‘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’ [‎353] (428/470)

C hap . XXX VI. The V oyages of Struys. 3
who were wont to com by night in whole Troops, and plunder their
Houfes: On the right hand as you enter the Haven is a Fort upon kJ ; 2 *
a iteep Hill, which for its Fortification by Nature ieems to be impre
gnable except in cafe of hunger. The fame Fort is alfo fufficientto
command and defend the whole Haven; it has alfo a pnvat way lea
ding to the Haven under ground. This City according to it's great-
nels is populous enough, but not fo populous as it was foon after
Ormtts was taken in by the King of Fcrjta , thenfervingasan Ajylum for
the Portuguee^es, Indians and abUns.
In the Moneths of Auguji and Septemb it is here fo incredible hot
and fcorching, that I am not able to exprefs the condition that Stran
gers are in,' being as if they were in boiling Cauldrons , or in fweeting
Tubs, fo that I have known many who not able to endure the Heat
would jump into the Sea, and remain there till the Heat of the day
be over. During the time of my abode there the Hcer came
as Envoye from the Lord General, to eftablifli the Commerce and
Trade of the Company on a better foot at but he had not
made an end of that Affair when we left the Plage.
On the Third of ^yfuguft wefet fail, and on the 2 3 got fight of the
faft Land, and Cape Comorinc , which is a fair Promontory on the
MaUbar Coaft. We directed our courfe thence for Ceylon , and fofor
Buttiyia.
On the 2 8 we got the Straits of Smda, where we met feveral
that came aboard us, and bartered Fifli, Coconuts, Piefang, Ana-
naffes , and other Fruits for Iron Hoops. The Day following we
got the height oi Toppers Angle, and on the 30 came into the Road
of Batavia. ,
Oivthe fir ft of September , I went aflioar and fo dircftly to the Gene-
ral and Council to return them my humble Thanks for their unfpea-
kable Favour and Goodnefs in redeeming me from the wofull Eilate
of Slavery, with promife of returning the Moneys difburfed upon
my return home, which in the year 1673 I faithfully performed.
On the 27 I went to lift my felfin the Comp imesfervice for Sail-
maker for 18 gild .per Moneth aboard the Ship called l^oIhinDtffliC
Cumi. _
On the 15 of October we received Order with 6 other Ships to crufc on*,
upon the Englifh and French Ships before Mean while I long-
Yy ed