‘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’ [‎318] (385/470)

jiS The V oyages of V oy . Ill,
j^K a great Stone Bath where every one that will enter the fa id T emple is
1672. fij-j]- obliged to wafh. Leaving thisPaflage you go up two Stepps which
leads you into a broad Plain, and about 8 hundred Foot dire£tly for
ward another ftep which brings you into the Church. The Gate which
enters the Mejqmte is of fair Marble and about as high as that of the
Mefchmh of choddabende in Suit ant The Doors' of this Temple are
laid ore with Silver Plates, and fet in with Flowers of Gold. Entring
within the Gate, you colli into a pompous Antichamber, the Floor
whereof is befpred with very fine Matts, upon which they fall down
on their Knees, and make a Ihort prayer. From hence on each hand
is a ftately Gallery, each leading into another fpacious Court,
having in the middle a great Fountain, with a Bath. Above thefe
great Galleries are fom lefs, which are fupported by marble Pillars ,
the Chapters and Foliage whereof are neatly gilded. When you are
paft thefe Galleries and the Courts , you come into the Temple it
felf, entring in atafplendidPort, within and under the Cieling, all
laid in with blew T iles of true Porceline, and intermixed with Flow
ers of Gold. The Temple its felf is very large and fumptuous, fup
ported with huge marble Pillars. On the right hand at going out of
this Church, you enter thro an Arch into a magnificent Hall, where
Hands a Pulpit and an Altar, which faidplace, forfumptuoufnefs
and uniformity of ftrufture , is reputed the moft coftly Building
and moft glorious Fabric in the whole Emaraih. All the Marble where
of it is built , feeming to outvy the Snow its felf for whitenefs , is
brought hither, not without vaft trouble and Chargcs,from the Moun
tains o^Elivend.
The The Kings Palace, called D or Schach is alfo a very
ftateiy Houfe. Before you enter the outer Gate is a large Plain, on
which are many Pieces of old Brafs Ordnance, unfit for ufe, and
arc only thrown together on heaps, and out ot order: a true Em-
bleme of fuch Perfons as have in the Flower of their Youth beenfer-
viceable to their Prince and Commonwealth, but growing old and
impotent becom Abjects; and are laid afide. The Palace, 'tis true, is
munited on every fide with a Wall, but fo meanly, that it would
not refift a Cannon ball, much lefs fecure the Perfon of the King,
if attacqued with any fudden Force, which is the leaft thing they
dread. By day the utmoft Gate is only guarded with 4. Sentinels but
at