‘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’ [‎55] (98/470)

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C hap . XI. The Voyages of lohn Strujis. 55
On the io th - of May we arrived fafely at the Ifland of Formofa, and
anchored before the Fort Zeiandia , where Peter oyer t Water was then 1630
Governor. As we failed in at the Bay, we were furprized with a great
"Wind > infomuch that the Prize we had taken ran upon a feat of
RockSjWhich almoft conjoyn, or as it were, imbrace the Bay, like that
at Rhodes , in the Levant A geographical area corresponding to the region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea. , made by Art, on which was erected the Image
of Apollo : fo that thefe are with a gale of Wind, fomewhat ftifFer
than ordinary almoft unavoidable. T he J unk broke all in pieces, and
the men were all loft, fave3 Hollanders , who faved themfelves upon
Planksjamongft thofe that were loft were 7 Hollanders£\\ddk Chineezes,
being about 20 in number.
The Ifland For mo fa lies almoft direftly under the Tropic of Cancer,
its nombril or Center being exaftly 23 degr. Northern latitude,
reaching in a ftretch from it's fouthernCape,which is in 21 degr.to the
Fltfaeel or N orthen Promontory, in 255 and is computed to be about
130 Dutch Leagues in circumference, facing thecoaft of and
China. Roundabout this Ifland are taken abundance of Fifh, efpe-
cially Harders , which are fomewhat bigger than a Haddock. This
Fifh they fait like Cod , and fend it for Chi , where it is had in great
efteem. The Row of this fifh is alfo held for a great delicacy among
the Chineezes when pickled , being red, and lies clofe and round in
a thin skin , which naturally grows about it. The chincez.es us'cl here
tofore to give the Tenth Fifh to the Company, for their Liberty to
fifh on the Coafts of this Ifland.
¥ or mo fa is a very fruitfull Ifland, but lies untill'd 5 the Inhabitants Fruitful.
feeing for the moft part a lazy People, not much unlike the
rather willing to ftarve than work. The moft fruitfull part is at prefent 0
under the Jurifdiftion of the King oiM'dag. It abounds with Rice,
Wheat, Barley , Kaylang , Mafquinades , as alfo Ginger and Sugar.
Here are many forts of Trees , and Fruit in great abundance, as, ^O-
ranges, Lemmons, Citrons, Pomegranates, Perang and
other Fruits, not known in Europe and fome only Proper to this Ifle,
which I could never fee either in Europe, Afia , or , as
and Crnmhrods. Melons, or Musk-millions, are here fo plentiful and
delicious; that I have been cloyed barely with looking at them when
-they were cut up ; befldes Water-milions and Pompions which are
alfo of a very good taftandjuycy. They have beiides many kinds of
Plants;
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