‘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’ [‎366] (441/470)

[366]
ON Tiro rfday the ofpune, we left the Ship , and brought all the Goods into
the Fort, by order of the Governor, our Gunner alio loaded'a great part of the Or
dnance. Still continued whifpering and murmuringagainft the Governour, fothat
neither He, nor the Council ^urft appear without doors for fear of an Uproar. The
Chirurgeon of whom I have already made mention, having bin converfant about
I4years with the Rtijfes, and not unacquainted with their tumultuous fpirits, told
ine, he could eafily forcfec that the City would be betray'd ere long, ifthe Common
fort did not fee better marks and clearer evidence of Security; and without doubt
we that were Strangers and in fcrvice of the Great Duke muft expeft fomwofull
Cataftroph: and therefore fince our Pay was retraded, and our fer vice only aboard
the Ship, and not in the Land Army, it was more ad vifable to betake our felves over
the Cafpian Sea to the Perftan Coafl:. I had already ordered our Men to buy up 18
Moneths Provifion ofNeceflaries, fearing a Siege.
UPON this Motion of the Chirurgeonlfummonedupmy Officers and took
Council together with them , what was beft to be don in this cafe: they unanimoufly
rcfolved that it was more fecure to betake our felves to flight , fince we hadnoPay,
and therefore not under any obligation to ferve the Duke by Sea , much lefs by Land.
They were willing to leave all they had at Aflrachan except only their cloaths, be-
caufe it would bean incumbrance: yet becaufe I had many coftly Cloaths and other
Goods, they refolved to take as much as they could with them, and packMall up
in a great Portmantle and a Trunk which I had, befides two little Chefts, which I
aiTented to. Every one took as much Provifion of Bread in his own Portmantle as
he thought might ferve him ; and it was refolved that we fhould leave none behind,
fave only 2 Seamen, who had each a Wife and a young Child. On Friday in the After
noon my beft Things were brought aboard , it being intended that we fhould
depart that night, which the two Seamens Wives coming to perceive would by all
means go with us. But I weighingwelltheEnterprize withmy felf, andconfidering
the danger of adventuring with 22 Perfons more, in a Shallop of 26 Foot long,
I thought it not good to eflay the matter^ I had with me one Chriftian Brand my
Gunners Mate, with whom I refolved to flay and fee what the event would be at
Jtjlrachany and (if our fate was fuch) to die on the Bed of Honour, rather than
to flee we knew not whither. This I intimated to the Mafter and the Dodorwho
aUo were content to venture their Lot,. Immediatly I fent a Seaman to the Matters
Mate aboard the Shallop to acquaint them with the Alteration of my Refolution j
but that night the Gates were (hut fooner than the cuftomary hour ; io that he could
not get fpeech to them. This put me intofome doubt, fearing that they might put
off without me: but the Mafter and two Seamen perfwaded me to the contrary faying
they would never have the boldnefs to go without me which for that time made
me reft contented. That Evening I went the Rounds with the Vice-roy upon the
Walls of the Caftle, which was laid ore with Heaps of Stones > to ufe in cafe of
Storm.
O N the feventh of funCy being Saturday early in the morning, 1 fent a Seaman to
the Ship again with fom privat InftruSions j but he making fom delay, and I not have
the patience to wait any longer went my felf > with the Chirurgeon? and found that
they