Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

5 PODOLIA.

PODOLIA hath on the North Volhinia, part of Lituania, and the great Empire of Russia, on the South Moldavia, from which parted by the River Tyras, now called Niester: on the West Russia Ni∣gra: extending Eastward through vast uninhabited countries, as far as to the Euxine Sea. The reason of the name I finde no where guessed at, the people for the most part of the same nature with the Rus∣sians, to whose Empire it formerly belonged.

The Country generally so fertile, that the husbandman is accustomed to reap an hundred for one, in regard it bears at one ploughing for three years together: the countreyman being put to no further trouble, then at the end of the first and second yeares, to shake the corn a little, as he reaps or loads it, that which so falls serving as seed for the next yeare following. The meadow grounds so strange∣ly rich, and luxuriant, and the grass so high, that a man can hardly see the heads or horns of his Cattell: of so swift a growth, that in three days it will cover a rod which is throwne into it, and in few more so hide a plough, that it is not an easie work to finde it. If these things seeme beyond beliefe, let Maginus who reporteth them, bear the blame thereof: though better take it on his word then goe so far to disprove him. And yet which addes much unto the miracle, the ground in most places so hard and stony, that there need six yoke of Oxen to break it up, to the great toyle both of the Cattell and the men. It is also said that in this countrey there are great flocks of sheep, many

heads of Oxen, abundance of wild beasts, and great store of honey. And yet for all this plenty and abundance of all things necessarie, the Country for the most part, especially towards the East, is but meanly inhabited; by reason of the frequent incursions of the Tartars bordering next unto it. Who have so wasted it in times past, and thereby so discouraged the people from building, planting, and all other works of peace and husbandrie, that in so large and rich a Countrie, there is nothing to be seen but some scattered houses, few Villages, and not above from Towns of note, viz. 1 Or••zakow, at the influx of the Borysthenes or Nieper into the Euxine sea. 2 Vaszow, at the fall of the River Bog into that of Nieper. 3 Braclaw, more high upon the Bog. 4 Camienecz, on the borders of Russia nigra, built by some divine hand as it were amongst the precipices of high and inaccessible Rocks; and so well fortified withall, that it is impregnable; as is apparent by the many and great repulses, which the Turks, Tartarians, and Valachians, have received before it, with much shame and losse. 2 Lemburg, remarkable for the sawces or salt-meats, which they send thence into other Countries.

Notes

• Russia Ni∣gra.