‘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’ [‎308] (373/470)

308 The Voyages of lohn Struys. V oy III.
Ground is red and barren, which, the fay, was by reafon
that Omar^aad within whofe Jurifdidtion this Place was, had murther-
ed their Holy Hojfeyn, and for this reafon it was curfed by 'Alxhomet
for his Poftenties fake, that it ihould never bring forth either Herb, or
Tree, nor that any Vegetable fhouldlike or thrive being tranfplanted.
On the Southeaft fide of the Town grows abundanceof Tobacco,
but not cultivated or planted, which is no fmall profit to the Inha
bitants.
On the 24 we departed from and at night fet down at the
Carmanfera Schach Ferahath. It was now good travailing by reafon
of the Cold which in this hot Climate is very acceptable, being
not far from the Torrid Zone j where in the Summer time befides
the fcorching heat of the Sun, the Ground is fo hot that it brings
all the Skin off ones Feet , the way.s being altogether dry and fandy,
which alfo cafts a refleftion of the Sun upon ones Face., as ifitcame
out of a Furnace , whence many are ftifled with the Heat.
On the 25 we came to the City and took up our Lodging
in a CaraToa/tfera near to the great This feems to be a City
of an ancient (landing, and is at prefent very large, but by the Ruins
of a Wall a confiderable diftance from the Town it appears that it
has bin anciently much larger than now it is. It lies in 54^. 17 mm.
Northerly Latitude , and is fituate on a level flat Ground having
on the right hand the Mountains of Eitvcnd whence iffue two Rivers
which run thro this City , firft uniting themfelvs a litle above the
Town. In the Winter they lay a Bridge over it, but in the Summer
it is fome times dry. Near this Bridge Hands a litle Chappel, wherein
they fay the Sifter of one Lmm Rifa , who was one ot the moft eminent'
Succeflbrs ot Mahomet lies interred.T hePerfuns have alfo a fpecial vene
ration for this Female Saint, and make long Pilgrimages to kifs her
Tomb. However the City Khom has many fair and fpacious Streets,
with many Piazzas and Galleries, to defend from Sun and Ram. They
have alfo great plenty of Fruit, as at Sab* , as alfo Cotton and Tobacco,,
which grows here in no lefs plenty than at aforefaid. Befides the
many rare Fruits and Plants they have, there is an excellent fort of
Melons, having the outward form and colour of an Orange, and
is oftentimes taken for one, but being cut up appears within as another
Melon. Thefe they commonly carry in the Hand for. the delicate.
flavour,