token they were fo perfwaded : His anfwer was ,
that it was not lawlull to impart fuch facred Myfteries to Unbeleev-
ers. In the Moneth of ettoherthe Heat is almoft paft, at what
time refort hither Merchants from all Places to negotiate their Af
fairs; The Vcrfims and Armenians come by way of ifpth.m , andthe
Arabians thro Babylon, or Bagdet as it is now called, with multitudes
of Caravans confifting of many Thoufands of Camels, Horfes, Mules
and other Beafts of Portage- Hither alfo repair both and
Hollanders bringing all lorts of Commodities that are there Market
able and may be vended. The English bring moftly Wollen Manufa-
ftory. Pewter, Steel, &c. The Hollanders t rade there moftly in Spices
and Indian Commodities. The Poriu Tongue is here almoft
univeifally fpolce, they having fo long had that place, and yet above
all other Europeans are obliged to pay Cuftom ; The Fa-
ctors buy their Silks at the Price Courant and are alfo Cuftom-free.
But the English are not only Cuftom-free here but alfo go Sharers
with the King of I'crfisi in the Cuftom that is received at for
the good Service they did in allifting the King to take that Town
from the "ertugueezes. The Hollanders notwithftanding their being Cu
ftom-free have neverthelcfs a hard Task to fatisfy the Sahandar , or
chief Officier,who always corns in with new Pretences and Inventions ,
which he knows they will rather comply with than fuller any obftructi-
on of Trade. Oa