The voyages and travells of the ambassadors sent by Frederick, Duke of Holstein, to the Great Duke of Muscovy and the King of Persia begun in the year M.DC.XXXIII. and finish'd in M.DC.XXXIX : containing a compleat history of Muscovy, Tartary, Persia, and other adjacent countries : with several publick transactions reaching near the present times : in VII. books. Whereto are added the Travels of John Albert de Mandelslo (a gentleman belonging to the embassy) from Persia into the East-Indies ... in III. books ... / written originally by Adam Olearius, secretary to the embassy ; faithfully rendered into English, by John Davies.

THE TRAVELS OF THE AMBASSADORS FROM THE DUKE of HOLSTEIN INTO MUSCOVY, TARTARY, and PERSIA. (Book 4)

The Fourth Book. (Book 4)

LEaving Moscou, w•• we••••, by Land, as far as the Monastery of Simana, where we embark'd, after we had taken leave of our Friends, who had accompany'd us thither,* 1.1 under the conduct of a Pristaf, named Rodiwon Matfeowits, who had order to provide for the Ambassadors as far as Astrachan. We had hardly quitted the shore, ere the Governor of the Prince, Boris Iuanouits Morosou came in sight with his Trumpets, and intreated us to come ashore, and favour him so far as to sup with him that night. But the Ambassadors, earnest to be on their Voyage, excused themselves, and sent him, by way of Present, a silver Bowl. He receiv'd it in a little Boat which came along by the side of ours, and express'd how kindly he took it, by the flou∣rishes of his Trumpets. But at last, not able to contain any longer, he came into our Boat, where he staid all night drinking with the Gentlemen, at his parting from whom the next morning, he could hardly forbear tears.

Our Muscovian Mariners, whom the Aquavitae they had taken had made more lively and lusty than ordinary, took such pains in the mean time, being always eight a-rowing, that the next morning at Sun-rising, we were got as far as a pleasant Country house, called Duoreni∣nou, seated on the left side of the River, 80 Werstes, which make 16 German leagues, from Simana. At night, we got 40 werstes, or 8 German leagues, from Duoreninou, to a Village called Mortschuck; so that in 24 hours, we made so many German leagues.

The next day, Iuly 2. about noon, near the Village and Monastery of Porsenis, we met with several great Boats, loaden with Honey, Salt, and Salt-fish, coming, most of them, from Astrachan, bound for Moscou.

At night,* 1.2 we were come before the City of Columna. It lies on the right side of the River Mosca, 180 werstes, or 36 German leagues from Moscou, though by Land there is but 18. which may be travell'd in a short time, especially in the Winter, upon the snow. The City is of a considerable bigness, and looks very delightful on the out-side, by reason of its Towers and stone-walls, which are not ordinary in Muscovy. Nay it is indeed of that accompt, that the Great Duke hath his Weywode there, which is not seen but in the chief Cities of Provinces. We sent him our Pass-port, by the Pristaf, and immediately the wooden Bridge was full of people; and whereas the covering of our Boat was too high to pass under the Bridge, they in a

trice took off one of the Arches, to make us way. We said in the fore-going Book, that there is but one Bishop in all Muscovy, and that his Residence is in this City of Columna.

Three werstes above the City, near the Convent of Kolutin Serge Monastir, founded by one Sergius, a Saint among them, whom we have spoken of elsewhere, and who is buried at the Monastery of Troitza, the Mosca falls into the River Occa, which is incomparably much more delightful, and broader than the other. It comes from-wards the South, and hath on both sides it a noble Country, well peopled, and very fruitful. Both shores are well furnish'd with Oaks, which is a kind of rarity in those parts. Being got ashore, we had a Sermon under a great Tree, which sufficiently shaded the whole Assembly.

Presently after Dinner we embark'd, and left, about half a league on the left hand, a great Island in the midst of the River. Afterwards, we pass'd by several Villages, namely those of Scelsa and Moroso, which are bigger than any of the rest, and both upon the River side, on the right hand.

The 4. about noon,* 1.3 we got to the City of Peresla seated upon the River side, upon the right hand, 22. leagues and a half from Columna, at 54. degrees, 42. minutes, elevation. This hath also its particular Weywode.

The 5. we left on our right hand the Town of Rhesan.* 1.4 It was heretofore a gallant City, and had given its name to the whole Province, but the Crim-Tartars destroy'd it, with the whole Dutchy, in the year 1568. The Great Duke, considering the fertility of the Country, which reaches from the River Occa, as far as the Trench made against the irruption of the Tartars, got together, such of the Inhabitants as the invasion of the Barbarians had dispers'd, and ha∣ving caused Materials to be brought to a place eight leagues from it, he ordered the building of a City there, which, to this day, is called Peresla Resanski, because there went thither many of the Inhabitants of Peresla, which stands at an equal distance from Moscou North-wards, with this South-wards. The Town of Rhesan still keeps the honour of having the Residence of the Archibishop: but we are to correct their errour, who affirm, that the Province of Rhesan lies West-ward from Moscou, since they themselves confess it is between the Rivers of Don and Occa, which are not towards the West from Moscou, but towards the East: so that Rhesan must be placed in the Map, South-ward from the City of Moscou.

The same day, we pass'd in sight of several Monasteries, and Villages; as that of Seloy, neer Rhesan, on the left hand; and 7. werstes thence, Kystrus, as also, on the other side, & 3. werstes thence, the Monastery of Oblozitza; and 2. werstes thence, Lippono-Issado; at 2. thence, Muratou; at 1. thence, Kallionino; and 2. thence, Schilko. Near the first Village we found a Carkass floating on the water, which, in all likelihood, the Cosaques had cast into the River many dayes before, in as much as it was so Sun-burnt, that it was become black. In the afternoon, we got four leagues.

The 6. we made two, as far as the Monastery of Tericho, on the left hand; thence two more, to Tinersko Slowoda, on the right hand; and afterwards 8. werstes, to Swintzus; and thence 2. werstes, to Kopanowo, where we found another dead Carcass: But the Cosaques, and the fu∣gitive Slaves, who retire into those parts, do there commit so many Villanies, that the Musco∣vites, to whom those accidents are ordinary, thought it nothing strange.

Iuly 7. betimes in the morning, we left on the right hand, an Island, called Dobrinin Ostrow, 30. werstes, or 6. leagues from the last Village; and afterwards Seloy Rubets, at 7. werstes thence; and, at 7. more thence, on the same side, Kurman. About 6. werstes thence, we had on the left hand, the River Gusreca, and several other Villages, and on the right hand Molcowa, at 8. werstes, Gabiloska, at two, and Babino, at three. Thence we made three werstes, and came at night to Cassinogorod.* 1.5 This City lies on the right side of the River Occa, in the Principality of Cassinou in Tartary, and there it was we first met with any Mahometans. Not far from the City, in an old stone Castle, which had sometime been a Fort, lived a young Prince of that Country, whose name was Res Ketzi, with his Mother and Grand-father, who some years before had put himself into the protection of the Great Duke of Muscovy We were told, that the Great Duke, would have press'd him to receive Baptism, upon some hopes given him that he should have married his Daughter, but the young Prince, who was but 12. years of age, sent him word, that being not come to years, so as to make choice of any Religion, he could not take a resolution of that importance. The Ambassadors sent two Gentlemen of their retinue to give him a visit, and presented him with a pound of Tobacco, and a bottle of Aqua∣vitae. He took it very kindly, and made it his excuse, that he could not entertain the Ambassa∣dors at his house, left the neighbouring Weywodes should conceive any jealousy at his entertain∣ing of Strangers, without their permission. He therefore only sent some of his Servants to us, whom our Interpreter could hardly make a shift to understand, they being all Tartars. He sent us a present of two sheep, a Barrel of Hydromel, another of Beer, and a third of Aqua∣vitae, with some pieces of Ice, Cream and fresh Butter, which the Prince's mother had her self taken the pains to beat.

The night following, and the next day, being the 9. we saw, as we pass'd several Villages, Monasteries and Taverns, most of them very pleasantly seated, amidst the woods; among others,

on the right hand Potsink Tartasko, three werstes from Cassinogorod, and at seven werstes thence, Seloy Pettiowo, Then a Tavern, or Caback, at eight werstes, and Brooth, at five werstes one from another, upon the left hand: and then on the right hand, the River of Moksche, at eight werstes; then on the left hand, another Tavern; at two werstes thence, Sateowa; at 13 werstes, the Monastery of Adrianou Pustino; at 13 more I••katma. This last is a great Village, contain∣ing about 300 houses, and belongs to the Bojar, Foedor Iuanouits Sheremetou. And thence we got 20 werstes to the Forest of Rusbonor.

The 9. we got ten werstes, to the Church of Worskressenia, commonly called Woskressenski∣mehl, upon the left hand; and thence five werstes, to a great Village named Lechi, belonging to Knez Boris Michaelouits Lycou, on the same side; and thence about ten werstes, to Pretziste Resenskou, on the right hand; and at last to the City of Moruma, on the left hand.

Before we got to the City,* 1.6 we discover'd on the other side of the River a company of Crim Tartars, who presently got into the woods, whence they discharg'd their Fowling pieces at us, which we answer'd with Muskers, and so forc'd them to keep off. They were seen afterwards below the City, whence we imagin'd, they would have set upon us the night following; whereupon we lay under the Isle of of Zuchtsko Ostrou, and set a strong Guard; but we heard no more of them.

The City of Moruma,* 1.7 is the chiefest of the Tartars of Mordwa, and is inha∣bited by Muscovites and Tartars, but subject to the Great Duke. VVe sent our In∣terpreter to the Market to buy some provisions necessary, for the continuation of our Voyage.

The 10. we passed by the Town of Prewospalo, belonging to Knez Iuan Borissowits Circaski, one of the Great Dukes Privy Councel, and left, on both hands, several little Villages, and the River of Morsna Reka, on the right hand; and at eight werstes thence that of Clesna, which comes from Wladimer. All along from that place, the shore on the right hand rises by little and little, to such an extraordinary height, that looking on it from the water, it seems to be one continued mountain, for above a hundred German leagues along the River Wolga. Insomuch, that even in that season, as also in the greatest heat of Summer, those parts are not without Ice and Snow, though all elsewhere, the Country is plain, fertile and fit for Tillage, reaching above a hundred leagues towards the South-west, and on the other side, it lies very low, bar∣ren, and moorish.

Iuly 11. having pass'd by the pleasant Villages of Isbuilets, Troitska, Slowoda, the Mona∣stery of Dudina, and Nofimki, we got at night before the great and Noble City of Nise, or Nisenovogorod, where we found the ship, called the Frederick, which we had ordered to be built, by our Captain Michael Cordes, whereof we spoke in the beginning of our Relation. It was not quite finish'd, by reason the Muscovian Carpenters, whom the Captain had employ'd about her, had not answer'd his expectation; yet was it so far on, that the Ambassadors lodg'd in it, and so forbore going into the City. It was built of Deal, being 120 foot long, and 40 broad, having three Masts, and so flat-bottom'd, that it took but seven foot water. It had many Chambers and Closets, for the convenience of the Ambassadors, the Officers and Gen∣tlemen of their Retinue, and some Iron and Brass Guns, a great number of Granadoes and o∣ther Fire-arms. And as our design was to make use of it chiefly upon the Wolga, which is full of Banks and quick-sands, it was so built, as that if there were no wind, they might use Oars; and to that end, it had twelve seats, two Oars to every seat. We had caused to be made a double Shallop, for the conveniency of unlading the Ship in those places where it might want water, as also to carry the Anchors, Cables, Sails, and other things necessary for so great a Voyage, and to discover those Banks and Sands in the Caspian Sea, which might hinder or retard its passage.

We stayd almost three weeks before the City of Nisenovogorod, for the finishing of the Ship, which time we spent in visiting our Friends in the City, where the chiefest Dutch Merchants entertain'd us at several great Feasts, as also in reciprocally treating them in our Tent, which we had pitch'd by the River side.

Our stay there gave me the convenience to observe the elevation of that place,* 1.8 which I found, at the place where the River Occa falls into the Wolga, to be at 56 degrees, 28 minutes, and that the Needle of the Compass declined there above nine degrees, towards the West. The Great Duke Basili ordered it to be built at the conflux or meeting of those two Noble Rivers, and gave it the name of Nisenovogorod, upon occasion of the Inhabitants of the great City of Novogorod, whom he caused to be translated thither. This indeed is not so great as the other, yet hath its Towers and Walls of stone. From Moscou to Nise are accounted 500 werstes, or 100 German leagues by Land; but by water, it is above 150. The Suburbs are much bigger than the City, and are above half a league about. The Inhabitants are Tartars, Muscovites, and Hollanders, of whom there are so many as make a Protestant Church of about 100. per∣sons. Iohn Bernarts, our Factor, was the chiefest man among them, the rest being, for the

most part, Military Officers, Merchants, and Victuallers, or Sutlers. The City is Governed by a Weywode, who, at our passage that way, was Basili Petrouits, under the Great Duke-Provisions were so cheap there, that we bought a Pullet for a penny, a quartern of Eggs for as much, and a Mutton, for 12. 15. or, at most, for 18. pence.

Iuly 24. The Ambassadors sent Monsieur Mandelslo and my self, accompany'd by our Mus∣covian Interpreter and the Pristaf, to the Weywode, to thank him for his civilities towards our people, during the stay they had made in the City, while the Ship was a building, which was almost a year, and to make him a Present of a Jewel worth a hundred Crowns. His reception of us discover'd how magnificently he liv'd, and what a noble house he kept. For as soon as notice was brought him that we were come near the house, he sent two very handsom compleat persons to meet us at the Gate. They conducted us through a very long Gallery, and at the en∣trance into the Palace it self, we met with two comely old men, richly clad, who brought us to the Weywode's Chamber, who had on a Garment of Brocadoe, and was accompany'd by a great number of persons of Quality. The Room was hung with Turkie Tapistry, and had in it a great Cup-board of Plate. He receiv'd us with much civility, and having accepted the Present, and answer'd our Complement, he desir'd us to take our part of a Collation, during which, his Discourse was excellent good, and such as we thought the more extraordinary, in that the Muscovites, for the most part, contribute very little to any thing of Conversation. Among other things he asked us whether we did not fear meeting with the Cosaques, who in all likely∣hood would set upon us ere we got off the Wolga, and told us, they were a barbarous and inhu∣mane people, and more cruel than Lions, shewing us at the same time a Picture, wherein was represented Sampson's engagement with one of those Creatures. We made him answer, that we look'd on that Piece as a good omen, in as much as if the Cosaques were stout as Lions, we should behave our selves, on the other-side, like Sampsons. The Weywode reply'd, that he had that good opinion of us, nay-believ'd, that the repute our Nation had gain'd, by the services it had done his Czaarick Majesty, would frighten the Cosaques, and hinder them from attempting ought against us.

The River Wolga is four thousand six hundred Geometrical feet wide near Nise, at the meet∣ing of the two Rivers; and whereas its waters encrease in the months of May and Iune, by reason of the Sun's having melted the Snow, and thaw'd the Rivers which fall into it, the Boat∣men who go from Moscou to Astrachan, do commonly take that time, when there is water enough to pass over the Banks of Sand, nay indeed the little Islands which are very frequent in that River. This consideration, and the example of their misfortune, whose Boats we had seen cast away, and half rotten upon the Sands, made us resolve upon our departure thence with the soonest, before the waters, which visibly decreas'd, were fallen too low, and so we appointed it should be the 30^th. of Iuly.

The Wolga,* 1.9 whereof we gave a short accompt in the precedent book, is, in my opinion, one of the noblest and greatest Rivers in the World, its course being of a vast extent, from its source to the place where it falls into the Caspian Sea, below Astrachan. Whence it came that I took a delight to observe all the particularities thereof, from League to League, and from Werste to Werste, with all possible exactness, and with the assistance of a Dutch Master's-mate, named Cornelius Nicholas, one of the most able I ever came acquainted with in that Science, as also of some Muscovian Pilots, I have drawn a very exact Map of it, which I had made the World a promise of some years since, but now part with it, so well done, that I hope the Judicious Rea∣der will be satisfy'd therewith.

Having bought Provisions for our Voyage as far as Astrachan, we left Nise the day before named, having only a side wind. Mr. Balthasar Moucheron, Commissary, or Agent from his Highness of Holstein about the Great Duke, the Weywode of Nise's Secretary, the Pastor of the Lutherans Church there, and our Factor, Iohn Bernarts, would needs accompany us some Werstes, to see the beginning of that long Voyage: but we had hardly got two Werstes, ere we were a ground near the Monastery of Petsora, and forc'd to cast Anchor, while the men were getting off the ship, which took them up four hours.

Iuly 31. Having made about a Werste, the Ship touch'd against a Sand-bank, but was soon got off, and we had continu'd our course, if the contrary wind, together with a Tempest, had not oblig'd us to cast Anchor. This interval we spent in our Devotions, to give God thanks for his miraculous deliverance of us the year before, when we were wrack'd upon the Baltick Sea. Having entertain'd our friends with a Dinner and Musick, they took leave of us, and return'd that night to Nise.

August 1.* 1.10 The Ambassadors ordered what Guard should be kept all along the Wolga. Those who are able to bear Arms, both Soldiers and Servants, were divided into three Companies, under the Command of the 2. Ambassadors, and the Steward of the Embassy. The Ambassa∣dors had each his Captain Lieutenant, Mr. Crusius, the Master of the Horse, and Brugman, the Secretary of the Embassy, who went to Guard every day alternately, set Sentinels at the fore-Castle and the Stern, and had their Court of Guard at the main Mast. The same day we made

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use of our Oars,* 1.11 the wind being against us; but we had hardly made 500 Paces, ere the ship struck again upon the Sand. Most of our Gentlemen went ashore, and had good fowling; for the High-Country between Nise and Cassan being well furnish'd with Wood and Pastures, was also well supply'd with fowl.

The 2. The wind being somewhat lay'd, we weigh'd Anchor, for the prosecution of our Voyage: but ere we had gotten a quarter of a League, we met again with Sand-banks near the Isle of Tletinski, and soon after others, near the Isle of Subsinski, where we saw a great Boat which had not long before been cast away thereabouts. These unfortunate accidents, our be∣ing nine hours getting off this last Bank, together with the ignorance of our Pilot, who ac∣knowledg'd he had not made that Voyage in eight years before, much abated their courage, who, considering that in four days they had made but two Leagues, and that there were 550. to make, ere they came to the Caspian Sea, began to doubt they should never go through that Voyage.

But the 3d. We advanc'd a little better, and pass'd by the Villages of Stolbiza and Stoba, which lye three leagues from Nise. We saw afterwards, on the right hand, in a bottom be∣tween two Mountains, the Village of Welikofrat, that of Tsimonski, upon a Hill, and the Isle of Diploi at twenty Werstes, or four leagues from Nise. Near this Village we met with a great Vessel that had 200 men in it. It came from Astrachan, and was loaden with salt fish. They cannot be without such a great number of Mariners, by reason that, instead of Laveering or Rowing, when the wind is against them, they cast Anchor a quarter of a League before them, and all those men pull the Cable to which it is fasten'd, and so they advance by little and little, with much expence of time and pains, making but two Leagues a day at most, by reason of the greatness of those Boats, which are of 800. 900. or 1000. Tuns burthen. In the afternoon we left several Villages on the right hand, as Beswodna, Kasnitza, where I found the elevation to be 56d. 21 m. Rubotka, Tzetschina, Targinits, and Iurkin, where we pass'd between two Islands at 21 foot water. This last Village is ten Leagues from Nise. At night, the wind being more fair for us, we made use of our Sayls. The next day, the wind still good, we pass'd by several little Villages, leaving on the right hand the Towns of Masa and Cremonski, near which we lay at Anchor, the fourth all night, because, the River being shallow thereabouts, we a∣voided running upon the Sand-banks in the dark.

The 5th. Betimes in the morning,* 1.12 we got before a little Village, called Pannino, whence the Peasants brought us Pullets and other Provisions to sell, very cheap. Then we pass'd be∣tween two Isles, one called Spassabelka, and at night we came in sight of the City of Basiligorod, where we stay'd that night, by reason of the Sands. There we receiv'd by a Messenger, who had been sent express from Moscou, Letters from Germany, dated in May. The City of Ba∣siligorod is not Wall'd, and its Houses, even the publick edifices being but of Wood, we may say, it is properly but a Village. It is situated at the foot of a Mountain, upon the right shore of the River Wolga, at 55 degrees and 51 m. elevation, at the falling in of the little River Sura, which was heretofore a com••••n Frontier between the Tartars of Casan and the Muscovites. The Creat Duke Basili buil••••••, to prevent the incursions of Tartars, and fortify'd it; but now that the Muscovites have extended their Territories much farther, they think it unnecessary to keep any Garrison there.

The 6th. We had much ado to pass the Sands, which we met with every foot, so that it was afternoon ere we came up to the City, which we saluted with a volley of our great Guns. That honour we did all the Cities upon the same River.

The Tartars we spoke of are called Ceremisses,* 1.13 and their Country reaches beyond Casan, on both sides of the River Wolga. They have no Houses, but only wretched Huts, and live upon Honey, and the wild-fowl they take in the Woods, and Milk, which their Pastures furnish them with. 'Tis a Nation absolutely barbarous, treacherous, and cruel, much given to sor∣cery and robbery. Those who live on the right side of the Wolga are called Nagorni, or Moun∣taineers, from the word na, which, in the Muscovian Language, signifies, upon, and Gor, a Mountain: and those on the left Lugoivi or Lugowizene, that is to say, Meadows, because of the abundance of Hay which those parts afford, insomuch that the Nagorni are supply'd thence. Guagnin says, they are partly Mahumetans, partly Heathens; but this I am certain of, that about Casan they are all Heathens; not knowing what either Circumcision or Baptism means. All the Ceremony they have when they are to give a Child a name, consists in appoint∣ing some day six moneths after, on which they give it the name of that person whom they first meet.

Most of them believe there is a God, who is immortal, author of all the good that happens to men, and that he ought to be adored. But this is all they know of him; For they do not believe the immortality of the Soul, nor consequently the Resurrection of the dead: but that men and beasts have the same beginning, and come to the same end. I met with one of the Ce∣remisses at a house where I lodg'd at Casan. He was aged about 45 years, and wanted not in∣genuity, but understanding that I was discoursing with my Host about some points of Religion, and that I spoke of the Resurrection of the Dead, he laugh'd at the perswasion,

and said to me, Those who are dead are really dead, and will never return again, no more than my Horses and Cows, which are long since rotten. I asked him whether he knew who Crea∣ted this World, and made Heaven and Earth? his answer was, Tzortsneit, The Devil may hap∣ly know. They do not believe there is any Hell, yet are perswaded there are Devils, and evil Spirits, which afflict and torment people in this life; and therefore they endeavour to appease them, and to gain their favour by Sacrifices.

Forty Leagues from Casan there is a place called Nemda, amidst the Fenns, where these Tartars go Pilgrimages and do their Devotions; and they believe that those who go thither empty-handed, and carry no Present to the Devil, shall languish and pine away of some long and incurable disease. A particular point of their faith, is, that the Devil hath his principal re∣sidence in the Torrent of Schockschem, ten Werstes from Nunda; and whereas that little ri∣vulet, which is but four foot deep, is never frozen (occasion'd by the violence of its course between two Mountains) they think it is not without some mystery, and they have so great a veneration for it, as to be perswaded, they cannot come near it, without danger of their lives, though the Muscovites cross it dayly without any.

In their Sacrifices to God, they kill a Horse, an Ox, or a Sheep, roasting the flesh, and take a cut thereof in a Dish, and holding in the other hand another Dish full of Hydromel, or some other liquor, they cast both into a fire, which they make before the skin of the Creature that is sacrificed, which skin they hang upon a Pole laid a-cross between two Trees. They intreat that skin to present their Prayers to God, or sometimes they make their address immediately to God, and pray him to augment the number of their Cattel, or grant them some other conveni∣encies of this life, which are the only object of all their Devotions. They adore also the Sun and Moon, as Authors of all the Noble Productions of the Earth; nay they are so fondly su∣perstitious, as to have a veneration for what ever presents it self to them in the night in their Dreams, and to adore it the next day, as a Horse, a Cow, Fire, Water, &c. I told the Tar∣tar I spoke of before, that it was madness, to worship those Creatures, whose lives are at our disposal; He reply'd, that it was better to adore things Animate, than the Gods of Wood and Colours which the Muscovites have hanging on their Walls. They have neither Churches, nor Priests, nor Books, and the Language of the Ceremisses is peculiar to them, having in a man∣ner nothing common with that of the other Tartars, nor yet with the Turkish; though those who are subject to the Czaar, and so oblig'd to converse with the Muscovites, make use also of their Language.

They perform all Religious Ceremonies and Sacrifices near some Torrent, where they meet together, especially when upon the death of any of their friends, who hath left any Wealth behind him, they make good Cheer with the best Horse he had, which they put to death with the Master.

Polygamy is so ordinary among them, that there are few but have four or five Wives, where∣of they take two or three into the same house, and make no great difficulty to marry two or three Sisters at the same time. Their Women and young Maids are all clad in a coarse white Cloath, wherein they so wrap up themselves, that there is nothing to be seen but their Faces. Those that are betroathed have a particular dress for their Heads, which hath a point like a Horn, which seems to come out of the Head, about half an ell in length: At the end of that Horn, there is a Tassel of silk, of diverse colours, at which hangs a little Bell. The Men wear a long Coat or Garment of coarse Linnen Cloath, under which they wear Breeches. They all shave their Heads, only those young Men that are not married, leave on the Head a long tress of Hair, which some tye up into a knot upon the Head, others suffer to hang down the Back: which particularity we had the opportunity to take better notice of at our return at Casan. When they saw us upon the River in a Dress so different from theirs, they were affrighted, so as that some fled, others had the confidence to stay on the Rivers side, but not one would ven∣ture to come into the Ship. Being come at night to the River of Welluka, near the Monastery of Iunka, one of these Tartars had the courage to bring us a Sturgeon to sell, for which, at first, he asked a Crown, but afterwards let it go for xv d.

August 7. we came before the City of Kusmademiansky, 40. werstes from Basiligorod, seat∣ed at the foot of a mountain on the right hand. We saw, in those parts, whole Forests of Elms, the Bark whereof they sell all over the Country to make Sledges of. The Trees are ma∣ny times of such compass, that the body of them being cut cylinder-wise, they make great Fats, Barrels, and Coffins thereof, all of one piece, which they sell at the adjacent Towns.

We cast Anchor three werstes thence near the Island of Krius, where we did our Devotions, and Celebrated the Lords Supper. The Peasants thereabouts, brought aboard the Ship several provisions to sell. About a league thence a tempest overtook us, and forc'd us to cast Anchor and to stay there all night.

The 8. the wind fair, we got, about noon, near the Island of Turich; but in the afternoon, the same wind forc'd our Ship, being under all the Sail she could make, upon a Sand-bank, near the Island of Maslof, with such violence, that it was thought the Masts would have broken;

and this prov'd such a check to us, that it cost us four hours toil and trouble to get off. We perceiv'd on the right hand a great number of Tartars, some a-foot, some on horse-back, com∣ing from Hay-making. We came at night before the City of Sabakzar, 40. werstes from Kus∣mademianski,* 1.14 and upon the same side of the River. The buildings of this City are of Wood, as are those of all the rest, but the situation of this is, beyond comparison, more pleasant than that of any other City of Tartary. The Inhabitants perceiving our Ship at some distance, knew not at first what to think of her; whence it came that the Weywode sent some Musketiers in a Boat, as far as the Island of Makrits, three werstes from the City, to discover what we were. The Boat thinking it not safe to venture too near us, took a compass, at a great distance about our Ship, and so returned to the City. But they no sooner understood our quality by our Pass-port, and withall the occasion of our Voyage, but there came above 300. persons to the River side to see us pass by.

The 9. we pass'd by the Island of Cosin, leaving it on the left hand, 12. werstes from Sabak∣zar. Afterwards on the same hand a Village, named Sundir, and thence we came to a little Ci∣ty called Kockschaga, on the left side of the Wolga, 25. werstes from Sabakzar. The River is so shallow thereabouts, that there was hardly water enough for our Ship, which put us to much trouble, both that day and the next.

The 11. the current having forc'd the Ship upon the shore, where we were constrain'd to stay for several hours, M. Mandelslo and my self went a shore, to divert our selves and see what Fruits we could find in the Woods. Which had like to have occasion'd us a great misfortune, for the wind turning fair, at our return to the River side, all were gone, the Ship it self not in sight, though we made all the hast we could to overtake it. At last we saw a Boat coming to∣wards us, which we thought at first might belong to the Cosaques; but soon after we perceiv'd they were some of our own, sent to bring us aboard. The conrtary wind had stay'd the Ship at a turning of the River, and the tempest still increasing, we were forc'd to cast anchor, and to lie there all night.

The 12. we spent in getting beyond the turning by the help of an Anchor which we order'd to be cast at some distance before us, but with this misfortune, that having fasten'd in a Tree that was in the bottom, the Cable broke ere it could be had up again. The River is very full of those Trees, which it brings down with it when it overflows; and these accidents happen so frequently, that the bottom of the River is so lay'd with Anchors, that the Muscovites say, there are as many as would purchase a Kingdom.

The 13. before noon, we saw, as we pass'd, two Cabaques, or Taverns, and a Village na∣med Wesoska,* 1.15 on the right hand, and came afterwards before the City of Suiatski. It is seated on the ascent of a hill, on the left hand, having a Castle and some Churches built of stone: but all the other buildings, as also the Towers and Rampiers of the City, are of wood. We cast Anchor there, by reason of a Sand-bank which we were to pass by. The people in the mean time came in multitudes to the River side to see us, and by reason that a little sandy Hill hindred their having a full sight of us, many came in Boats to the Ship side, others swam over to the Hill. Having pass'd by certain white Mountains, whereof some were of Chalk, others of Sand, we came at night before the City of Casan,* 1.16 20. werstes from Suiatski. We there found the Ca∣ravan of Persia and Circassia, and with it a Coptzi or Persian Merchant, who had been sent Ambassador to Moscou.* 1.17 There was in this place also a Tartarian Prince, of Terki, whose name was Mussal, who had succeeded his Brother in the Principality, and had then been doing homage to the Czaar, at Moscou, which he had left some dayes before us.

The City of Casan is seated in a plain, 7. werstes from the Wolga, upon the River Casanka, which gives it the name, as it does to the whole Province. I found the elevation there to be 55. degrees, 38. minutes. It is of a considerable bigness, but all its Houses, as also the Towers and Rampiers, are of wood. Only the Castle and its Fortifications are of stone, being well moun∣ted with Canon, and having a strong Garrison in it. The River is instead of a Ditch to it, and makes it a very considerable fortress. The Castle hath its VVeywode, and the City, its Gover∣nour, who commands and administers Justice to the Inhabitants, who are Muscovites and Tar∣tars: But in the Castle they are all Muscovites, and the Tartars are prohibited entring into it upon pain of death.

The Province of Casan lies on the left side of the River of VVolga,* 1.18 reaching Northwards as far as Siberia, and Eastward, as far as the Tartars of Nagaja. It was heretofore subject to the Cham of Tartary, and so populous, that it could send 60000, men into the Field. The con∣quest of it cost the Muscovite much blood, and the story of its reduction is so remarkable, that I think fit here to make a short digression to give an accompt thereof.

Basili Iuanouits,* 1.19 Father to the Tyrant Iuan Basilouits, having obtain'd a famous Victory over these Tartars, made Chief over them one named Scheale, a Tartar by birth, but one so ill shap'd as to his Person, that his Subjects, who soon conceiv'd an aversion for him, joyning with the Tartars, of Chrim, who are Mahumetans, as they also are, made an insurrection, sur∣priz'd him, and ejected him. This success gave the Chrim-Tartars, who had got a considerable

Army together, the courage to enter Muscovy, under the conduct of two Brethren, Mendligeri, and Sapgeri, who forc'd the Muscovite, with certain Troops which he had made a shift to get together, and were encamped upon the River Occa, to retreat to Novogorod.

The consequence of this was the besieging,* 1.20 taking and plundring of the City of Moscou; nay they reduc'd the Castle to that extremity, that the Muscovites were forc'd to sue for a Peace. The Tartars were willing to hearken to an accommodation, and having got very consi∣derable Presents from those who kept the Castle, who maintain'd it with more courage than success, they made a Peace, whereof this was one Article, That the Great Duke and all his Subjects, should ever after be Tributaries to them. Basili was loath to submit to such disho∣nourable Terms, but forc'd to comply with necessity, he accepted them, and confirmed the agreement by his Letters Patents.

Mendligeri,* 1.21 to make it appear he was Sovereign Lord of Moscou, caused a Statue of his to be erected in the heart of the City, and would needs oblige the Great Duke, to express his subjection, to smite the ground with his head, before that Statue, as often as he paid Tribute to the Tartars. After this Victory the Brethren parted; Sapgeri establish'd the Seat of his Go∣vernment at Casan and Mendligeri, as being the Elder-Brother, his, at the City of Chrim. But the later desirous to add to his former conquest that of the City of Resan, resolv'd to lay siege to the Castle thereof, and to that end, he sent word to the Weywode, Iohn Kowar, who com∣manded it, that it was madness in him to think to maintain the place, and that he should make no difficulty to deliver it up,* 1.22 since the Great Duke was become his Subject. The Weywode sent him answer, that it was a thing so extraordinary, that he could not believe it, unless he sent him such assurances thereof, as should put him out of all doubt. Mendligeri imagining there could not any thing be more convictive in that case than the Letters Patents, sent them to him by certain Officers, just as he had receiv'd them from the Great Duke. But the Weywode, not a little glad to have the Original of those Letters in his hands, sends Mendligeri word, that he would keep them as safely as he would do the place he was in, which he resolv'd to main∣tain to the last drop of blood. There was in the Castle an Italian Canoneer named Iohn Iordan, well known in those parts upon the accompt of his Wife, who would needs have her Husband express his affection to her by beating her with a Bull's pizzle. This man did the Weywode very great services, and kill'd so many Tartars, that Mendligeri perceiving one day, that a Ca∣non-bullet had taken off a piece of his Garment, was frighted, and proffered to raise the Siege, upon condition they would return the Great Duke's Letters. But the Weywode would hearken to no such thing, and having oblig'd Mendligeri to retreat, he sent the Letters to his Prince's Court, where they were received with the general joy of all the people, who immediately thereupon pull'd down, and broke to pieces the Statue of Mendliger••. Nay the Great Duke himself took such courage from that Action, that having rais'd an Army of 25000 men, he proclaim'd open War against Sapgeri, Prince of Casan, sending him word, that he, by surpri∣sing and assaulting him without declaring any War, had proceeded like a Murtherer and a Rob∣ber; but that himself, as Soveraign Lord and Conservator of all the Russes, proceeded therein as a person of Honour should do, and sent him word, that his Army was upon the march, in order to the besieging of Casan. This Siege caus'd the loss of much blood on both sides, but prov'd unfortunate to the Muscovites, who were at last forc'd to raise it. Thus ended the War between the Great Duke Basili Iuanouits and the Tartars.

His Son,* 1.23 Iohn Basilouits, to shew the World how much he resented the affront, which the Muscovites had receiv'd before Casan, began his Reign with the Siege of that place. Having batter'd it for the space of two moneths together, fearing that Mendligeri would come in with his Crim-Tartars to the relief of his Brother, and exasperated at the refusal which the besieged had made, to accept of very honourable conditions, he commanded all the Walls to be undermined, and a general assault to be given.* 1.24 The Mines wrought their effect, and took off great numbers of the Tartars, the Assault was given, and the place carry'd by storm, on the 9 of Iuly 1552. The Tartars perceiving the enemies were gotten into the place, took this resolution after they had made a vigorous resistance in two several places within the City, where they fortify'd them∣selves, and seeing their chiefest Commanders kill'd or wounded, they went out at one of the Gates, made their way through the Muscovites, and got on the other side of the River Ca∣sanska Ever since, the City and Province of Casan hath continued under the Muscovite, who repair'd the breaches, renew'd the Fortifications, and reduc'd the Castle to the condition it is now in, having four Bastions, of stone, many Towers, and a good Ditch.

He who had the command of this place, when we pass'd that way, was Brother to the Wey∣wode of Nise The Ambassadors sent him, as a Present, by their Chamberlain, M. Vchterits, a very Noble Ruby. M. Mandelslo and I, conceiving our Ship would have lain there at An∣chor all that day and the next,* 1.25 went ashore, as well to take the situation of the City, as to buy certain provisions. We could meet with nothing but Fruits, among others, particularly Melons, full as big as our Pompions, and Salt-fish, but such as stunk so that we were forc'd to stop our Noses, to shun the infection. As we came out of the City, we met with divers

Tartars, who told us that our Ship was gone; which intelligence oblig'd us to take a VVagon, and afterwards, to make use of the Pristaf's Boat to bring us aboard, which, in the evening we found at Anchor, two leagues below Casan, where they intended to lye all that night.

The course of the River Wolga from Nisenovogorod to Casan,* 1.26 is East-ward, and South-East-ward; but from Casan to Astrachan, and the Caspian Sea, it goes from North to South. The Country is very good, and fertile, but in a manner desolate, by reason of the Cos••ques, and hath but few Villages.

Aug. 15. We continu'd our course, with the current of the water, which being very strong in that place by reason of the narrowness of the River, brought us that day as far as the Vil∣lage of Klitsischa, 26. werstes from Casan, lying amidst several Sand-banks, which we had much ado to pass through. Some part of that day, as also of the next, we spent in recovering our Anchors, whereof the Cables were broken; we at last made a shift to get up the great one, and left the little one behind, as being loath to lose any more time. Thence, we pass'd by a Tavern called Kabak Tenkofski, 30. werstes from Casan, where we met with great Sand-banks; and about half a League beyond it, another Bank, near a Tavern called Keshofska, which we had much difficulty to pass.

The 17. We pass'd over a great Bank, which had given the name to the Tavern we had pass'd by the day before. Thence we came to a place, where the shore on one side was very high, and some part of it fallen into the River about a moneth before, and by its fall had over∣whelm'd a Boat full of people, who were going that way to gather Cherries, whereof there is abundance in those parts. The new Pilot, whom we had taken up at Casan, told us, that com∣ing from Astrachan,* 1.27 he had met several of those Carkasses floating down the River, towards the Caspian Sea. Hereabouts, near the shore, on the right hand, we met with great quantities of Ice, which we put into our drinks, to make them drink the cooler.

In the evening we came to a place where the great River of Kama falls into the Wolga.* 1.28 It comes from North-East, out of the Province of Permie, and falls into the Wolga, on our left hand, 60. werstes from Casan. The water of it is blackish, and it is much about the same breadth as that of Weser in Germany. At the mouth of it there are two Islands, whereof the greater is called Sokol; and upon the Continent, over against it, a handsom Village called Pagantzina, and three werstes thence, another, named Corotai, whence we got seven werstes further, as far as a Village named Kirieska, where we stay'd all night.

The 18. The wind was so fair for us, that we made all the Sail we could, and got, by noon, to the place where the River Zerdick falls into the Wolga, which is also on the left hand. It is indeed but a branch of the River Kama, making a kind of an Island, and having another mouth thirty werstes from the former. We discover'd at the same time on our right hand, upon a little ascent,* 1.29 the City of Tetus, distant from Casan 120. werstes, having its buildings, as well publick as private, disorderly scatter'd up and down. From this place to the Caspian Sea, there is no Village at all.

In the afternoon, near an Island called Proleikarsa, we met with the Weywode of Terki. This City is seated upon the Caspian Sea near Astrachan, and the Weywode, upon the expiration of his three years Government, was then returning to Moscou, to make way for his Successor. He was very well attended, having a Convoy of eight Boats with Musketiers in them. At first, we knew not who they were, so that we kept them at a distance, by threatning to fire at them if they came nearer. They told us there were three thousand Cosaques, who expected us at the passage, some upon the River, some on the Caspian Sea; that they had seen not far thence, upon the River-side, 70. horse, which the Tartars had drawn off to make a discovery of us, and that they would be sure to set upon us; thinking with these stories to frighten us. We gave them one great shot, and kept on our course, having the wind so fair, as that it carried us 70. werstes that day.* 1.30 In the mean time, we left on our left hand the River Vtka, which rises near the City of Bulgara, 25. werstes from Tetus. We thought fit, the night following, to make tryal what our people could do, in case we should be set upon, so that the Ambassadors con∣ceived it would not be amiss to have a false Alarum given, ordering the Sentinels to cry out, and to discharge, and thereupon the Drums to beat, and the Musket and great Guns to be shot off. Our men did their parts very well, and kept their stations, expressing much resolution. We did the like in our return from Persia.

The 19. VVe came to the Island of Staritzo, which is 15. werstes long. There I found the Elevation to be 54. d. 31. m. Behind that Island, on the right hand, we found a great number of round stones, much after the form of Orenges or Citrons, which, being broken in the midst, represented a Star of divers colours, whereof some had the resemblance of polish'd Gold or Sil∣ver, others where brown or yellow. VVe took up a good quantity of them, to serve us for bullets for our Murthering-Pieces. Thence we came to a very pleasant place, where might have been seen heretofore a City of Tartary, called Vneroskora. There, had been buried one of their Saints, for which Monument those that live thereabouts have still a great Devotion. From this

place to the City of Tetus are accompted 65 werstes. We saw on the River-side, under certain Trees, two men on hors-back, who immediately got out of the way, which occasion'd us to send one to stand Sentinel in the Scuttle of the main Mast; but they appear'd no more.

The 20. There came several Fisher-men of Tetus aboard us, and brought us 55 large breams, which they had taken thereabouts, and sold them us for fifty pence. They have a particular way of fishing. They fasten to the end of a long cord, a pretty big stone, which falls to the bottom, and at the other end of the said cord several great pieces of Wood which swim upon the water. All along this cord are fasten'd many little cords, each whereof hath a hook baited with a certain kind of fish which is not of the least, but such as the others greedily feed upon. The fish they take by this invention is ten or twelve foot long, the meat of it white, firm, and very delicate. In our return from Persia, there was one brought to the Boat where I was with the Ambassador Crusius, which was so big, though there was nothing else eaten, by reason e∣very one liked it so well, yet was all the company satisfied, and there was as much left as fill'd a barrel, wherein it was pickled up.

When the Muscovites travel about their own occasions, they make use of another invention. They fasten a hook to the end of a Cord, and tye the Cord about a piece of board of about the breadth of a man's hand, plain'd very smooth, and tinn'd over; and drag it after the Boat, so as that the current of the water causing it ever and anon to turn up towards the Sun, makes it shine like the scales of fish: by which means drawing the greater sort of fish after it, they take more than they can spend while they are on the water. So that the Muscovites, making no o∣ther provision, for their journeys, but of bread twice bak'd or dried in the Oven, find it no hard matter to subsist any where; not to mention, that their continual abstinences, and their Fasts having accustom'd them to be content with little, and to care little for flesh, they make a shift to live upon any thing they can meet withall; nay, in case of necessity, upon the liquor which Nature furnishes them with.

At this place we let go the Boat which had carried our Provisions from Nise, which being empty we had no further use for: but we thought fit to set it a fire, lest it might have fallen into the hands of the Cosaques, who would have made use of it against us. About noon, we pass'd by the Island of Botenska, which is three werstes in length, and is only divided by a small Cha∣nel, from a kind of Cape, or Promontory, called Polibno. The contrary wind forc'd us to An∣chor behind the Island, near the River Beitma, which, as they say, is also a branch of the great River Kama.

The 21. We left, on the right hand, two very pleasant places, which are reported to have been heretofore great Cities, destroy'd by Tamberlane, whereof one was called Sim∣berska-gora.

The 22. With some little difficulty, we pass'd over three Sand Banks, whereof one is above, the other, below the place whence may be seen the Mountain Arbeuchin, which was on our right hand. It derives its name from a City, whereof the ruines are yet to be seen.

There may be seen from the River a great stone about 20 foot in length, and as many in breadth, lying between two little Hills, having engraven on it the words following, Budesch time dobro toboe budet; that is to say, If thou raise me, thou shalt be well rewarded. We were told, that not long before, a great Muscovian Boat being forc'd by contrary winds to make some stay there, fifty Passengers went ashore, to raise the stone; but when they had with much ado turned it, they only found engraven on the other side these words, Tsto isches netsebo poloschen; that is to say, In vain dost thou look for what thou hadst not put there. On the right hand, we had the view of a spacious and very delightful Champain Country, the ground very rich, with a high grass on it; but it was not inhabited, and there could be seen only the ruins of Cities and Villages, which had been heretofore destroy'd by Tamberlane.

The 23. The contrary wind forc'd us to Anchor near the River Adrobe, where I found the Elevation to be 53 degr. 48 minutes. In the afternoon, we thought to advance a little by laveer∣ing, but we hardly got half a league further.

The 24. The contrary wind, still continuing at the same height, forc'd us twice against the shore, and very much hindred the prosecution of our Voyage. For some dayes following we had the same incovenience, by reason of the Sand-banks, and the inconstancy of the wind, which rise about nine in the morning; and about five at night there was not the least breath stir∣ring, by that means adding to the affliction which otherwise lay heavy enough on us. For, be∣sides that the indisposition of most of our people made that undelightful voyage the more tedious to them, continual watching, and the insupportable trouble we were every foot put to, re∣duc'd them to a very sad condition. Those who had been in action all night, though it was not their profession to bear Arms, were, in the day time, forc'd to row. Smoak'd and Salt-meats af∣forded little nourishment, and the discontents arising otherwise upon the frowardness of one of the Ambassadors, in a manner took away the little courage we had left to encounter with the great inconveniences of that long voyage.

The 25. We saw on the right hand, a Mountain out of which the Muscovites get Salt, which they prepare in certain Huts, built for that purpose at the foot of the Mountain, then expose it to the Sun, and send it along the Wolga for Moscou. Opposite to this Mountain is the Island of Kostowata. The River hereabouts is very broad, by reason of the lowness of the shores on both sides.* 1.31 Not far hence there is another Mountain, at the foot whereof is the River Vssa, which though it there falls into the Wolga, yet is united again to it, sixty werstes below Samara. There are on both sides of the River pleasant Pastures; but not far thence there being thick VVoods with a high Mountain adjoyning, whence Robbers discover at a great distance what Passengers there are coming, it is very dangerous travelling that way. The Cosaques make their advantages thereof, and not a year before our passage that way, they took a great Vessel loaden, belonging to one of the richest Merchants of Nise. Near this River we had sixty foot water, as also near the Mountain Diwisagora, which word signifies, the Maids Mountain, and the Muscovites say it derives its name from certain Maids that had sometime been kept there by a Shee-Dwarf. VVe left it on the right hand. It is very high and steepy towards the River, whence it may be seen divided into several Hills, pleasant to the eye by reason of the diversity of the colours, some be∣ing red, some blew, some yellow, &c. and representing, at a great distance, the ruins of some great and magnificent structure. Upon every Hill or Bank is a row of Pine-Trees, so regularly planted, that a man might doubt whether it were not Artificial, were it not that the Mountain is inaccessible of all sides. At the foot of this Mountain there rises another, which reaches along the River, for eight Leagues together. The Valley between those two Mountains, is called Iabla-new-quas, that is to say, Apple-drink, from the great number of Apple-Trees there, which bear Apples fit only for Cider.

The same day we receiv'd Letters from Moscou by an express Messenger, who brought us al∣so Letters from Nise, by which we understood, that among our Mariners, there were four Co∣saques, who came into our retinue, purposely to betray us into the hands of their Camerades. This notice, though we were carefull enough to look after our people before, added to our care, and made us more vigilant.

In the evening, after Sun-set, we perceiv'd two great fires at the entrance of a VVood on the right hand, which putting us into a fear they might be the Cosaques who lay in wait for us, there were five or six Musketiers sent to discover what they where: but ours having shot off three Muskets, the other answer'd them with the like number, and discover'd themselves to be Strelits, who had been ordered to Guard a Persian Caravan, and were then returning to their Garrisons. The Ambassador Brugman, impatient to hear what accompt our men would bring, and thinking they stay'd very long, call'd after them as loud as he could, but the contrary wind hindred them from hearing him; and in that suspence he would have had some of the great Guns discharg'd at those fires; but the Ambassador Crusius oppos'd it, and told him, that their quality obliging them to stand onely upon the defensive part, he would not by any means consent thereto.

In the night, between the 26. and 27. our Sentinels perceiv'd in a little Boat, two men, who, thinking to go along by our ship-side, were stay'd, and forc'd to come aboard us. They said they were fisher-men, and that the Muscovites, whom they called their brethren, suffered them to go along with their Boats by night as well as by day: but, in regard we were told, the Co∣saques took this course, and were wont to come near Vessels, to cut their Cables, we examin'd them apart, and finding their answers different, one saying there were 500. Cosaques waiting for us, in an Isle near Soratof, the other denying it, they were kept all night, and the next morning we sent them by our Pristaf to the Weywode of Samara.

The 27. We saw, on the left hand, in a spacious plain, not far from the River side, a Hill of Sand like a Down. The Muscovites call it Sariol Kurgan, and affirm, that a certain Tartarian Emperour, named Momaon, who had a design to enter Muscovy, together with seven Kings of the same Nation, dy'd in that place, and that his Soldiers, instead of burying him, fill'd their Head-pieces and Bucklers with Sand, and so cover'd the body that it became a Moun∣tain.

About a League from the said Hill, and on the same side, begins the Mountain of Soccobei, which reaches along the River-side, as far as Samara, which is distant from that place 15. werstes. It is very high, in a manner all Rock, cover'd with Trees, unless it be on the top, where it is all bare. The Muscovites take much notice of this place, because it is very dange∣rous passing thereabouts. We came near it about noon, but the contrary wind oblig'd us to cast Anchor.* 1.32 While we stay'd there we saw coming from the shore two great red Snakes, which got by the Cables into the ship. As soon as the Muscovites perceiv'd them, they intreated us not to kill them, but to give them somewhat to eat, as being a sort of innocent beasts, sent by St. Nicholas, to bring us a fair wind, and to comfort us in our affliction.

The 28.* 1.33 We weigh'd betimes in the morning, and came before day near the City of Samara, which is 350. werstes from Casan. It lies on the left hand, two werstes from the River side. It is, as to form, almost square, all its buildings of VVood, unless it be some Churches, and two

or three Monasteries. The River of Samar, where it hath the name, by a little Bank, which is called Sin-Samar, falls into the Wolga, three werstes below the City, but is not absolutely united thereto till after 30 werstes lower.

We intended to make some stay near the City, in expectation to hear, by our Pristaf, what our Prisoners had depos'd; but the wind came so fair for us, that we thought better not to let slip the opportunity we then had to make the greatest days journey of any since the beginning of our Voyage.* 1.34 Accordingly, we got at night, to the Mountain of the Cosaques, which is 115. werstes from Samara, and so the prognostication of the Muscovian Mariners, by the Snakes, proved true. From the City of Samara, to the place where the river Samar falls into the Wolga, there is all along one continued mountain. Near the same place, but on the other side of the Ri∣ver, the River Ascula falls into it, so that the falling in of all these waters together, does so swell the Wolga, that in this place it is near two leagues broad. Afterwards, on the right hand may be seen the mountain called Pestcherski, which is in a manner all one Rock, having very little upon it, and reaching near 40 werstes along the river side.

About 100 werstes from Samara, in the midst of the river, is the Island of Batrach, and ten werstes lower that of Lopatin, which is five werstes in length, and lies opposite to the river Lis∣ran, which there falls into the Wolga, on the right hand. Afterwards, we pass'd by many little Isles, and came very late at night to the mountain of the Cosaques. It is all bare and without wood. The Cosaques who live upon the River Don, and had their retreating places in this mountain, whence they at a great distance discovered the Boats that were coming down, and there appointed parties to carry on their Robberies, have given it the name. But ever since the Weywode of Samara surpriz'd there a great party of Cosaques, whereof there were five or six hundred kill'd upon the place, they have forborn assembling there in so great numbers, and ap∣pear only in small parties. All these mountains do sometimes reach a great way into the Coun∣try, and sometimes they do but in a manner border the river, to which they serve instead of a bank. We lay at Anchor all night, at the place where this mountain begins, and the next day, 29. we pass'd it, and, in our way, the river Pantzina, which falls into the Wolga, on the right hand, and having sail'd that day 45 werstes, we cast Anchor at night near the Isle of Sa∣gerinsko, where we staid all night. Some Fisher-men, who came aboard, gave us intelligence that they had seen thereabouts 40 Cosaques, who had made their appearance on the river side. Here we told our people, that our Beer beginning to grow low, they must content themselves for the future with water, into which they might put a little Vinegar, and so make Oxicrat of it.

Aug. 30. we came betimes in the morning to the mouth of the river Zagra, which falls in∣to the Wolga on the right hand, near the Isle of Zagerinsko, to which it gives the name. Forty werstes thence, we pass'd by the Isle of Sosnou, where news was brought us, that we should meet with the 500 Casaques, of whom one of the Fisher-men of Samara had given us an alarm; whereupon all took Arms, and the Guns were made ready, but we saw not any body.

Towards noon, we came over against the mountain of Tichy, which comes out so far on the right hand, that at a great distance, it seems to dam up the river, which nevertheless is so shal∣low thereabouts, that some affirmed, the Cosaques forded it. Not far off there is a Bank of Sand, called Owetzabrot, and several little Isles; full of copses and bushes, which the Co∣saques know how to make their advantages of, in the carrying on their enterprises. There we met with two Fishermen, who told us, that some eight days before, the Cosaques had taken a great Boat from them, and had told them that within a small time, they expected to come into those parts a great German ship. In the evening, we called to two other Fisher-men, who coming aboard, we asked them what they knew concerning the Cosaques. The more aged was at first cautious and would say nothing, but perceiving, the other, who was much younger, had not used the same reserv'dness, he confirm'd what his Camerade had said, and assur'd us, that he had seen 40 Cosaques retreating into the Wood, which we discover'd from our Ship, and that they had six Boats, which they had brought ashore, to be made use of against us. They both intreated us, to make our best advantage, of that discovery, which would cost them their lives, if the Cosaques came to know as much, and to carry them away as Prisoners, and set them ashore some werstes thence. Which we accordingly did, but we doubled our Guards, and kept them under a Guard all that night, in regard we had no reason to be more confident of them, than of the Cosaques themselves. The next morning at the Break of day, we dismiss'd them. That day we sailed 60 werstes.

The last of August, we had so good a wind that we got 120. werstes between Sun and Sun. The Isle of Ossino, ten werstes distant from Saratof, was the first thing we saw that day. The Sand-bank which near that place reaches a great way into the River, put us to some difficulty to pass it. The Ship struck several times against it, yet at last pass'd it without any stop. Twenty werstes thence there is another Isle called Schismamago, and then that of Koltof, which is 50 werstes from Soratof, where we found sometimes 16. sometimes 20. sometimes 30. some∣times

40. foot water. Between these two Isles we met with two great Boats, having each of them 400. Mariners aboard it, one belong'd to the Patriarch, and was loaden with Provisions; the other, which was loaden with Cav••yar, which is a past of the Spawn of Eggs of Sturgeon salted, as we have said elsewhere, belong'd to the Great Duke. They gave us several Volleys of small shot, and we answer'd their civility with a great Gun. Near the Isle of Koltof, we met with four other Boats, coming from Astrachan, loaden with Salt and Salt-fish, upon the accompt of Gregori Miki∣tof, one of the richest Merchants of Moscou. The Boat-men told us that they had seen, near Astrachan, in several Boats, about 200. Cosaques, who had suffer'd them to pass, without saying any thing to them. Not far from this I••••e may be seen on the right hand, the mountain of Smiowa, which is above 40. westes in length. The word Smiowa signifies a Serpent, and they have given the Mountain that name, because it sometimes winds it self a great way into the Country, sometimes, it only borders the River. The Muscovites would have it so called from a Serpent, or Dragon, which having done abundance of mischief thereabouts, was kill'd by some great Heroe, and cut into three pieces, which were immediately metamorphosed into so many stones, and are shewn to this day, to such as pass that way. From this Mountain, all along the plain may be seen many Isles, which they call Sarok ostrowe, that is to say, the Forty Isles.

Sept. 1. betimes in the morning,* 1.35 we met with three great Boats, between 5. and 600. tun a piece, which yet took up but 12. foot of water. They tow'd after them a great many little Boats, in order to the unloading of the great ones, where the River is not deep enough. The biggest of them carried Provisions for the Monastery of Troitza, whereof we have spoken else∣where. The Salute was the same with what we had made to those we had met before. About nine in the morning,* 1.36 we pass'd in sight of the City of Soratof. It is seartd at 52. deg. 12. min. elevation, in great plain four werstes from the River, and upon a branch which the Wolga makes on that side. All the Inhabitants are Muscovian Musketiers, under the command of a Weywode, sent thither by the Great Duke, for the preservation of the Country, against the Tartars, called Kalmuches, who are possess'd of a vast Country, reaching from those parts as far as the Caspian Sea, and to the River Iaika. These Tartars make frequent incursions as far as the River Wolga, and are not so inconsiderable, but that they many times proclaim open War against the Great Duke. From Samara to Soratof, are 350. werstes.

The second, having a fair wind, we pass'd in sight of the Isles of Kriusna and Sapunofka, which are at a small distance one from the other, and came to the Mountain of Achmats Kigori, which ends at an Isle of the same name, 50. werstes from Saratof. This Mountain affords a very pleasant Prospect, in as much as the top of it is clad with a perfectly-excellent verdure, the as∣cent checquer'd with a soil or mold of several different colours, and the skirt of it is a very great bank, so even, that it seems to have been done by hand. Twenty worstes from the Isle of Ach∣matsko we saw that of Solotoi, and afterwards the Mountain of Sallottogori, or the Golden Mountain. The Muscovites told us, that name was given it, for this reason, that heretofore the Tartars had thereabouts surpriz'd a Muscovian Fleet, so richly loaden, that they divided Gold and Silver by the Bushel. VVe were no sooner past by this Mountian, but we came in sight of another, called Millobe, that is to say, Chalk. It reaches along the River 40. werstes, having the top as even as if it had been done by a Level, and makes an insensible descent down to the River, at the foot whereof are many Trees planted checquer-wise. After this, we came to another Mountain on which we bestow'd the name of the Mountain of Pillars, for as much as the rains having wash'd away the earth in several places, they look'd at a distance, like so ma∣ny. Pillars, out of order, of several colours, Blew, Red, Yellow, and Green. Here we met with another great Boat, the Pilot whereof sent us word, that he had seen near Astrachan about 70. Cosaques, who has suffered them to pass without saying ought to them; but withall, that some four days before ten of those Rogues had trapann'd him out of 500. Crowns, not by setting on the Boat, where they should have met with resistance, since they could have made their party good against a much greater number of Enemies; but they had taken that Boat and the Anchor, which the Muscovites make use of when they go against the stream of the River (as we have express'd elsewhere) and kept both till the fore-said sum was sent them. In the evening, assoon as we had cast Anchor, we saw coming towards us ten Cosaques, who went into a Boat, and cross'd to the other side of the River. The Ambassador Brugman imme∣diately commanded eight Musketiers, taken, some out of our retinue, some from among the Soldiery, to follow the Cosaques, to find out what their design was, and to endeavour to bring them aboard. But the Cosaques had time enough to get ashore, and retreat into the wood, whi∣ther they also carried their Boat; so that it was far night ere our people return'd. Our Stew∣ard was much troubled thereat, and represented to Brugman, how dangerous it was, to com∣mand our people at such unseasonable hours, and that in a place where they could not be reliev'd; but the other was so much incens'd at these remonstrances, that he gave the Steward very un∣worthy language.

Sept. 3. we saw on the left hand the River of Ruslana, and opposite thereto on the right hand,

the mountain of Vrakufs Karul, which is 150 werstes from Saratof. They say that a Tartarian Prince, named Vrak, who giving Battel to the Cosaques in that place, was there kill'd and buried, gave it the name. Thence we came to the mountain Kamaschinka, and to the river of the same name. It rises out of the torrent of Iloba, which falls into the Don, which falls into the Euxine Sea, and divides Asia and Europe. The Cosaques cross this river in little Boats, and make their incursions as far as upon the Wolga; so that this is the most dangerous place of any. We saw along the River-side, upon the right hand several wooden Crosses, set there to signifie the Sepulchres of a great number of Muscovites, who had been kill'd there by the Cosaques.

Having pass'd this place, we perceived the Caravan of Persia and Tartary; it consisted of six∣teen great Boats, and six little ones. As soon as they saw us, the Mariners gave over rowing, and went only as the stream carried them, to the end we might overtake them; which oblig'd us to make all the Sail we could, and to do what else lay in our power, till we got up to them. We soon express'd our joy, by the noise of our Trumpets, and saluted the Caraven with four great Pieces; they answer'd with all their small shot, which oblig'd us to give them another Volley.

The principal persons of this Caravan, who could not have all met till they came to Samara, were, a Tartarian Prince, named Massal, the Cuptzi, or the King of Persian's Merchant, whom we spake of before, a Muscovian Poslanick, named Alexei Savinowits Romantzikou, sent by the Great Duke to the King of Persia, an Ambassador from the Crim-Tartars, a Mer∣chant, or Factor from the Chancellor of Persia, and two Merchants of the Province of Kilan in Persia.

Immediately after these first general expressions of joy, we saw coming towards us a Mus∣covian Officer, attended by a considerable number of Musketeers, who came to give us a Vol∣ley, and inquire after our health, from the Prince of Tartary. As they came up to our Ship, the Strelits discharg'd their Muskets, and then only the Officer came aboard, and made his complement. As soon as he left us the Ambassadors sent to the said Prince, the Sieur Vchterits, who was accompany'd by Thomas de Melleville, and our Muscovian Interpreter; and com∣manded the Secretary of the Embassy, who took along with him the Persian Interpreter, to go at the same time and complement the Cuptzi, who had in the interim sent one of his retinue to do the like to the Ambassadors.

The Secretary coming to the Lar-board-side of the Cuptzi's Vessel, would have got up into it there, but his servants, acquainting him that the Masters Wife having her lodgings on that side, it would not be so fit for him, so that he was forc'd to order the Boat to go about the Ship, and to get in the other side.* 1.37 As we got in there stood several Servants, very handsome persons, who took us by the arms to help us up, and conducted us to the Kuptzi's Chamber. We found him sitting in a Couch, which was raised two foot high, and cover'd with a piece of the best kind of Persian Tapestry. He had under him a coarse piece of Turkey Tapestry, setting cross∣leg'd, according to the custome of his Countrey, resting his back on a Crimson Satin cushion.

He received us with much civility, putting his hands to his breast, and making a low inclina∣tion of the head, which are the ordinary Ceremonies, wherewith they receive those-Persons, whom they would do the greatest honour. He intreated us to sit down by him, which out of complyance we did, but not without much trouble to us, as being not accustomed to continue any long time in that posture. He very handsomely receiv'd our complement, and answer'd it with so much of obligation and kindness, that we could not but be much taken with his civility. He told us among other things, that he was extremely desirous to see his own Country, and his own House, but the satisfaction it would be to him to see either of them, would not be comparable to that which he had conceiv'd at the first sight of our Ship. He added, that as soon as we were come into Persia, we should find the roughness and barbarism of the Nation, among whom we then were, chang'd into an obliging civility, to pleasant conversation, and into a manner of life absolutely inviting, and that attended with a freedom, which should be common to us with all the Inhabitants of the Country. That, he hoped, at his arrival at the Court. it would not be hard for him, with the assistance of his Friends there, to obtain the charge of Mehemander, or Conductor, for our Embassy, since he had the happiness of our acquaintance by the way: That then he would oblige us upon all occasions, and in the mean time intreated us to dispose of his person, and whatever was in the Ship, as we pleased. He treated us with a Collation, which was serv'd in, Plate Vermilion-gilt, and consisted only in Fruits, Grapes, and Pistachoes, dry'd and pickled. The only drink we had, was an excellent kind of Muscovi∣an Aquavitae, wherein he first drunk the health of the two Ambassadors together, and after∣wards that of each of them by himself, which happened at the same time that his own was drunk in our ship, which we knew to be so by the joint Volley of both the great Guns, and the small shot. Taking our leave of him, he told us as a great Secret, that he had some news to tell the Ambassadors; which was, that he had it from a very good hand, that the King of Po∣land

had sent an Ambassador to Schach Sefi, that he had taken his way by Constantinople and Bagdet; that he was then upon his return to Astrachan, and that he had order, in his way, to see the Great Duke; but that the Weywode would not permit him to pass, till he had first heard from the Court. That this was all he knew of it, and that the Ambassadors might guess at the rest as also what may have been the occasion of his Voyage and Negotiation.

The other eminent Persons of the Caravan sent also to complement us, and to make proffer of their services, intreating us to keep them company, and assuring us of their assistance if need were. After a general Volley of all the Caravan, we parted, and kept on our course. At night we had a great Tempest, with two extraordinary Thunder-claps, and some flashes of Light∣ning; but the weather soon became fair again, and we had a great calm.

Sept. 4. being Sunday, just as our Minister was beginning his Sermon, came aboard us seve∣ral Tartars, whom Mussal the Tartarian Prince of Circassia sent to tell us, that, his disposition would not suffer him to give the Ambassadors a personal visit, but as soon as his health would permit him to take the air, it should be the first thing he did. The equipage of those who came along with the Person employ'd in this Message my very well deserve a little remark from us. As to his Person, he was somewhat of the tallest, his complexion of an Olive-colour, his hair long, greasie, and black as Jet, and his beard of the same colour and fashion. He had upon his upper Garment, some black-Sheep-skin, the woolly side out, a Callot, or close Cap, on his head, and his countenance such as a Painter might well take for an original, if he were to re∣present the Devil. His retinue were in no better order, having about them only Coats, or Gar∣ments of some very coarse Cloath, brown or black. We entertain'd them with certain Gobe∣lets of Aquavitae, and sent them sufficiently drunk to their Ship.

About noon we came to the River of Bolloclea, in the mid-way between Kamuschin∣ka, and Zariza, 90 werstes distant from either of them. Having sail'd sixteen werstes further, we came to a very high hill of sand, called Strehlne, near which we stayd all night.

Sept. 5. we had hardly weigh'd Anchor, but the current forc'd us upon a sand-bank, where we found but five foot and a half water. While we were busied about getting off the Ship, the Caravan got before us, and made towards Zariza, with a design to take in there some other Muskettiers for its convoy to Astrachan. About noon, we got to a place whence we might have gone in less than a days time as far as the River Don, called by Ptolomey and other Antient Geographers Tanais, which advances in that place as far as within seven leagues of the Wolga.* 1.38 taking its course towards the East. A little lower, near Achtobska Vtska, the Wolga divides it self into two branches, whereof one, which takes into the Country on the left hand, goes a course contrary to that of the great River, taking towards East-North-East; but about one werste thence, it re-assumes its former course, and returns towards the South-East▪ so to fall into the Caspian Sea. In this place I found the Elevation to be 48 degrees, 51 minutes.

Five werstes from the River, and seven from Zariza, may yet be seen the ruins of a City, which they say was built by Tamberlane. It was called Zaarefgorod, that is to say, the Royal City; its Palace and Walls were of Brick, which they still carry thence to build Walls, Churches and Monasteries at Astrachan; even at the time of our passage that way; they were loading several great Boats with Brick, bound for the place aforesaid.

In this place, we saw a Fisher-man, who coming close by our Ship-side, took a Bieluga, or white-fish, which was above eight foot long, and above four foot broad. It was somewhat like a Sturgeon, but much whiter, and had a wider mouth. They kill it much after the same manner as Oxen are kill'd among us, by first stunning it with a knock with a mallet. They sold it us for fifty pence.

Sept. 6. We overtook the Caravan, at Zariza, where most of the Passengers were landed, and lodg'd in Tents, upon the River-side, expecting the Convoy, which was to be sent from the adjacent Towns: but the wind being still fair for us, we kept on our course. The City of Zariza* 1.39 is distant from Soratof 350 werstes, and lies on the right side of the River, at the bot∣tom of a Hill, fortify'd with five Bastions, and as many wooden Towers. It hath no other Inhabitants than about 400 Strelits or Muskettiers, who serve against the incursions of the Tartars and Cosaques, and are oblig'd to Convoy the Boats which go up, and come down the River. There I found the elevation to be 49 d. and 42. m.

From the City of Zariza to Astrachan, and the Caspian Sea, there is only wast grounds and heaths, and so barren a soyl, that being not able to bring forth any kind of Corn, all that Coun∣try, even the City of Astrachan it self, is forc'd to send for Wheat to Casan, whence there comes such abundance, that it is cheaper at Astrachan than it is at Moscou.

Below Zariza lies the Isle of Zerpinske. It is twelve werstes in length, and the Souldiers of the Garrison of Zariza, send their Cattel thither 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The Cosaques of those parts, ha∣ving observ'd that the Wives and Daughters of those Soldiers crossed over to the Island without any Guard, went thither one day after them, surpriz'd, ravish'd, and sent them back to their

husbands,* 1.40 without doing them any other mischief. Behind this Isle, there falls into the Wolga a little River, which rises out of the Don, but it hath hardly water enough for little Boats, which I conceive may be the reason, why Geographers represent it not in their Maps; there being on∣ly Isaac Massa, who hath put it into his, and calls it Kamous. The heats were there▪ abouts so great in the moneth of September, as that of the Dog-dayes is not more insupportable in Ger∣many; yet the Muscovites affirm'd, they were but ordinary.

Sept. 7. The weather chang'd, and a Tempest following, we could not advance much. Having sayl'd ten werstes, we saw, on the right hand, a Gibet erected upon a high reddish Hill. It was the first we had seen in those parts, and we were told it was set up by the Weywode of the next City, for the execution of the Cosaques, he should take within his Government, and that he gave them no other quarter, but that their Camerades suffered not▪ the bodies to hang there above five or six dayes.

The same day an humour took the Ambassador Brugman, to cause all the Servants belonging to the Embassy to come before him, to whom he said, that he had reason to believe, that there were many among them, who express'd little kindness and respect towards him, and, if occasion serv'd, would do him all the ill Offices lay in their power, and consequently that his desire was, that the Musicians, the Guards, and the Lacqueyes, should take their Oaths to be faithful to him. Answer was made him, that his distrust was ill-grounded; that they saw not any reason why they should be oblig'd to a thing so extraordinary, and that they were so far from having any ill design against him, that, on the contrary, they were all ready to lay down their lives to do him any service; but that they intreated him, for his part, to spare them as much as might be, and to treat them more mildly than he had done: which he promised to do, but it was one of those promises that are either kept or broken.

The same day we met with a great Boat, the Master whereof sent some Mariners aboard us, to desire us to pity their sad condition, and to relieve them with a little bread, in the extremity they were in, having not eaten ought for the space of four dayes. They told us it was three weeks since they came from Astrachan, and that they had been robb'd in their way by thirty Cosaques, who had taken away all their Provisions. VVe gave them a sack full of pieces of bread, for which they gave us thanks, with their ordinary Ceremonies, bowing their heads down to the ground.

Forty Werstes from Zariza, lies the Isle of Nassonofska, and opposite thereto, on the right hand, a great flat Mountain of the same name. Between the Isle and the Mountain there is a kind of a Grott, where the Cosaques had, some years before, kill'd a great number of Musco∣vites, who had lay'n there in ambush, to surprise the others. In the evening, a certain Fisher-man brought us a kind of fish w••ich we had never seen before. The Muscovites called it Tziberika, and it was above five foot long, with a long and broad snout like the Bill of a wild Drake, and the body full of black and white spots, like the Dogs of Poland, but much more re∣gular, unless it were about the belly, where it was all white. It had an excellent good taste, and was at least as pleasant as that of Salmon. he sold us also another kind of fish much resembling a Sturgeon, but much less, and incomparably more delicate, whereof there are abundance in the Wolga.

The 8. The Caravan, which we had left at Zariza, came up to us near a Cape, called Po∣powitska Iurga, upon this accompt that the son of a Muscovian Pope or Priest, who had some∣time headed the Cosaques and Bandits, was wont to make his retreat, and appoint his rendez∣vous at that place. They count from Zariza to that place 70. werstes, and thence to the Moun∣tain of Kamnagar, which lay on our right hand, 40. werstes. The River thereabouts is full of Isles and Sand-banks, by which the Caravan was no less incommodated than we were, though their Vessels were much less than ours. Twenty werstes lower there is a very high Island, four werstes in length, called Wesowi, near a River of the same name, which falls into the Wolga on the right hand. Thirty werstes lower, the wind forc'd us into a corner, where the River of Wolodinerski Vtsga falls into the Wolga. But in regard we were loath to let slip the opportunity of making a great dayes journey, which the fairness of that wind put us in hope we might do, we with much difficulty made a shift to get out, and afterwards pass'd by the Country of Stu∣pin, thirty werstes from the City of Tzornogar, which was the first we were to come at the next day. Ten werstes lower, the Wolga puts out a second branch on the left hand, called Ach∣tobenisna Vtsga,* 1.41 which joyns its waters to those of Achtobska, whereof we spoke before. Thence we sayl'd five werstes further, where the whole fleet cast Anchor, near the Isle of Ossina, which is seven werstes from Tzornogar. So that, that day we got 135. werstes, or 27. German Leagues, that is, at the least as far as it is from Paris to Saumur.

From this Countrey quite down to Astrachan, on both sides of the River, there grows abundance of Liquorice, having a stalk as big as ones arm, and about some four foot high. The seed of it is much like a vitch, and lies in cods upon the top of the stalk. The Champain part of Media is cover'd therewith, especially towards the River Araxes; but the juyce of it is much sweeter, and the root much bigger than that which grows in Europe.

Sept. 9.* 1.42 There rose a wind, which soon grew into a Tempest, and brought us about noon before the little City of Tzornogar, where we stay'd. It was but some nine years before, that the Great Duke had given order for the building of this City,* 1.43 which lies 200. werstes from Zariza, some half a League lower than it is now: but the great floods having wash'd away the earth along the shore, in such great quantities, that the course of the River seem'd to be there∣by diverted, and that it would be ill coming ashore there, they translated the City to the place where it is now. It is seated upon a high shore, on the right side of the River, and is fortify'd with eight wooden Towers, and a Rampier with thick planks, having no other Inhabitants than three or four hundred Souldiers, who are kept there to secure the Countrey against the incursions of the Cosaques and Kalmuckas Tartars. There is at each corner of the City, which is square, a particular place for the Sentinels to stand, erected upon four great poles, whence they have a full prospect into a spacious plain as far as they can see, without the least interposition of any wood, or other eminency.

What oblig'd the Great Duke to order the building of this City, was, the mischiefs done thereabouts by the Cosaques, but particularly, the defeat of a Caravan, of 1500. Muscovites: who were there surpriz'd some ten years before. It had a very strong Convoy, but the River being extremely swift in that place, and the Convoy being gone before, the Cosaques, who had suffered the Soldiers to pass by, came out of their Ambushes, set upon the Caravan, kill'd seven or eight hundred men, and took away all before the Convoy could come up, the violence of the current not suffering it to get up the River time enough to relieve them. Between that place and the Astrachan, there are no Trees to be seen on the River-side.

The 10. We left Tzornogar, but the wind turning against us, we could hardly get ten werstes that day. About noon, some fisher-men brought us a noble Carp, which weigh'd at least thirty pounds, with eight other fish, of those they call Sandates, the fairest we had seen in all our Voyage. We would have paid for them, but they refus'd our money, and told us, that they fish'd there for certain Merchants of Moscou, who having farm'd the fishing of that place from the Great Duke, would be sure to have them severely punish'd, if ever it should come to their knowledge, that they had sold any fish. We soon found their design was to be paid in Aquavitae, accordingly a quart was ordered to be given them, wherewith they seemed to be very well satisfy'd.

Sept. 11. The wind and weather fair, we got 120. werstes, but without any accident worth noting, save that about noon, we pass'd by the Mountain of Polowon, so called, because half-way between Astrachan and Zariza, 250. werstes, distant from each of them. We pass'd over the night near the Isle of Kyssar, where the Ambassador Brugman, who was upon the Guard, hearing that the Sentinel had discovered a great Boat, which the current of the River brought somewhat near our Vessel, and that upon calling to them, no body answer'd, commanded fif∣teen Muskets to be shot off, and at the same time, a great Gun to be fired. All took the Alarm; but hardly was every man got to his station, ere they might perceive coming to the ship-side a small boat, guided by only one man, who gave us this accompt of himself, that his boat was loaden with Salt, and that his seven Camerades, being acquainted with some of the Caravan, had been so treated by them with Aquavitae, that being all dead asleep, he had been forc'd to let the boat go with the stream. Our Pilot knew the man, as being an Inhabitant of Nise, whereupon we gave him some Gobelets of Aquavitae, and sent him back to his boat. The next day, he came to acknowledge our kindness to him, by a present of certain Sturgeons.

The night following, the wind continuing fair, we thought fit to improve the opportunity, and so set sayl by three in the morning. Sept. 12. We soon came, upon the left hand, to a third branch of the Wolga,* 1.44 called Buch wostowa, which falls into the two precedent. Thence we came to the Isle of Coppono, from which the name Coponogar is deriv'd to the County, which is opposite thereto, on the right side of the River. From this place, there are 150. werstes to Astrachan.* 1.45 Twenty werstes lower, the Wolga makes a fourth branch, on the left hand, cal∣led Danilofska Vtsga, which mingles not with any of the other three, but disembogues it self by a particular Chanel into the Caspian Sea. Fifteen werstes thence lies, in the midst of the Ri∣ver, the Isle of Katarinski, which is little, but very pleasant, by reason of the Wood, and other plants that grow on it. Not far from it, we saw upon a Sand-bank the Carkass of a Boat, which had been cast away there and was half rotten. Being seen at some distance, a man might take it for a Fort, built there by the Cosaques, nay there were those who imagined they had seen some of them, which occasion'd a command to be given that some shot should be made into the Wood; but it was done with so much Precipitation, that one of the Muskets, breaking in the hands of our Cook, the splinters took off the Thumb of his left hand, and hurt him in the forehead and breast. We stay'd the next night, near the Isle of Piruski, 80. werstes from Astra∣chan, after we had sail'd a hundred that day.

Sept. 13. while we were, after morning prayer, reading some Chapters out of the Bible, and among others the XIII of Numbers, where Moses speaks of the fertility of the Land of Canaan, and the excellency of its Fruits, especially of the Grapes, brought thence by the Spies,

there came two Boats from Astrachan, which brought us some Fruits to sell. We were so sur∣priz'd thereat, that, for my part, I am in doubt whether that of the Holy Land could be better; so delicious were the Melons and Peaches, and the Kernels of the Grapes were as big as Nuts. This day betimes in the morning, we came in sight of another Branch of the Wolga, called Mi∣tuska,* 1.46 which at some distance from the River, is divided into two other Branches; whereof the one is united to the Danilofski Vtsga, which we spoke of before, and the other falls again into the main river, at some werstes thence. We were told, that was the most dangerous place of all the river, by reason those Robbers had their rendevouz and retreating places thereabouts. For indeed, we saw, between two Isles, a great number of Cosaques, at whom the Ambassa∣dor Brugman caus'd a great Gun to be fired. Five werstes lower, and 70 from Astrachan, we came to the last sand-bank, which is called Kabangameel. Five werstes thence, to the Promon∣tory of Kabangengar; and five lower, to the Isle of Itziburki, where we stay'd that night, 50 werstes from Astrachan.

We saw in those parts, as also afterwards near Astrachan, and upon the Caspian Sea, a kind of wild Geese, or rather Cormorants, which the Muscovites call Babbes, which in a manner cover'd the river side; but of them more at large, when we come to the description of the City, and of the Country of Nagaia.

The 14. We were stay'd by a contrary wind, and a tempest coming from the South-East, so that we could hardly advance two werstes, ere we were forc'd to cast Anchor, and to conti∣nue there till the next day▪ We lay at 80 foot water. The Tartarian Prince sent us a Present of Beer, Hydromel and Aquavitae, with notice, that if we liked it, we might have more.

Sept. 15. the wind changing, we set sail by four in the morning, taking our course South∣ward, and betimes in the morning, came before the Isle of Busan, 25 werstes from Astra∣chan; and afterwards to a sixth Branch of the River Wolga,* 1.47 called Baltzick, within 15 werstes of the City. The plain, which reaches from that place to Astrachan, gave us the sight of the City by 8 in the morning. Three werstes lower, and 12 from the City, there is a seventh Branch of the Wolga,* 1.48 called Knilusse, which makes the Island of Dilgoi, within which Astrachan is seated, and having compass'd the Isle, it falls into the Caspian Sea, by many several chanels, or ostiaes. We came to Astrachan about noon,* 1.49 and whereas the City lies on the other side of the River, which, in that place, divides Europe and Asia, we may say, that, as we departed out of that part of the World, which we may in some manner call our Country, we made our first step into the other. We made some stay before the City, in the midst of the River, and salu∣ted it with a Volley both of all our great Guns, and small shot, whereat the Inhabitants, who were come in great numbers to the river-side, were the more surpriz'd, by reason they were not accustomed to hear Thunders of that kind.

It will not be amiss in this place, by a short digression, to give an account of the situation of Astrachan,* 1.50 of the qualities of the Country, and the life of the Inhabitants. The Antient Geo∣graphers, as Ptolomy, Strabo, and others, who follow them, had no knowledge of these Tartars, no more than their neighbours, and have not made any mention of them, but only under a gene∣ral name of Scythians aud Sarmatians, though they should indeed have been distinguish'd into so many different Nations, suitable to the diversity there is in their Names, their Language, and manner of Life; in all which they have nothing common one with the other. Mathias de Mi∣chou, a Physician, and Canon of Cracovia, who liv'd at the beginning of the last age, says that those, who confound the Tartars with those Nations, which the Antients called Getae, Scy∣thae, and Sarmatae, are much mistaken, in as much as the Tartars have not been known, but since the thirteenth Age. For in May 1211. there appear'd a Comet, which, having its tail towards the West, and menacing the Don and Russia, presag'd the invasion which the Tartars made into those parts the year following. They were certain Indian Lords, who having kill'd their King, David, got away, first, towards the Euxine Sea, near the Palus Meotides, where lived the antient Getae, whence they afterwards advanc'd towards the Don, and thence to the river Wolga, where they live to this day. The same Author distinguishes them into four spe∣cies; to wit, the Zav••lhenses, (whom he also calls Czahadai) Precopenses, Cosanenses, and Nohacenses, and says, they are the Tartars, who live along the river Wolga, (which he calls Volha) those of Precop, those of Casan, and those of Nagaia, who are those of whom we are to treat of at present. Alexander Guagnin, of Verona, divides them into eight Colonies, and gives them other names; but it is our design to entertain the Reader only with what we have seen, and to discover that part of Tartaria through which we travel'd. We say then, that they call Nagaia,* 1.51 that part of Tartary, which lies between the rivers of Wolga, and Iaika, as far as the Caspian Sea, whereof Astrachan is the principal City. It is reported that a Tartar-King, named Astra-chan built it, and gave it his own name: So that the Baron of Her∣berstein is very much mistaken, when he says, in his Relation of Muscovy, that it is some days journey distant from the River, whereas it is seated on the river-side, and in the Isle of Dolgoi, made there by two branches of the said River.

After several very exact observations, I found the Elevation of the Pole there, to be 26 de∣grees,

22. minutes, and the Climat so hot, that in the Months of September and October, the heats were still as great as they are in Germany in the height of Summer, especially when the wind blew from-wards the Wolga, East, or North-East. 'Tis true, the South-wind was there somewhat colder, and brought with it the inconveniences, nay indeed the scent, of the neigh∣bouring Sea, wherewith it infected the whole Air. At our return that way, our stay there happen∣ed to be in Iune, Iuly and August, and yet the heats were not absolutely insupportable, in re∣gard they were moderated by the coolness, which the South-wind continually brought along with it. But what is to be most admir'd, is, that, in this hot Climat, the Winter, which lasts but two months; is so exceeding cold, that the River is frozen up, and bears Sledges. Which is contrary to what other Authors say of it, yet the Reader may take it for most certain.

The Island of Dolgoi is sandy and barren,* 1.52 insomuch, that some Gardens, and Lands cultiva∣ted by the Inhabitants of Astrachan, excepted, it produces nothing at all, no more than does the Continent, on the right hand; but on the left, towards the river Iaika, there are very good pastures. On this side the Wolga, West-ward, lies a long Heath of above 70. German leagues, reaching as far as the Euxin Sea, and towards the South, another, of above 80. leagues, along the Caspian Sea: as we found at our return from Persia, when it was our chance to measure it, by eleven very tedious dayes journeys. Yet are not these Deserts so barren, but they produce more Salt,* 1.53 than the marshes in France and Spain do. The Inhabitants of those parts call them Mozakofski, Kainkowa, and Gwostofski, which are ten, fifteen, and thirty werstes from Astra∣chan, and have salt veins, which the Sun bakes and causes to swim upon the face of the water about a finger thick, much like Rock-Christal, and in such abundance, that, paying an Impost of a half-penny upon every Poude, that is, forty pound weight, a man may have as much as he pleases. It smells like that of France, and the Muscovites drive a great Trade with it, bring∣ing it to the side of the Wolga, where they put it up in great heaps, till they have the convenience of transporting it elsewhere. Petreius, in his History of Muscovy, sayes, that within two leagues of Astrachan, there are two mountains, which he calls Busin, which afford such abun∣dance of Rock-salt, that, if thirty thousand men were perpetually at work about it, they would not be able to exhaust the pits. But I could learn nothing of those imaginary Mountains. Cer∣tain indeed it is, that the salt-veins we speak of, are inexhaustible, and that as soon as you have taken off one crust or face of it, there comes up another. The same Petreius is also much mis∣taken, when he sayes, that Media, Persia and Armenia, are supply'd with Salt from these Mountains, whereas these Countries have Salt marshes of their own, as also Muscovy hath, as we shall see in the sequel of this Relation.

From Astrachan to the Caspian Sea, are twelve leagues, and thereabouts, the river does so abound with fish, that we bought twelve large Carps for two pence, and two hundred young Sturgeons, which are very delicate there, for half a Crown. It produces also Lobsters, or Sea∣crevices, which multiply in a manner to infinity, by reason the Muscovites and Tartars eat not of them. The Isles which are in the river afford habitations for all manner of Fowl, especially an infinite number of wild Geese and Ducks, which the Tartars take with Falcons and Hawks, and are very expert in the ordering of those Birds for that kind of sport. They are also excel∣lently well skill'd in the hunting of the wild Bore; but in regard their Religion permits them not to eat of it, they sell them for a small matter to the Muscovites.

As to the Fruits of those parts,* 1.54 it is certain, that, both in goodness and beauty, they yield not to those of Persia, especially Apples, Quinces, Nuts, Peaches, and Melons, but above all, that kind of Melons, or rather Citruls, which the Muscovites call•• Arpus, the Turks and Tar∣tars, Karpus, because they are extremely cooling, and the Persians, Hinduanes, because they had the first seeds of them from the Indies. This Fruit is excellently good, and very pleasant to the tast, as also to the eye, having the rind of a lively-green colour, the meat of a pale Carna∣tion, and the seed black. The Tartars, who brought them to the City in Carts, sold them two or three a penny.

It is not many years since that they have had Grapes among them, the Inhabitants of Astra∣chan being oblig'd for these to the Merchants of Persia, who brought the first sets thither, which an old Monk of a Convent that is in the Suburbs planted in his Garden. The Great Duke hear∣ing that it had taken with good success, and having tasted the Grape, sent order to the Monk, in the year 1613. to improve his stock, which he did, and that with such increase, that at the time of our being there, there was no house almost, but had its Arbours and Walks set about with Vines, to the so great advantage of the Planters, that the Master of the house where I lodg'd told me, the Vines he had about his house had yielded him a hundred Crowns the year before. These Grapes, with some other Fruits, were either sent to the Great Duke, or sold to the neighbouring Weywodes: but some years since, they have planted a Vine there, which hath yielded in one year above 60. Pipes of excellent Wine.

The Monk I spoke of was living at our being there, and was a hundred and five years of age▪ He was a German, born in Austria, and had been carried away prisoner very young by some Turkish Soldiers, who had sold him into Muscovy, where he had chang'd his Religion, and

became a Monk. He was at that time Superior of the Monastery, and still remembred some Ger∣man words, but very few. He was a very good natur'd Man, and shew'd how much he was taken with our conversation, by the frequent visits he made us: but as soon as he had taken off two or three Dishes of Aquavitae, he was subject to the ordinary weaknesses of those of his age, threw away his staff, and fell a dancing, though not with over much confidence.

Heretofore,* 1.55 all Nagaia was inhabited by Tartars, who had their particular King, and held a very fair correspondency with their Neighbours of Casan and Crim, with whom they also ran the same fortune after their defeat. For the Great Duke, Iohn Basilouits, having reduc'd under his Jurisdiction the Tartars of Casan, in the year 1552. two years after, set upon those of Ni∣gaia, and took the City of Astrachan by assault, Aug. 1. 1554. He forc'd thence all the Tar∣tars, and, having peopled the City with Muscovites, he compassed it with a stone wall, and added some other Fortifications: but it was the Great Duke Michael Foederouits, that made it larger than it was, by adding thereto that part, which is called Strelitzagorod, so called from the Muscovian Muskettiers, who are quartered therein. The City is eight thousand Geometrical feet about; and that side towards the River, which, in that place, is two thou∣sand, two hundred and sixteen foot broad, affords a pleasant Prospect, by reason of the great number of Turrets and Steeples of stone, which look very delightfully at a distance, but within, it is not answerable thereto, the Houses being all of Wood, and not well built. Some told us, that there were in the City above 500 great Pieces of brass, and among others, many Mortar-pieces▪ The Garrison consisted of nine Pricasses, or Regiments, in each of which were 500 Musket∣tiers, under the command of two Weywodes, one Diak, and several Captains, and other Of∣ficers, who have an eye upon the Tartars, whom they have reason to be distrustful of.

This City being seated upon the Frontiers of two of the most considerable parts of the world, it may well be, that not only the Tartars of Chrim, Precop, Bugar, and Nagaia, and the Mus∣covites, but also the Persians and Armenians (who are Christians) nay the Indians trade thi∣ther; and these last have a particular market-place there for themselves. All which improves the Commerce of the City, so that the Customs, which there are very low, amount to above 25000 Crowns a year.

The Inhabitants of the Country, who are the Tartars of Crim and Nagaia, are not permit∣ted to live within the City, but are thrust into a place without the City, which is hedg'd and palizadoed, or forc'd to live in Huts, which they set up and down, in the open Fields, because they are not suffer'd to build Cities, nor to fortify their Towns nor Villages with walls. Their Huts are made either with Bull-rushes or Canes, being about twelve foot diameter, round, and towards the top, like the Coops wherein Chickens are kept in Europe. In the midst of that place, which serves them for a Roof, there is a hole, through which goes out a stick, having at the end a piece of coarse Cloath, which they turn to the Wind, to facilitate the going out of the Smoak, and which they draw in, when the Turf, or Cow-dung, which they burn, is reduc'd to a live-Coal or Ashes. When the weather is very cold, they put over the Hut a co∣vering of coarse Cloath, whereby they so keep in the heat, that they pass over whole days without stirring out, with their Wives and Children, not feeling any inconvenience. They have no fixt habitation in the Summer-time, but stay in those places where they find the best Pasture for their Cattel. When that begins to fail, they put their Huts into Carts, and their Wives, Children, and Goods upon Camels, Oxen, and Horses, and so they ramble up and down the Country, whence it comes that the Muscovites call them Poloutski, Va∣gabonds.

At the beginning of Winter they all come near and about Astrachan, and lodge themselves in several crews or troops, which lye not at so great a distance but that they can relieve one ano∣ther against the Malmukes Tartars, otherwise called the Tartars of Buchar, their common and irreconcilable enemies, who make their incursions up and down the Country, from Astrachan and the Caspian Sea, as far as Sorat of. The Tartars who live near the river Iaika are their tor∣mentors on the other side, disturbing their quiet by continual Alarms, when the river is fro∣zen. Whence it comes, that the Muscovites, to prevent their being ruin'd by the incursions of those people, furnish them with Arms, out of the Great Duke's Magazine, whether they are oblig'd to return them, as soon as the River and the ways are thaw'd: for they are not permit∣ted to have any, either defensive or offensive Arms in the Summer.

'Tis true, they do not pay the Great Duke any Taxes or impositions, but are oblig'd to serve him against his Enemies, which they do the more gladly, and without any com∣pulsion, out of the hope of booty, as do also those of Daguestan, whom we shall speak of here∣after.

These Tartars have Princes of their own, as also Commanders in time of War, and parti∣cular Judges of their own Nation: but lest they should do any thing contrary to their allegiance to the Great Duke, there are always some of their Myrses, or Princes, kept as Hostages in the Castle of Astrachan.

The Tartars of Nagaia and Chrim, are for the most part of little stature, and fat, having large faces and little eyes, and being of an Olive-colour. The men have ordinarily as many wrinkles in their faces as old Women, little beard, and the head all shaven.

All they have about them is a Casaque, or Garment of a coarse grey Cloath, upon which those of Nagaia wear for the most part a loose Mantle of black Sheep-kin, with a Cap of the same stuff, the Wool-side outward. The Women, who are not unhandsom, are commonly clad in white linnen Cloath, and have about their heads a Coif of the same stuff, folded, and round, like those pots which some make use of in the Wars, having in the middle a hole, fit to put a plume of feathers in. Upon this Coif, and on both sides, there hang a great many Copecs, or Muscovian Pence.

They many times vow their first-born, or some one of their other Children, to God, or some Imam, or Saint. And that these Nazarites may be distinguish'd from others, if it be a Girl, she wears a Ring with a Ruby, a Turqueze stone, or Coral in the Nostril; If a Boy, he wears it in his right ear. The Persians have the same custom; but of that more at large hereafter Children go stark naked, and are all big-belly'd.

The Tartars live upon what their Cattel, their hunting and fishing supplies them with. Their Cattel are large and fair, as that of Poland. Their sheep, as also those of Persia, have great tayls, which are all fat, weighing 20. or 30. pounds, the ears hanging down as our Spaniels, flat-nosed. Their Horses are little and mishapen, but strong and hardy. They have some Ca∣mels, but they have most of them two bunches on their backs, which they call Buggur, those which have but one, and by them called Towe, are very scarce among them.

Their ordinary food is fish dry'd in the Sun,* 1.56 which serves them instead of bread. They have also certain Cakes made of Meal, Rice, and Millet, fry'd in Oyl or Honey. They eat Camels and Horse-flesh, and drink water and milk. Mares milk they much esteem; with this they treat∣ed our Ambassadors, when we gave them a Visit, taking it out of a nasty Leather-bag, to pre∣sent it to us.

They are for the most part Mahumetans,* 1.57 of the Turkish Sect, hating that of the Per∣sians. Some have made profession of the Muscovian Religion, and have been baptiz'd. They receiv'd us civilly, at least as far as that Nation is capable of civility. One of their Princes would have given the Ambassadors the divertisement of Hawking, but the Weywode would not permit it.

The time we stay'd at Astrachan was spent in providing all things necessary for the prosecu∣tion of our Voyage. The Persians of the Caravanne, and the Tartarian Prince sent often some of their people to complement us; they also made us Presents, and came in pe••son to Visit us. For, we had hardly cast Anchor before Astrachan, and made known our arrival by the dis∣charging of the great Guns, but the Cuptzi, and the other Persian Merchants, who were there but a little before us, sent us a noble Present of all sorts of fruit, Arpus's, Melons, Apples, Apricocks, Peaches, and Grapes, with this excuse, that being, as we were, strangers in the Countrey, they could make us no better Presents, but when we were come to Persia, they would be absolutely at our disposal. The Ambassadors having answer'd this civility, sent them, as also to the Tartarian Prince, some of all sorts of distill'd waters, and sweet meat••.

The next day after our arrival,* 1.58 we were Visited by many Persian Merchants, who were de∣sirous to see our ship. Not one among them but brought some Present of fruit according to the custom of their Countrey, which permits them not to come empty-handed before persons of quality. They trea••ed us w••th much kindness and familiarity, which the more delightfully surpriz'd us, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that we had but then parted from a Nation famous for its incivility and barba∣rism. And w••ereas thenc•• forward we were to converse and negotiate with Persians, we thought it not amiss to allow them the liberty to do what they pleas'd in our ship, and were extremely pleas'd to see them get all so heartily and so kindly drunk, that some, as they parted, fell into the water; nay one of their Merchants, an aged man, falling fast asleep upon the Deck, stay'd there all night. This good man was so kind in his Wine, that taking a glass of French-wine from one of the Ambassadors who had drunk to him, and perceiving they made him this com∣plement, that, after the excellent Wines of his own Countrey, he could not taste those of ours, he made answer, that, though it were poyson, yet coming from the Ambassadors hand, he would take it off.

The 17.* 1.59 The Persian Cuptzi sent us a Present of two sacks of Rice, the grain whereof was very white and very ••ig, and a Vessel of preserv'd Garlick, which was very pleasant to the taste. How the Persians preserve it shall be said hereafter. Many of the Cuptzi's Domesticks came also to see us, and brought along with them some Mariners, who were astonish'd at the bigness of our ship, and said all, that it would not be fit for the Caspian Sea, whereof the high, and in a manner contiguous Waves, would overwhelm it, and there was a necessity of taking down the Masts. They all affirm'd, that the Culsum (so they call the Caspian Sea) had never born so great a ship; which yet they only said in comparison of their own, which are only little Barks,

made like our bathing-tubs in Europe,* 1.60 so to take up but two or three foot water, having nei∣ther Hatches nor Pump, insomuch that they are forc'd to cast out the Water with shovels. They have but one great sayl, no more than the Muscovites, and know not what it is to sayl with a side-wind; so that when a Tempest overtakes them, they are forc'd either to go with the wind or cast Anchor: but commonly they go within Pistol-shot of the shore.

The Persians having left us, the Ambassadors sent to the Chief Weywode, whose name was Foedor Vasilouits, a Present, which was a large drinking Cup Vermilion-gilt, intreating his ad∣vice for the continuation of their Voyage, and to know whether we should prosecute it by Sea or by Land. The Weywode desir'd a days time or two to consider of it, and to take the advice of persons skill'd in Sea-affairs: but we stay'd not for his answer, and resolv'd, for several rea∣sons, to continue our Voyage by Sea.

Sept. 19. The Tartar-Prince having sent us word that he would give us a Visit aboard our Ship, we sent our shallop to Land, to bring him aboard. he brought with him another Tar∣tar-Prince, and a retinue of about 40 persons, besides those who belong'd to Alexei Sauonou∣its, the Great Duke's Poslanick. He was habited after the Muscovian fashion, his Vestment em∣broider'd with Gold and Pearls, and his person and deportment was suitable to the greatness of his birth: for he had a very good countenance, a very clear complexion, and black hair, being about 28 years of age, of an excellent good humour, and eloquent. He was receiv'd into the ship with the noise of our Trumpets, and the fiering of three great Pieces, and conducted to the Ambassadors Chamber, through the Guards and Soldiers in their Arms.

After some two hours discourse, during which he was entertain'd with Musick, he desir'd to see the ship. He was shew'd it all, and at last brought into the Hall, where he found a Collati∣on ready, but he would not sit down, and took leave of the Ambassadors, to return to the City. At his departure, he had the same honour done him as at his entrance.

Sept. 20. The Ambassadors sent to the Lord Naurus,* 1.61 the King of Persia's Cuptzi, to entreat him to honour them with a Visit in their ship, which he promis'd to do. The next day he came, accompany'd by another rich Merchant, named Noureddin Mahomet, and the Pristaf, which the Weywode had sent to conduct him. His reception was like that of the Tartar-Prince. After the Collation, at which pass'd several good discourses, our Musick playing all the time, they entreated us to give theirs leave to come in, which consisted of Hawboyes and Timbrels. Their Timbrels were made of earth, and were not much unlike our Butter-pots, making a very strange noise, though their playing on them was very regular and well carried on. The Colla∣tion had put them into so good an humour, that in their return we could hear their Musick, nay a good while after they were got into the City.

The 22.* 1.62 The Weywode sent his Presents to the Ambassadors, which consisted in twenty Flit∣ches of Bacon, twelve large Fishes that had been hung up in the smoak, a Barrel of Cavayar, a Tun of Beer, and another of Hydromel. About noon, there came aboard us two of the Polish Ambassadors Servants, whom the Cuptzi had spoken of, to complement the Ambassadors in their Master's name, and on the behalf of the Ambassador, sent from the King of Persia to the King of Poland, bringing along with them a bottle of Scherab, or Persian Wine. The Polish Am∣bassador was a Iacobin Frier, named Iohn de Lucca; and the Persian, an Armenian Archbishop, named Augustinus Basecius. The persons sent to us were two Capuchins, one an Italian, the other a French-man. They told us they had been five moneths at Astrachan, and complain'd much of the ill treatment they had receiv'd there, in that they were detain'd as Prisoners, and not permitted to go any farther.

The same day, the Ambassadors acquainted the Weywode with their desire to Visit the Tartar-Prince, entreating him, to that end, to accommodate them with horses for themselves, and some of their retinue; which he very civilly did, sending the next day, by his Gentleman of the horse, to the River-side, the number of horses we desired.

Being come to a Lodging prepar'd for us without the City,* 1.63 and having acquainted the Tartar-Prince with our arrival, we walk'd towards his Lodging, where he expected us. The Prince having notice of it, met them in the Court, where he receiv'd the Ambassadors very civilly, and conducted them to a Chamber richly hung. There were with them the Poslanick, Alexei, and a Tartar Ambassador of Chrim. The Collation was Magnificent, and of the noblest fruits in the Countrey, in great plenty. Our drink was Wine, Beer, Hydromel, and Aquavitae, of all enough: the Trumpets, which the Weywode had lent him, sounding in the mean time, and other Musick playing. When he drunk the Great Duke's and his Highness our Master's health, he stood, and presented the Cup with his own hand, to all the retinue, even to the Pages. A∣lexei in the mean time told us Miracles of the birth and noble endowments of Mussal, endea∣vouring to perswade us, that he was not to be ranked among the other Myrses, or Princes of Tartary, but that he was to be consider'd as a very great Prince, and Nephew to Knez Iuan Borissouits Circaski, being his brother's son, one of the greatest Lords of the great Duke's Court. He told us, that, when he did homage, the Czaar had done him very particular fa∣vours, and made him considerable Presents: that he had a Brother at Court, a great Favorite:

that his Sister was to marry the King of Persia,* 1.64 and that he might serve us in both Kingdoms.

•• This Entertainment took us up several hours,* 1.65 after which the Ambassadors would have gone to see the Habitations of the Tartars, without the City; but the Muscovites very barbarously shut the Gates against them, which oblig'd us to return to the ship.

The 24. The Poslanick, Alexei, gave the Ambassadors a Visit, upon his own accompt. He was kindly receiv'd, and after he had been Magnificently treated at Dinner, we sent him back to his Lodging, attended by twelve persons of our retinue, who had each of them a Sable skin. This Muscovite, who might be about 50. years of age, was an ingenious man, and had a great inclination to Learning, contrary to the ordinary humour of those of his Nation. He had learnt some few Latine words, and was a Lover of the Mathematicks, whence it came that he Courted our Conversation, in order to the advancement of his studies. He was so sedulous, that in the space of five moneths, that we were in company together, both in Persia and by the way, he made such a Progress therein, that he could express himself well enough to be understood in La∣tine. 'Tis true, 'twas not with the Congruity requisite, but what he had was very extraordina∣ry in a Muscovite. He learnt also the use of the Astrolabe, as well to take the height of the Sun, and find out the time of the day, as to make use of it in Geometry. He had one made by our Clock maker; and as soon as he came to any City or Village, he went out into the Street, to take the Elevation of the Pole; which the Muscovites, not accustom'd to see their Countrey-men employ'd in those exercises, thought very strange.

The 25.* 1.66 The Cuptzi sent to invite the Ambassadors to a feast the next day, and desir'd them to send him the name and titles of his Highness, our Master, as also the names and qualities of the Ambassadors, that he might send them by an express to the Chan, or Governour of Scha∣machie in Media, that when we came to the Frontiers of Persia, we might find all things ready for the prosecution of our Voyage.

The 26. He sent seven Horses to the River-side for the Ambassadors and their retinue, but they made use only of two, and, causing the rest to be led, they ordered the Gentlemen and Officers to walk a foot, according to the custom in Germany. He had prepar'd the Feast in a great house, which, to that end, he had borrow'd of the Weywode, and over against it, he had hir'd another Lodging, where he had erected a Theater cover'd with Persian Tapistry, for the Timbrels and Hawboyes, who continu'd their Musick from our arrival to our departure.

The house where the Feast was kept, was all cover'd with Turkish and Persian Tapistry. The Cuptzi met the Ambassadors in the Court, receiv'd them with great civility, and conducted them through two Chambers hung all about, into a third, which was hung with Gold and Sil∣ver Brocadoe.

In all the Chambers, there were Tables and Seats cover'd with the best Persian Tapistry, which the Cuptzi had done purposely for our convenience, knowing we were not yet accustomed to the mode of Persia, where they sit upon the ground to eat. The Tables were loaden with all sorts of Fruits and Preserves, as Grapes, Apples, Melons, Peaches, Apricocks, Almonds, Rai∣sins of the Sun, whereof some were little and without stones, Kernels of Nuts, Pistachoes, and several Indian fruits, preserv'd in Sugar and Honey, and over them were large pieces of Satin or Taffata.

We were hardly set, ere came in the two Ambassadors of Persia and Poland, who had upon their ordinary Habits, the Vestiments which the King of Persia had presented them with, and the Iacobin Frier had a Golden Cross upon his breast as well as the Armenian Bishop. They took their places next the Ambassadors, and being well skill'd in the Latine, Spanish, Italian, and French Languages, their discourses were accordingly without any trouble, and full of di∣version.

'Tis the custome of Persia to begin their Feasts with Fruits and Preserves. We spent two hours in eating only those, and drinking Beer, Hydromel and Aquavitae. Then was brought up the meat in great Silver Dishes. They were full of Rice of divers colours, and, upon that, seve∣ral sorts of Meat boil'd and roasted, as Beef, Mutton, tame Fowl, wild Ducks, Fish and other things, all very well ordered, and very delicate.

The Persians use no knives at Table, but the Cooks send up the meat ready cut into little bits; so that it was no trouble to us to accustome our selves to their manner of eating. Rice serves them instead of bread. They take a mouthfull of it, with the two fore-fingers, and the thumb, and so put it into their mouths. Every Table had a Carver, whom they call Suffretzi, who takes the meat brought up in the great Dishes, to put it into lesser ones, which he fills with three or four sor••s of meat, so as that every Dish may serve two, or, at most, three persons. There was but little drunk till towards the end of the repast, and then the Cups went about roundly, and the Dinner was concluded with a Vessel of Porcelane, full of a hot blackish kind of drink, which they call Kahawa, whereof we shall have occasion to say more hereafter.

The Persians express'd their civility towards us so highly, both in word and deed, at this 〈…〉〈…〉 we could not have desir'd more in our own Country. Having taken leave both of

our Entertainer, the Ambassadors of Persia and Poland, and the rest of the Company, which was done with much honour and civility on all sides, we drew off with the noise of the Tim∣brels and Ha••••boyes, which sounded a retreat, after a very pleasant manner. Two of the most considerable of the Company brought us to the City Gate, where they renew'd their civilities, and acknowledg'd the honour the Ambassadors had done them, and re-assur'd us of their friend∣ship and services. As the Ambassadors went into the Shallop, some of the Ship Guns were fired, which had also been done when they went out of it to go to the Feast.

The 27. the Ambassadors, with some few persons about them, took a walk, and having gone about the City, they went a league farther to see the habitations of the Tartars. We found by the way, that, in those parts, Oxen and Horses tread out the Corn, whereas in o∣ther places it is thrash'd; whereby we explain'd that Law, which forbids muzzling the Oxe that treadeth out the Corn. No Hut but had its Hawk or Faulcon; in our return we met with one of their Princes coming from his sport,* 1.67 having his Hawk on his fist, and a Sheep-skin on his back, as all the rest had. He exprest his trouble that he had not been at home to entertain the Ambassadors.

The same day went thence the Poslanick Alexei Sawinouits, continuing his Voyage to Per∣sia by the Caspian Sea.

The 28.* 1.68 The Ambassadors were treated with the same magnificence and ceremonies by the o∣ther Persian Merchant, namely, Noureddin Mahumed, save that the Stage, or Theater, for the Muscovians, was erected in the Court, opposite to the Table, but more richly adorn'd than that of the Cuptzi. He had also invited the Religious Men before spoken of, certain Indi∣ans, and two Muscovites, who came from the Weywode, and understood the Language. The Ambassador Brugman being engag'd in discourse with them,* 1.69 broke out into very injurious ex∣pressions against the Turks, who, though enemies to the Persians, yet were not then in any ho∣stility against the Muscovites: whereupon the former fearing it might reflect on them, as being the Masters of the Entertainment, entreated the Ambassador not to engage into any further discourse concerning publike Affairs, but to be merry, and to assure himself, that the expres∣sions they then made us of their affection, were but slight earnests of the friendship we were to expect from them after our arrival into Persia.

The 29.* 1.70 we were visited by the Myrsa, or Tartar-Prince, whom we had met two days be∣fore returning from his sport. He made us a present of some wild Geese, which he had taken, and invited us to go along with him a-Hawking the next day, which we had accepted, but the Weywode would not permit it, as we said before.

Septemb. the last, the Weywode sent us a Present of some of the Country Preserves; to wit, Ginger-bread, and the juyce of Goosberies reduc'd to a Past, whereof some was dispos'd in∣to the form of great Cheeses, some flat, and some in Rolls. It was, in taste, somewhat sharp and picquant, and not unpleasant. The Muscovites put of this kind of paste into most of their sawces.

October the first,* 1.71 the Secretary of the Embassy, with two other Officers of the retinue, were ordered to go to the Weywode about some business. He receiv'd me with much civility, made me set down by him, and gave me a very favourable audience. But before he answer'd the Proposions we had made to him, he made great complaint of the unhandsome treatment, which Rodivon, our Pristaf, whom the Great Duke had order'd to conduct us as far as Astrachan, had received from the Ambassador Brugman. He had given him very uncivil language, and had call'd him Bledinsin, Sabak, &c. never considering that he was employ'd by the Great Duke. He told us further, that, to his knowledge, the Pristaf was a person of honour, and prudent in the management of his charge: but that it was a great indiscretion in the Ambassador to treat him after that rate, though Rodivon had not done his duty, and that he should rather have made his complaints of him to his Czaarick Majesty, or at least to those who represent the Prince's Person at Astrachan, of whom he might have expected satisfaction: That he could not believe the Duke of Holstein would take it well, no more than the Great Duke, that any publick Officer of his Country should be treated in that manner: That he was oblig'd by the concernment of his charge to make those remonstrances to us, but, that there was not, on the other side, any reason the whole retinue should suffer for his mis-carriage, and that that should not hinder him from giving us a speedy dispatch; as indeed he immediately did.

The dayes following were spent in carrying aboard the Provisions which we had bought,* 1.72 for the prosecution of our Voyage. Our own people had bak'd Bread and Bisket, and had brew'd a certain quantity of Beer. We had bought of the Tartars twenty fat Oxen, at between eight and fourteen Crowns a piece, as also several Barrels of Salt-fish, intending to go to Sea with the first opportunity. And in regard we knew not what kind of sayling it was on the Caspian Sea, and that it was represented to us as very dangerous, by reason of the shallowness of the Wolga thereabouts, for several leagues together, besides our Muscovian Pilot, we hired certain Tartars of the Country, who promis'd to go before us in a Boat, and to bring our ship into the main Sea.

Accordingly, Oct. 10. we left Astrachan,* 1.73 about noon, having very fair weather, taking our course towards South, and South-west. But we had not got a league, ere a contrary wind rising forc'd us to the shore, and kept us there all that day, and the next. We there receiv'd the visit of a certain Myrsa, or Tartar-Prince, a very handsome graceful person, and one of the most considerable in those parts, who presented us with a Mutton, and a Barrel of Milk.

We observ'd that near Astrachan, and for the most part all along the River Wolga, the Earth produc'd Simples in great abundance,* 1.74 and of incredible bigness. The Herb, which the Latins call Esula, grew there as high as a Man, and the Root of Angelica was as big as a Man's arm.

The Tempest being over, the 12. we set forward, but could get but a league that day. We got not much more the 13. and were forc'd to cast Anchor near a little round Mountain, on our left hand, 15. werstes from Astrachan.

The Muscovites call this mountain Tomanoi-gor. We gave it the name of the Snakie Moun∣tain,* 1.75 by reason of the abundance of Serpents we met with there. It was full of Caper-trees, and had abundance of the Herb called Semper-vivum, of several kinds, as Sea-house-leek, Prick∣madame, &c. The Plain, which is at the foot of this Hill, affords one of the most delightful Prospects of the World, and that for several leagues together. At night, we saw in a Boat the Strelits who had convoy'd the Poslanick, as far as Terki. They told us there was no danger in our way, and that they had come it in 24. hours.

The 14. the wind North-north-east, we continu'd our Voyage, and came in the afternoon over against a Chapel called Zuantzuk, 30. werstes from Astrachan. Hereabouts is the best fishing in the Country; The Tartars call it Vtschu, and it belongs to the Convent of Troitza, or of the Trinity, at Astrachan. The River Wolga, in this place, divided into several Cha∣nels, making so many Isles, which are covered all over with Bushes, Canes, and Ozier, as is also the Coast of the Caspian Sea, as far as the River Koisu. There is, among the rest, one Isle named Perul, 15. werstes from Vtschu, in which we saw a house built of wood, of a conside∣rable height: having on the roof of it a long pole with a Sheep's skull at the top of it, and we were told it was the Sepulchre of a Tartarian Saint, near which the Inhabitants, as also some among the Persians, when they either take a Voyage, or are safely return'd home, sacrifice a Sheep, part whereof serves for the Sacrifice, the rest for a Feast after the Sacrifice. Having ended their Prayers and Devotions, the Sheep's head is put on the top of the pole, where it is left, till it be either reliev'd by another, or fall off of it self. The Muscovites call this place Tataski Molobitza, that is to say, The Sacrifice of the Tartars. Behind this Isle, on the left hand, there were, upon a high, but very smooth ascent, a great number of Hutts.

At night we came to another Fishing-place, 15. werstes from the Sea, where the River is shut in with a Palizadoe, and kept by a hundred Muscovian Musketiers, who keep a guard there against the Cosaque Pirates. In this place we saw a great number of Dog-fishes, or Sea-hounds, as also of that kind of Fowl which Pliny calls Onocratalus, whose Beaks are long, round, and flat at the extremity, as a Spoon beaten out. Putting its Beak into the water, it makes a noise not much unlike that of an Ass, whence it hath the name: but particularly we took notice of a kind of Geese, or rather Cormorants, whereof we made mention before. The Muscovites call them Babbes, the Persians, Kuthum, and the Moores of Guiny, Bombu. As to their feet, leggs, neck, and colour, they are like other Geese, but they are bigger in body than Swans. Their Bills are above a foot and a half long, and two fingers broad, and forked at the end. Under their Bills, they have a great bag of shrivell'd skin, which they can dilate so, as that it is able to contain near three Gallons of liquor, and they make use of it as a reservatory for the fish they take, till such time as they can swallow them down. For their throats are so wide, that people are not only oblig'd to shut them, when they make use of these Birds in fishing, as they often do, but also, if we believe Franciscus Sanctius, it was discover'd, that one of these Birds, which was taken upon its having overcharg'd the said bag, had swallow'd down a Moor-child upon the Coasts of Africk. The Persians are very expert in dressing the skins of them, and making Tabours thereof, or covering therewith some other Musical Instruments. The Am∣bassador Crusius kill'd one of them upon the Caspian Sea side, which was above two ells and a half between the extremities of the Wings, and above seven foot from the head to the feet. Franciscus Fernandez, in his History of the living-Creatures and Plants of Mexico, sayes, that, in those parts, there are some that have teeth within their Bills; but we are not to go out of Africa into America.

We saw hereabouts another kind of Bird, much after the form of wild Ducks, save that they are somewhat bigger, and black as Crows, and have longer necks, and the end of their bills forked. The Muscovites call them Baclan, and they are seen only in the night time; their quills are harder and bigger than those of Crows, and very fit for designers.

The 15. we came to the mouth of the River Wolga, and the entrance into the Caspian Sea, which is 12. leagues from Astrachan, and full of small Islands, covered ••••th Reeds & Canes till a man comes six leagues within the Sea. Some attribute to the Wolga as many mouths as there

are Islands thereabouts; but they are mistaken, for those Islands are to be accompted rather made by the Sea, than the River.

The bottome is all muddy, having but between four, or four foot and a half water, which put us to inexpressible trouble, and took up our time so, as that we hardly got four leagues in seven dayes. Our worst dayes were the 18. and 19. of October. The 18. we were got on a Bank, at five foot water, and having spent as many hours in getting off, we found indeed six foot water, but soon discover'd that it was only a pit, which of all sides, had Banks, at four and four foot and a half water.

Having, with no less trouble, got again to the Bank where we had five foot water, the wind being turn'd to the North-west, the water fell so sensibly, that we had but three foot, the Ship being as it were fasten'd in the mud. We unloaded part of our Provisions into the Tarta∣rian Boat that went before us, and set all our people on work, to get off; but though they took incredible pains, so as that they had not the leasure either to eat or drink, yet could they do no good, so that all could be done was patiently to expect the return of the water, which we could not hope for but with the change of the wind. This was no small affliction to those, who consider'd that we were there at the mercy of the Cosaques, who might easily have taken us prisoners, and forc'd us to ransome our selves. With all these misfortunes there happen'd to be such a thick mist, that we could not see from one end of the Ship to the other, and occasion'd a great oversight in us, by firing a great Gun, according to the order of the Ambassador Brugman, at a Muscovian Boat that pass'd somewhat near our Ship: Those who were in the Boat return'd us their curses, and told us, that they might as freely pass that way, as we, who were Stran∣gers, and went by the Great Duke's permission, whom we were oblig'd to acknowledge for So∣veraign of that Sea, and their Prince; that since we were so much given to shooting, we might keep our powder to be us'd against the Cosaques, who not far thence expected us. This re∣proach caus'd two other Boats to fare the better, and our selves also, for, instead of in∣jurious speeches, they sent us some of the fruits of Circassia, to wit, an excellent kind of Pears, Nuts, and Medlars.

Oct. 21. at night, we first perceiv'd that the water was risen to five foot, which begat in us a hope, that we might put off to Sea. The Tempest, which rose the 22. with a South-south-east∣wind, brought it up to nine foot; but it was so violent, that not daring to make use of our Sails, we were forc'd to continue still at Anchor, and expect fairer weather, which came not till five dayes after.

The 23. in the morning, the sky being clear, I observ'd the Sun at its rising, and found, that, in respect of the Compass, it rose 22. degrees more towards the South than it should, by which means we discover'd, that, in that place, the needle declin'd 22. degrees from the North, to∣wards the West.

The 27. the Tempest being over, we return'd all our things into the Ship, and dismiss'd our Boat, and, having hoised Sail, got into the Sea; but we hardly made a league, ere we were again in the mud, and oblig'd to send for the Boat. But perceiving we had water enough, the 28. and seeing thirteen Sail behind us coming out of the Wolga, whom we conceiv'd to be the Caravan, we order'd the Boat to be sent back. It was the Tartar-Prince, two Merchants of Persia, and five hundred Muscovian Musketiers, with their Colonel, who were going to relieve the Garrison of Terki: but what put us most to a loss, was, that, finding the Muscovian Pilot, whom we had taken up at Astrachan, absolutely ignorant in the business of Navigation; and the Maps, by which we intended to direct our course, absolutely false, we knew not what re∣solution to take.

We resolv'd at last to address our selves to the Officer that commanded the 500. Musketiers, and to send to him in the evening, while all the ships lay at Anchor, to entreat his assistance and advice in that conjuncture, and to desire him to give us an able man that might be our Pilot on the Caspian Sea. He came aboard us, and having drunk sufficiently, he made us the greatest protestations of friendship in the World, and told us, that the trouble it was to him to see us in those difficulties had bereft him of his sleep; that his joy to find us in good health was so much the more extraordinary, and that he would not fail to send the Weywode notice of it by an express Messenger; that all under his Command were at our service, and that as soon as he were got aboard,* 1.76 he would send us a Pilot we might confide in. But the merry Companion was no sooner got to his own ship, but he set sayl, and left us in the lurch. I think, what troubled him was, that we had not made him some present according to the custom of the Countrey; but he regarded so little the slur he had put upon the Ambassadors, that he had the impudence to come and Visit them in their ship, in the company of several other Tartarian Lords, after our arrival at Terki, and made no other answer to the reproaches he receiv'd upon that occasion, than, ja wi nouat, a great business indeed to be talk'd of.

Finding our selves thus abus'd,* 1.77 we sent to the Master of the Persian ship, to entreat his assist∣ance. He, though Mas•••••• of the ship, and owner of all the goods in it, came aboard us, to prof∣fer us his service as a Pilot, with more kindness and civility than we could have expected from a

Christian, and, having recommended his own ship to his servants, stay'd with us. He was a very understanding man, and was not only acquainted with the Navigation of those parts, but also with the Compass, much beyond what the Persians ordinarily are vers'd in, who do not willingly venture very far into the Sea, but for the most part keep in sight of Land. So that finding the wind serv'd,* 1.78 he caus'd the Anchor to be weigh'd, about eleven at night, taking his course towards the South, with an East wind. We observ'd it was the same day that we left Travemunde the year before, and accordingly we had the same success in this second Voyage. We had all that night but ten foot water; but towards day, we had eighteen. The Countrey on our right hand, which is called Suchator, had four Hills, which made a great Promontory, reaching a great way into the Sea; and from that Cape to Astrachan are counted 100 werstes, and to Terki 200. but on both sides they are very short ones.

The 29. The weather fair, we kept on our course, in the morning Southward, and with a South-East wind, and in the afternoon, South-west-ward, having about twenty foot water, and finding the bottom gravelly, and full of little shells. We could discover no Land that day, and the night following, we cast Anchor. Here the Needle declin'd twenty degrees, from North to West.

Octob. 30. We set sayl at the break of day, and soon after Sun-rising, we discover'd the Countrey of Circassia, which lies all along the Sea-Coast from the South-West, to North-East, compassing it about, much after the form of a Crescent, and making a spaci∣ous Bay.

It was our design, to get beyond the point of the Gulf, but the wind coming to South-East, had almost forc'd us into it, which oblig'd us to cast Anchor about noon, at the entrance of the Gulf, at three fathom and a half water, finding at the bottom a kind of fat earth, about six Leagues from Terki. We discover'd in the Bay, about 20. or twenty five Boats, and upon the first sight thereof, it run into our imagination, that they were the Cosaques; but we were soon undeceiv'd, and found them to be Tartarian Fisher-men, belonging to Terki, and were then coming to bring us fish to sell. For those we bought of them, we gave them fifteen pence a piece, but they were very great ones, and we found in their bellies a great number of Crabs and Lobsters, among which there were some alive.

The remainder of the day we spent in giving Almighty God solemn thanks, for all his mer∣cifull deliverances of us, particularly that which happen'd on the very same day the year before, when we were in so great danger, amidst the Rocks and Shelves of Ocland. Our Persian Pi∣lot went that day to his own ship, which was at some distance behind us, to give his men Or∣der what they should do, leaving us somewhat of an opinion, that he would shew us such ano∣ther trirk as the Muscovite had done before: but he afterwards made it appear, that those of his Nation are not only made up of Complements, for he return'd very betimes the next morning, having sent his Boat before us, to serve us for a Guide.

The last day of October, we had, in the morning, a thick Mist, with a great Calm. The Sun having dispell'd the one about noon, and the wind being come to the North, we endeavour'd to get out of the Gulf, and with much ado, by laveering, got the point, near which we stayd at Anchor till after midnight, and came very betimes in the morning,* 1.79 on the first of November, before the City of Terki. We cast Anchor about a quarter of a League from the City, because we could not come any nearer, by reason of the shallowness of the water. The night before, the Cosaques had a design to set upon us, but happily miss'd us in the dark, and met with the little Fleet which brought the Tartar-Prince; but the noise of the Strelits or Muscovian Mus∣kettiers having discover'd to them that they were mistaken, and imagining they should find a vi∣gorous resistance, they drew back, but made it appear they were the Germans that they look'd for.

Intelligence coming, in the morning, to the City, of this attempt of the Cosaques, rais'd a ver∣ry hot Alarm there, in regard it was known that Mussal their Prince was coming, and that he might be in some danger. The Inhabitants were confirm'd in that opinion, when they heard the going off of our great Guns, a noise they are not accustomed to in those parts; insomuch that they began to get together, and look on us as Enemies; but they were put out of all fear by the arrival of their Prince, who having given us a Volley as he pass'd by, and invited us to ho∣nour him with a Visit at his Mother's, satisfy'd the Inhabitants, that there was no danger either to him or them.

The City of Terki lies somewhat above half a League from the Sea,* 1.80 upon the little River Ti∣menski, which issues out of the great River Bustro and facilitates the correspondence there is be∣tween the Sea and the City, to which there is is no other way to come by reason of the Fens, which encompass it on all sides, for a quarter of a League about. It is seated in a spacious plain, which is of such extent, that the extremities thereof cannot be discover'd by the eye; whence may be corrected the errour of the Map, drawn by Nicholas Iansson Piscator, alias Vischer, though in all other things the best and most exact of any I could ever meet with, who places the City of Terki upon a Mountain, but, by a mistake, confounding the City of Tarku in the Pro∣vince

of Dagesthan, with that of Terki in Circassia. The Elevation of the Pole, is, here, at 43. degrees, 23 minutes. It is distant from Astrachan sixty Leagues by Sea, and seventy by Land, and is the last place under the Jurisdiction of the Great Duke of Muscovy. It is in length 2000. foot; and in breadth 800. all built of Wood, even the Towers and Rampiers, yet very well fur∣nish'd with great Guns, among which there were then two battering Pieces, plac'd upon Carria∣ges, before the Governours house.

The Great Duke hath lately caus'd it to be fortify'd after the modern way of Fortification,* 1.81 with Rampiers and Bastions of earth, by a Dutch Engineer named Cornelius Nicholas, who went Masters-mate along with us into Persia. The ordinary Garrison consists of two thousand men, 1500. whereof are under the Command of a Weywode, or Colonel, and divided into three Pri∣casses or Regiments, each of 500. men. The Prince is assign'd the other 500. for his Guard, and they are maintain'd upon the Great Duke's charge, but oblig'd to joyn with the others in case of necessity. The Tartars of Circassia have their habitations on this side the River. We shall speak of their Religion and manner of life hereafter, as having had more leasure at our re∣turn, to make a more particular observation thereof.

The next day after our arrival,* 1.82 the Cuptzi and the other Persian Merchants sent a Present to the Ambassadors, which consisted of excellent Fruits, in great abundance, as also to ask them, whether they were resolv'd to prosecute their Voyage by Sea, or would travel by Land, with this by way of Invitation, that if they would go by Land, there was an opportunity to do it with all imaginable convenience, in as much as, within three dayes, there was expected at Ter∣ki a Muscovian Ambassador, who was upon his return from Persia, and would bring with him to the Frontiers, two hundred Camels, and a great number of Mules, which might carry our baggage. To this, it was added, that, by this convenience, we might pass safely through the Countrey of the Tartars of Dagesthan, and avoid falling into the hands of their Schemkal, or Captain, who was one of the greatest Robbers in the World; and that we might be the fur∣ther assur'd there was no danger, they proffer'd us their company in our Travels. This propo∣sal was so well receiv'd by the Ambassadors, that they immediately sent to the Weywode to de∣sire his permission to take their advantage of this opportunity, and dispatch'd Rustan, our Per∣sian Interpreter, to the Frontiers of Dagesthan, six Leagues from Terki, to take order for the prosecution of our Voyage by Land; but being come thither, he found the Camels, and all the other beasts fit for carriage, were return'd into Persia.

The Weywode had at first absolutely deny'd us the Liberty of passage; but as soon as he heard there was no convenience of taking that way, he sent an Officer to tell us, that, though he had receiv'd no express order from the Great Duke to permit any such thing, yet he would not stick to grant us passage, and assist us in order thereto what lay in his power.

The night following,* 1.83 the Mariners, belonging to our ship, fell into a mutiny, against Mi∣chael Cordes, our Captain, and the noise was so great, that many of them were put into Irons. The next day, an enquiry was made into the disorder that had been committed in the night, and Anthony Manson, a Sayl-maker, being found the most guilty of any, he was condemn'd to remain a Prisoner at Terki, till our return out of Persia. The Weywode sent for him, by two of his Officers, at the entreaty of the Ambassadors. One of those Officers had a Coat of Mail under his Casaque, and a tin Gantelet; the other, who by his quality was a Knez; had a Gar∣ment of Crimson Velvet.

Nov. 4. Our Musick play'd in the morning betimes, it being the birth day of the Ambassa∣dor Brugman; which ended, the great Guns were discharg'd. The same morning, the Tartar Prince's Mother sent one to complement the Ambassadors, and to give them thanks for their respects and civilities towards her son in his Voyage, entreating them to honour her with a Vi∣sit at her house,* 1.84 and to come and receive her Benediction. In the afternoon, we were Visited, aboard, by a Persian Lord, who had a retinue of many servants. He was an Eunuch, and the King of Persia had sent him express, to bring along with him the Tartar Prince's sister, to whom he was to be married. He made extraordinary proffers of friendship to the Ambassadors, and was so well pleas'd with our drink, that he grew perfectly drunk, in so much that he knew not which way to get out of the ship. They that came along with him were so edify'd by his exam∣ple, that one of them was so loaden, that we were forc'd to let him down by a rope into the Shallop.

The 5. The Ambassador sent M. Mandelslo, the Pastor and Secretary of the Embassy, ac∣company'd by our Tartarian and Persian Interpreters, to the Weywode,* 1.85 to Present him a large Vermilion-guilt-cup, and the two Chancellors or Secretaries each of them with a Ruby. They were also ordered to go and wait upon the Tartar-Prince's Mother, and to complement her up∣on the safe return of her Son. We were very kindly receiv'd in all places, and treated with Collations of Fruit, Beer, Hydromel, Aquavitae, and Wine. The Weywode entertain'd us with the same magnificence as that of Nisenovogorod, and falling into discourse of the na∣ture and manner of life of the Persians, he told us, that they would, no doubt, be extremely liberal of their good words and fair promises, but that it requires a strong

faith to believe one half of them, in as much as their performance would not be consonant thereto.

Prince Mussal receiv'd us in Person,* 1.86 with very intimate demonstrations of affection, at the entrance of the Court, and conducted us into a high and spacious Hall, whereof the Walls were of earth, and so built, that a man might see on all sides, at an equal distance, a certain number of Neeches vaulted, in which there were either rich beds, with coverlets of silk or cot∣ton; or there were layd up in them several pieces of Persian Tapestry, and coverlets; wrought or embroider'd with gold and silk, of divers several colours, with great chests covered with the same.

All along the wall, just under the seeling, there hung two rows of dishes, of wood and earth, of diverse colours; and the pillars, which underpropp'd the structure, were hung all about with excellent Cymitars, Quivers, and Arrows. The Princess sat in a chair, having about her a black loose Gown lin'd with Sables, and made after the fashion of a morning-coat.

The Princess's name was Bika,* 1.87 and she was of a very noble stature, and had a good counte∣nance, and might be about 45 years of age. She wore, at her neck behind, an Ox-bladder, blown to the utmost, which was wound about towards her hair, with a rich Scarf embroider'd with Gold and Silk, and had about her neck another Scarf, the two ends whereof hung down over her shoulders. Behind the Chair stood a Lady, who had also a Bladder at her neck, and we were told afterwards that it was the Badge of Widdowhood. On her right hand stood her three Sons, the two younger whereof were no better in Cloaths than the most inconsiderable per∣sons in the Country. Behind them, stood certain Servants, on whose fore-heads and faces (which they had torn with their nails) might still be seen the marks of their mourning for the death of the elder brother, who had been executed at Moscou. On the left hand stood, all in a file, several Tartars, who were all very aged Persons, and represented the Council and Of∣ficers of the Court. The Princess, having answer'd our Complement, ordered Seats to be brought; and a little Table furnish'd with Fruits for the Collation,* 1.88 at which our drink was Hy∣dromel and Aquavitae. We would have had the Princes to have sate down with us, but they would not by any means do it, alledging, that it was not the Custome of the Country, and that the respect they ought their Mother permitted not their sitting down in her pre∣sence.

The Collation being ended,* 1.89 and the Princess and others of the Company having handled and taken particular notice of our Cloaths all over, the Princess her self presented to each of us, a large Cup, full of a sort of Aquavitae extracted out of a Millet, which we found as strong as Spirit of Wine. The three Princes Presented us also with each of them a Cup, and intreated us not to take it ill, if they did the same honour to our Servants. In the mean time there was o∣pened, behind the Princess, a Chamber-door, at the entrance whereof were to be seen several Ladies, and amongst the rest the Princess's Daughter, who was betroathed to the Sophy of Persia.

She might be about sixteen years of age, and was very handsome, the clearness of her com∣plexion having so much the greater lustre, by reason of the extraordinary blackness of her hair. These Ladies seemed to be no less desirous to see our Cloaths, than those who were in the Hall, thrusting one another towards the door, which they immediately shut upon the least sign made to them by the Princess: but they opened it again soon after, to take a further view of us. They call'd one of our servants to them, to take the more particular notice of his Cloaths, the fashion whereof they very much admir'd, as also that of his Sword, which they desir'd him to draw, that they might see the blade of it. But the Persian Envoy, who every day visited the Princess, coming into the Room while they were so employ'd, the Chamber door was immediately shut upon them, and we took leave of the Princess and the Princes her Sons, and went to view the Ci∣ty. We there met with several Women, handsome, young, and well made, having on them a kind of smocks of frocks of diverse colours, who made no difficulty ever and anon to stay us, till they had taken particular notice of our Cloaths.

Nov. 6. The Cuptzi sent us a Letter from the Governour of Derbent, in answer to that which he had writ to him from Astrachan, the 25 of Sept. before. The contents of it was, to express his joy at our arrival, and to order the Cuptzi not to come away without us, but to bring us a∣long with him by Sea.

The 7. Our Interpreter Rustan return'd from the frontiers of Dagesthan, with this news, that those, who had conducted the Muscovian Ambassador to the frontiers, were return'd into Persia before his coming thither; and that they thought it not enough to carry away the Ca∣mels and all the other Beasts fit for carriage, but they had also taken along with them the pieces of Timber and Fagots, without which it was impossible to get over those places where the Road was bad: upon which intelligence it was immediately resolv'd, that we should continue our Voyage by Sea.

The 8. The Princess sent the Ambassadors a present of two Sheep, fifty Pullets, and several other Provisions. The high Chancellor of Muscovy sent us a Sheep, a barrel of Beer, and a∣another

of Hydromel. In the afternoon, the Prince Mussal came to give us a visit, to bid us adieu. There came along with him a Myrsa of Dagesthan, a Brother of the Prince of Tarku's, who made us believe, he was come expre••s to conduct the Ambassadors as far as the place of his Brother's residence. He was no better clad than the other Tartars, having, over his old cloaths, a Cloak, of a sort of very coarse Cloath, but as to his corntenance and behaviour, he express'd a fierceness beyond any of them, not dissembling the trouble it was to him, that we discover'd a greater respect for Mussal than for him, and refusing to stand at the drinking of the Great Duke's health. And when Mussal intreated him to consider the place he was in, he confidently made answer, that he knew not whether the Country he was then in, were the Great Duke's or his own, and began to pick a quarrel with him, reproaching him, that, with all his gay Cloaths, he was but a slave to the Muscovite, whereas himself, though but in raggs, was ne∣vertheless an absolute Prince; that acknowledg'd no other superiour than God: insomuch that at last, not able to govern his passion, he absolutely refus'd to drink the Czaar's health in any posture,* 1.90 and went his wayes. Some of his servants stole from our Minister, a silver Spoon and a Knife, and cut off one of the sleeves of my Doublet; but they were forc'd to leave it behind them, it being engag'd under some other Cloaths.

Prince Mussal staid with the Ambassadors, and begg'd of them the pardon of the Mariner whom we had sent Prisoner to Terki. The Ambassadors very freely satisfy'd his desire therein, and so sent late that night, the Secretary of the Embassy and another Gentleman, to the Wey∣wode, to entreat him to return the Prisoner into our hands, and to desire justice of him against the Muscovian Pilot, who had run away from us two dayes before. A good while after night a Lacquey was sent after us,* 1.91 to press our immediate return to the Ship, which was then ready to set sayl, to make all the advantage they could of the Wind, which for some hours had blown very fair. We had dispatch'd all our business, when the Lacquey came to us; but notwith∣standing all the expedition we could use, we found the Ship under sayl, but it was not long, ere the Wind, turning to the direct contrary point, forc'd us to continue in the same place.

The Weywode in the mean time sent us his Present,* 1.92 which consisted of a hundred pieces of hung Beef, four tuns of Beer, a puncheon of French Wine, a tun of Hydromel, a puncheon of Vine∣gar, two Sheep, four great Cakes of Ginger-bread, and several Loafs of other bread. There was bestow'd among those that brought the Present, about 20. Crowns, and good store of Aqua∣vitae, insomuch that they went their way very well satisfy'd.

Nov. 10. the Wind coming to South-west, we set sayl at the break of day, intending to take the course of the City of Derbent, which is the nearest of any of that frontier. About noon, we discover'd a Bark, which at first, took its course so as if it would have pass'd on the right hand of us, then made as if she would come up streight to us, and not knowing well what re∣solution to take, they ever and anon made more or less sayl; whereby perceiving that those who were in it, were afraid of us, the Ambassador Brugman gave order that the Ship should make streight towards the Bark, put the Soldiers in their stations, and commanded a certain number of great Guns to be fir'd at randome, the more to frighten them. The poor people im∣mediately struck sayl, and came near us. They were Persians, Fruit-Merchants, and the Bark was then loaden with Apples, Pears, Quinces, Nuts, and other Fruits. The Master of it, who was Brother to our Pilot, seeing him among a sort of people such as he had never seen before, and believing he was their Prisoner, began with horrid Cries and Lamentations to bewail his Brother's misfortune, as also his own, which he expected to fall into, though he cry'd several times to him, Korchma duschman lardekul, Fear not, they are friends, among whom I am with my own consent. But the other would hear of no perswasion to the contrary, imagining, that they forc'd him to speak to that purpose, and could not recover himself out of the fear he was in, till his Brother had acquainted him with the occasion which had brought him to our Ship. Then was it that he took the courage to come himself into our Ship, with a present of all sorts of Autumn-fruits, whereof he also sold good store, so cheap, that a quarter of a hundred of ve∣ry great Apples came not to a penny. He was treated with Aquavitae, after which he return'd to his Bark very well satisfied.

Much about this time, we came near an Isle which the Muscovites call Tzetland,* 1.93 and the Persians, Tzenzeni, eight Leagues from Terki, on the left hand. There we cast Anchor, at three fathom and a half water, and staid there four and twenty hours, according to the custom of the Pesians. We had lying before us a Treatise written by George Dictander, (who had Travell'd into Pesia in the year 1602. with an Ambassador sent thither by the Emperour Ro∣dolph 11.) who, speaking of this Isle, sayes, that, being the only man left alive at his return, and staid in that place by the cold, he had been forc'd to kill the Horses which the Sophy had bestow'd on him, after he had consum'd all the other Provisions. Having at our coming thither, four or five hours of day-light remaining, the Ambassadors thought it not amiss to go into the Island, to see whether what they observ'd there, were consonant to what the other had written thereof: But all we could meet with worth our Observation was, only three great poles fasten'd

together, and set up at one of the points of the Island, beset all about with Roots and Boughs, to serve for a direction to the Mariners, and two great Ditches, wherein some time before fire had been made. This, in all probability was done by the Cosaques, who make their fre∣quent retreats into that Island. It lies at forty three degrees, five minutes elevation, and reaches in length from North-east to South-east, about three German Leagues. The soil is for the most part sandy and barren, and towards the extremities, either cover'd with shells, or fenny; and it is the only Island that is to be seen, as we goe to Kilan, West-ward of the ordinary course.

From this Island, there may be seen in the Continent, towards the South-west, such high Mountains, that we took them at first for Clouds. Our people called them the Mountains of Circassia; but the Muscovites, nay the Inhabitants of Circassia themselves, call it the Moun∣tain Salatto, and it is properly that Mountain which the Antients call Caucasus,* 1.94 in the Pro∣vince of Colchis, which is the same that at this day is called Mengrelia;* 1.95 and is so famous in Antiquity, for the fabulous expedition of Iason for the Golden 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Its height, which in∣deed is extraordinary, in as much as it seems to extend it self to the Stars, hath furnish'd the Poets with that fancy, that it was from this Mountain Prometheus stole fire from the Sun, to communicate it to men. Quintus Curtius affirms, that it crosses all Asia. Certain indeed it is, that the Mountains of Aratat and Taurus are so near, and do so as it were cloze with it, that it seems to be but one continu'd Mountain, extending it self all through Asia, from Men∣grelia, as far as the Indies. From the Caspian Sea, towards the Euxine Sea, and Asia the lesser, it is near fifty Leagues in breadth. But let us see what Quintus Curtius says of it, in the se∣venth Book of his History, where he gives us this accompt of it. They reach, saith he, from thence, towards Mount Caucasus. which divides Asia into two parts, and leaves the Cilician Sea on the one-side, and on the other, the Caspian Sea, the River Araxes, and the Deserts of Scy∣thia. Mount Taurus, which is to be ranked in the second place for its height, is joyned to Cauca∣sus, and, beginning in Cappadocia, crosses Cilicia, and reathes as far as A••••nia. It is as it were a continu'd concatenation of Mountains, out of which arise almost a••l the Rivers of Asia, some whereof fall into the Red-sea, and others, into the Hyrcanian, or that of Pontus. The Ar∣my pass'd the Caucasus in seventeen days, and came in sight of the Rock, which is ten Stadia in compasse, and about four in height, where Prometheus was chained, if we may credit the Poets.

Mount Aratat,* 1.96 upon which Noah's Ark rested after the deluge, and which the Armenians call Messina, the Persians, Agri, and the Arabians Subeilahn, is without comparison much higher than the Caucasus, and is indeed but a great black Rock, without any Verdure, and co∣ver'd with Snow on the top, as well in Summer as Winter, by means whereof it is discover'd fifteen Leagues into the Caspian Sea. The Armenians, and the Persians themselves, are of opi∣nion, that there are still upon the said Mountain some remainders of the Ark, but that time hath so hardned them, that they seem absolutely petrify'd. At Schamachy in Media, we were shewn a Cross of a black and hard Wood, which the Inhabitants affirmed to have been made of the Wood of the Ark: and upon that account it was look'd upon as a most precious Relick, and, as such, was wrapp'd in Crimson Taffata. The Mountain is now inaccessible, by reason of the precipices whereby it is encompass'd of all sides.

Imaniculi Sulthan, whom the Sophy sent Ambassador to the Duke of Holstein, our Master, and whose Territories lye in those parts, in the Country of Karabah told us many very remark∣able particulars of it. These high Mountains are a great direction to those who have no Com∣pass to sail by in the Caspian Sea; in as much as changing their form according to the several prospects they afford, the Pilots by that means easily discover whereabouts they are.

The 11. we continu'd our Voyage presently after Sun-rising, taking our course along the Isle Southward. At the extremity of the Isle, there is a kind of Streight, near a Cape or Pro∣montory which comes out of the Continent into the Sea, much about the same place, where, on the Isle side, a great Sand-bank advances it self toward the Land, and so makes but a nar∣row passage. Which oblig'd us to cast Anchor, that we might have the more convenience of Sounding, so to avoid the flats or shallows, which make Navigation very dangerous therea∣bouts. We found, at first, but two fathom water, but soon after we were at six or seven fathom; insomuch that the Wind becoming more favourable, we took our course South-South-west, directly towards Derbent, along the shore, and in sight of it. After mid-night, the Wind be∣ing not so much for us as before, we were forc'd to laveer it all the remainder of the Night; but we advanc'd little or nothing; insomuch that a Tempest rising thereupon, we at last resolv'd to cast Anchor, which we did, at twelve fathom water. We lay at Anchor all the 12th. till 9. at night, and then the Wind coming to the North, we set sail with a favourable Wind, taking our course to the South-South-east.

About 11. the same night, we found between 20 and thirty fathom water, and an hour after, no bottom,* 1.97 so that the wind being turn'd again to an absolute Tempest, we conceiv'd, that it

would be dangerous for us to bear much sail upon a Sea we were not acquainted with, and that in the Night time, Whereupon having furl'd them up, we let the Ship go directly before the wind, by which means we got two Leagues in less than an hour. We had, besides our double Shallop, two other Boats, one whereof, which we had bought of the Muscovites, was only for their convenience who sounded the depth of the Water, and the other serv'd for the unload∣ing of our Ship, which drew both of them after her. There were two Sea-men appointed for the guiding of the Shallop, which, having in it only certain small Pieces, Bullets, Chains, Cables, Pitch, and other things necessary for Navigation, was made so shallow, that being ever and anon fill'd with water, the Sea-men, finding themselves no longer able to guide it, came aboard the Ship, and fasten'd the Shallop to the stern. The other Boats were soon over-whelm'd with water and lost. The Shallop held out a while, but at length follow'd the others, and this prov'd the beginning of our wrack upon the Caspian Sea. Our Ship, which was built only of Firr, and had been much endammag'd by the Sand-banks of the Wolga, bow'd under the high and violent waves of that Sea, as if it had been a Snake, and open'd in so many places, that we were forc'd to be alwayes at the Pump, and continually employ'd in emptying the water that came in of all sides. Our Persian Pilot had not the least share of the common fear and distracti∣on we were all in, and no doubt wish'd himself in his own Ship, or nearer Land; in regard that had we been cast away there, we had all inevitably perish'd.

Nov. 13. at the break of day, we perceiv'd, that we had still kept in sight of Land, and we particularly discovered the Mountain of Derbent, which, as we conceived, could not be above ten Leagues distant from us. The Tempest abating a little of its Violence, we hois'd the mizen Sail, and afterwards the main Sail, with a resolution to run the Ship strait a-ground. But ha∣ving, the Night before, taken our course too high, and the wind continuing still from the North-west, we were forc'd to comply with it, and, to our no small regret, pass beyond the City of Derbent, along the Persian Coast, which, in that place, reaches from North to South, but so as that we could not find any Road or Haven, where we might save our selves; for as much as there being only Rocks at the bottom for the space of six Leagues from the Land into the Sea, it is impossible to make the Anchor take any hold. At last, about four, in the after∣noon, we cast Anchor, at four fathom water, before the Village of Niasebeth, which our Au∣thors call Nisavay, the bottom muddy; but we thought not our selves more safe at Anchor, than when we were toss'd up and down in the main Sea. The waves were so violent by reason of the extraordinary roughness of the Sea, that it was not long ere they broke the hindges of the Rudder, which oblig'd us to take it quite off, and to fasten it with a Cable behind the Ship, lest beating against the Castle it should have broke it all to pieces; the Water coming still into the Ship so fast, that we were forc'd to spend the remainder of that day, and all the night fol∣lowing, in emptying it.

The Tempest abated a little of its violence the next morning, being the the 14. of Novem∣ber, and invited us to think of some course for the disembarking of our selves, but we had nei∣ther Boat nor Shallop to help us to Land, and though we had caus'd several Volleyes of great and small shot to be discharg'd, to oblige the Inhabitants of the Countrey to come in to our re∣lief, yet could we not perceive any body; but we had hardly made a shift to clap a certain number of deal Boards together like a flat-bottom'd Boat, ere we saw coming towards us two Boats, which the Kaucha, or Judge of the Village, had sent to our relief in that extre∣mity.

They brought us a present, of two baggs of Apples, with a very obliging Complement, protesting that they were no less glad at our arrival, than we might be at theirs. Which done, they exhorted the Ambassadors to get out of the Ship as soon as they could possibly, taking along with them what they accompted of greatest Value, and not to be over-confident of the clam,* 1.98 which, no doubt, would not last many hours. The Ambassadors took their advice, and having put into the Boats what they thought most considerable, they ordered some part of their retinue to go in also, and certain Soldiers with their Officers; leaving in the ship the Sieur Vchterits, their Steward, and the Secretary of the Embassy, with an intent to send for them as soon as they were landed themselves.

The Kaucha was on Horse-back at the Sea-side, and perceiving that the Boats could not come near enough, by reason of the shallowness of the water, he alighted, and sent the Ambassadors his Horse for their more convenient Landing. And thus it was that the Ambassadors first set foot in Persia. But as soon as they were got a-shore, the Tempest grew more violent than it had been before, insomuch that it was impossible for them to send back the Boats: which put us that were left aboard to the utmost hazard of Shipwrack and Life. The Ship, being now in a manner quite unloaden, was toss'd up and down like a Ball by the Waves, the Sea raising her, one while, up to the Clouds, another swallowing her up in its abysses. There was constantly above a foot water upon the Deck, so that we were not able to stay upon it; and at last the Ship opening above, just in the middle, we began to fear the absolute dissolution of her. We observ'd also by the Trees that were upon the Sea-side, that the Anchor was loose, and that

the wind had carry'd us above a quarter of a League from the place where he had disembarked the Ambassadors, whereupon we cast two others, both which were lost about 11. the same night, as also our Rudder. The biggest Anchor held still, but the Vessel drew so much water, that the Pump being of no further use, we were forc'd to empty her with Kettles. About mid∣night the wind came to the East, and broke off our main and mizen Masts, and over-turn'd them into the Sea, the Ship shaking in that interim with so much violence, that the edges of her were ever and anon even with the water. The Sea-men intreated the Secretary, to give them leave to cut the Ropes that still held her, to see if that would deliver us out of the extremity we were in; which he made no difficulty to grant them. We had not eaten ought in three dayes, and watching, with continual labour, had brought us so low, that having lost all cou∣rage, together with the hope of ever saving our Lives, all our thoughts were taken up with the disposal of our selves for Death. Our Carpenter was the only person who had the courage to go under Decks, and to take so large a dose of Aquavitae, that being come up on the Deck, he fell down dead at our feet. Nor indeed could we have imagin'd him to be otherwise, if the Ex∣haltations of the Aquavitae, that ascended from his stomach, had not discover'd the nature of his indisposition.* 1.99 The Sea-men remitted nothing of their labour all this time, and exhorted the rest to be of good courage, putting us in hope, that, within some few hours, either the weather would change, or the Ambassadors would not fail to relieve us, as indeed they were both of them earnest to do all lay in their power for our preservation. Nay the Ambassador Brugman would, with his Sword drawn, have forc'd some of our people to come in the two Boats to look after us, but he could by no means prevail with them, to hazard themselves.

Perceiving the day slipp'd away without any hope of relief, and fearing the Tempest might grow more violent the night following, I took the Master's-mate aside, and was desirous to know of him, whether, the Tempest continuing in the height it was then at, it would not be our best course to run the Ship a-ground to save the men. His answer was, that he believ'd the Ship could not make any great resistance, and that it were not amiss I took the advice of the other Officers, and propose it to the Captain and the Master, who both confess'd, that the ship was in so ill a plight, that they were confident the Ambassador Brugman himself would have commanded her to be run a-ground, had he been among them: and yet they were withall of opinion, that, continuing their labour for some hours longer, it was not impossible but the Vessel might be saved. But they discover'd by their discourse their main fear to be, that, when there were no ship, they would be look'd on as useless persons, and that there might be some dispute about their wages for the rest of the Voyage. Hence it came that they were unwilling the ship should be run a-ground. But the Sieur Vchterits and the Secretary, overcome with the importunities of the rest of the company to have that course taken, in so great an extremity, the Captain and Masters-mate at last gave their consent, provided a promise were made them in Writing, that the Ambassadors should not call them to an accompt for their so doing: which was accordingly done, and the Secretary drew up an Act to that purpose, which was signed by all. But the Captain and Master beginning to make new difficulties, after they had gotten a discharge, as aforesaid, all our people would have mutini'd, and cry'd out, that if they delay'd the running of the ship a-ground any longer, they should answer before the Tribunal of God, to give an accompt for what should happen thereupon. The Captain would have excus'd him∣self, alleging, that though the ship were run a-ground, as was desired, yet were it impossible for him to save all our people: but answer was made him, that they were resolv'd to run the hazard of it, and he was so earnestly press'd thereto, that he consented, after he had obliged the Sieur Vchterits and the Secretary of the Embassy to give the first stroak upon the Cable: which when they had done,* 1.100 the Sea-men soon made an end, and having struck the only sayl we had left us, we made strait to land, and run the ship a-ground, about thirty pearches distant from the place where the Ambassadors and all our friends expected us, with no less trouble for us, than we had for our selves. Nay some of them, to make a greater expression of their affecti∣on, came a good way into the water, and carry'd us ashore.

It prov'd no great trouble to us to justifie the resolution we had taken of running the Ship a-ground, in regard that, as to that particular, the Ambassador Brugman himself prevented us, and told us he had been long before resolv'd to send the Captain orders to do it, but that he could not meet with any person that would undertake the execution thereof.

As concerning the Caspian Sea,* 1.101 it hath not in all places the same name, but it is changed, either according to the diversity of the Inhabitants that live about it, or the Provinces that bor∣der upon it. It was called antiently the Sea of Chosar, from the Name of the eldest Son of Tho∣garma, who was the Son of Gomer, and Grand-child of Iaphet, third Son to Noah. Nubius's Geography calls it the Sea of Travisthan. The Moors call this Sea, as they do also the Gulf of Arabia, Bohar Corsuin; and the Persians call it Kulsum, which name they also give the Red Sea. The Greek and Latine Authors call it the Hyrcanian Sea, as also Mare Caspium and Caspianum. The Persians call it by another name, the Sea of Baku, from the City of Bakuje, in the Pro∣vince of Schirwan; and the Muscovites name it Gualenskoi-more. But a man must be very cau∣tious

how he credits what is affirmed by Dionysius Afer,* 1.102 Pomponius Mela, Pliny, Solinus, and those who follow them, as Strabo, Martianus Capella, St. Basil the Great, Macrobius, and o∣thers, that it is only a Sinus, or Gulf of the great Sea of the Indies, or of the Tartarian Sea, or that it hath some communication which the Euxine Sea, and Paulus Meotides by the River Ta∣nais; in as much as it is most certain, that it hath not any communication at all with the other Seas, but it is of all sides so encompass'd with Land, that it may be more justly called the Me∣diterranean,* 1.103 than that which is known only by that name. Herodotus and Aristotle are much more worthy credit, when they affirm, that the Caspian Sea is a particular Sea by it self, ha∣ving no communication with any other: and this is no more than what the Inhabitants of Kilan, who live upon that Sea on the East-side, have so strongly confirmed us in, that we lay it down as a thing no longer to be disputed.

But what on the other side is much to be wondred at, is, that though so great a number of Rivers incessantly pay the tribute of their waters into it, yet can it not be said what becomes thereof. We at first could hardly be induc'd to believe what was told us concerning all those Rivers; but when, at our return out of Persia, between Rescht and Schamachy, which was twenty days journey, we took notice, that we had cross'd above fourscore great and small Rivers, we made no difficulty then to acquiesce in the Relations we had before received thereof. The most considerable of those we saw, are, the Wolga, Araxis, or Aras, which is joyned to the Cyrus, which is now called Kur, the Kisilosein, the Bustrow, the Aksai, and the Koisu. To∣wards the North are the Rivers of Iaika and Iems; and towards the South and East, the Nios, the Oxus, and the Orxentes, which Q. Curtius calls, Tanais.

And notwithstanding this vast Contribution of waters, this Sea is not perceiv'd to be any way increas'd thereby, nor can it be said, by what passages all these Rivers are conveyed thence. Some are of opinion, that they are, by subterranean Chanels return'd into the Ocean. The Persians told us, that near Ferebath, between the Provinces of Tauristan, and Mesendan, there is a Gulf, where all those waters are lost, as in a bottomless place, and convey'd away under the neighbouring Mountains. But in regard a man must consequently to this assertion, imagine that Gulf to be as big as the whole Sea, to swallow down the waters of so many Rivers, I can∣not be easily perswaded to side with the maintainers of that opinion. On the contrary, I think it may be probably held, that there may be alleged, for the Caspian Sea, the same reasons as are urged for Ocean's not overflowing the Earth, though an infinite number of Rivers fall into it: To wit, that, besides the Mists, which are very frequent there, and consequently consume a great part thereof, the rest is return'd by secret Chanels, to the sources of the Fountains and Rivers, according to the wise-mans saying, that all the Rivers come out of the Sea, and return thither again, whether it be that the weight of the Sea-water, which is not all within its Cen∣tre, forces that which is lowest into the clefts of the earth, as far as the sources, and that this is done with such violence, that at its breaking out of the earth, it spouts higher than the Sea it self; or that there are in the earth certain veins, which, drawing the water to them, distribute it to the Fountains and Rivers. The first ratiocination is Iulius Scaliger's, in his 46. Exercita∣tion, where he says, that he does not believe, the Argument which is deduc'd from the diffe∣rence of the qualities of waters can destroy the force of his, in regard we find by experience, that the water, passing through the earth, is cleansed from its filth, and leaves its Salt at the bottom, from which it is divided, much after the same manner as if it were distill'd through an Alembick. Which is evidently seen by this, that the greater distance there is between the Sea and the Fountains, the sweeter their waters are. It is also acknowledg'd, that there is no Mountain higher than the Sea, which making but one part of the roundness of the Terrestrial Globe, the swellings and emmencies, which are upon the earth are not higher than the Sea. Which I affirm to be so much the more certain, upon this accompt, that, being, in my return from Persia, between Schamachie and Derbent, at the Village of Soray, I had the curiosity to go up into one of the adjacent Mountains, where I took the Horizon with my Astrolabe, and ha∣ving put my Dioptra into it, I turn'd myself towards the Sea, which was two Leagues distant thence, and could easily discern it.

The Authors who have written of the Caspian Sea, affirm, that, it is, in length fifteen dayes journey, and in breadth, eight; which may fall out somewhat right, if it be in a great calm, and that those who are to pass it, make use only of their Arms and Oars, and have no advantage of wind.* 1.104 Whereupon I propose it as a particular observation, that, contrary to the common o∣pinion of all Geographers, as well antient as modern, the length of the Caspian Sea reaches not from East to West, as it is set down in all Maps, even in those that have been publish'd since the former impression of this Relation, where I condemn'd that errour, but that it is to be ta∣ken from South to North, and that, on the contrary, it is its breadth which reaches from West to East. And this I know, not only by the most exact observation I made thereof, but also by a curious inquiry of the situation of all the Maritime Provinces, according to the Catalogue or Register, of Longitudes and Latitudes, which I had from the Persians, as also consonantly to the Astronomical fragments of the Learned M. Iohn Graves. For it is certain, that the true length

of the Caspian Sea,* 1.105 is from the mouth of the River Wolga, below Astrachan, to Ferabath, in the Province of Mesenderan, reaching eight degrees of the Aequator, which make 120. German Leagues; and that its breadth, from the Province of Chuaresm, named by others Karragan, to the Mountains of Circassia, or to Schirwan, is six degrees, which make but 90 German leagues. According to this accompt thereof are to be corrected all the Geographical Maps, though the opinion we introduce be new, and directly contrary to that which hath been receiv'd for so ma∣ny ages.

Nor are we to give any more credit to what Q. Curtius affirms,* 1.106 when he says, that the wa∣ter of the Caspian Sea is fresher than that of the Ocean, unless he be conceiv'd to speak only of the coast of Hyrcania, which is now called Kilan, where indeed the water is neither salt nor fresh, but brackish (as it is in several places of Holland) by reason of the mixture of the wa∣ters of divers Rivers, which fall into the said Sea on that side. For, in the Sea it self, the wa∣ter is as salt as any other that ever I could taste of. Polybius and Arrian affirm the same thing of the Euxine Sea; and Ovid confirms it by this Distick.

Copia tot laticum, quas anget, adulteret undas, Nec patitur vires aequer habere suas.

It is besides our design to engage into any discussion of Scaliger's position, who says in his 53 Exercitation, that the water of all Seas is sweet, or fresh, at the bottom, nor yet to examine the Reasons alleged by him for that opinion, as falling not under the subject of our Relation. But this we shall presume to affirm, that the Caspian Sea was not much known to the Greeks, in the time of Alexander, since Arrian says, in the seventh Book of his History, that that great Conquerour issu'd out his commands, that Timber should be fell'd in the neighbouring Mountains, for the building of a Fleet, which he intended to employ in the discovery of that Sea. It is certain also, that Q. Curtius speaks not of it otherwise than according to the know∣ledge which some had thereof, in a time when that of the Romans had not pass'd the Euphrates. no more than their Arms. For though Pliny says, lib. 6. ch. 17. of his Natural History, that Seleuchus and Antiochus, the Successors of Alexander, made a discovery of that Sea by Patroclus, their Admiral, yet he is withall forc'd to acknowledge, that there were many other things to be discovered; as it was also our intention, to make use, to that purpose, of our Ship and Shal∣lop during the aboad we should make at the Court of Persia, if our misfortune in being cast a∣way upon this Sea had not defeated us of our expectations. Certain it is, that this Sea does neither Ebb nor Flow,* 1.107 nay that indeed it is not capable of either; forasmuch as it hath no com∣munication or correspondence with the other, which, in that particular, follows the motion of the Moon.

The Persians, Tartars, and Muscovites seldome venture upon this Sea but in the Summer∣time, and then dare they not hazard themselves far into it; for sailing only in wretched small Barks, or Boats, they keep as near as they can to the shore, and never are out of sight of Land. It hath in a manner no safe Havens or Harbours. The best it hath, is the same we spoke of be∣fore, near Terki, between the Isle of Tzenzeni and the Continent; at which place the Persi∣ans are wont to cast Anchor, and stay for a night. The havens of Baku, Lenkeran and Ferabath are none of the worst, nor are they on the other side the safest; and the best Haven of all this Sea, is on the side of the grand Tartary, and near the City of Minkischlak, which may be found in the Itinerary of Anthony Ienkinson, under the name of Manguslave, but mis∣named.

But, how ere it be Haven'd, we may confidently affirm this, that we have been long enough upon the Caspian Sea and its Coasts, to undeceive those who are apt to believe, what is deliver'd by Petreius in his History of Muscovy, to wit, that the water of it is as black as Ink, and that it is full of Islands, which are well stored with Inhabitants, and have in them a great num∣ber of Cities and Villages; both which we affirm to be absolutely false. For the water of it is of the same Colour, as that of all other Seas; and though we discover'd but some part of the Cas∣pian Sea, yet having made particular enquiry as to this particular, all the Persians, Tartars and Muscovites I ever discoursed with concerning it, unanimously assur'd me, that in all that Sea there is but one Island, wherein there is, I will not say either City or Village, but so much as a House, unless it be in that of Ensil, near Ferabath, where the pastures being very good, such as keep Cattel, have made certain Huts, not so much for their setled Habitations, as to pre∣vent the injuries of the Weather at certain times.

I also enquired of the Inhabitants of Kilan, whether the Caspian Sea bred such an infinite number of great Serpents, as Q. Curtius would make us believe: but they all assur'd me they had never seen any, and that it was a thing they never had heard spoken of before, no more than they had of a certain great round Fish without a Head, whereof Ambrosius Contarinus speaks in the relation of his Travels, which Father Bizarrus hath Printed together with his History of Perisa. He sayes, that this Fish is an ell and a half Diameter, and that there is a certain Liquor

drawn out of it, which the Persians use in their Lamps, and to grease the Camels, But the Persians told me, that they stood not in need of any such Oyl to burn, since that near the Ci∣ty of Baku, under the Mountain of Barmach, there are inexhaustible sources of a certain Li∣quor, which they call Nefla, and make use of in their Lamps. And of this there is daily such great quantities taken up, that it is transported all over the Kingdome.

Certain indeed it is, that there may be seen in those parts a certain kind of Fish, which they call Naka, that is, Glutton; which hath a very short Nose, and the Head as it were within the Belly, having a round Tail, and being seven or eight foot in breadth, and not much less in length. It fastens it self with the Tail to Fisher-mens Boats, and, if they be not very carefull, over-turns them. The Persians told us also, that the white Fishes, of which we have spoken heretofore, do the same, and that thence it comes, though the weather be ever so calm, the Fisher-men never venture far into the Sea. This is the only Creature, which may in some mea∣sure make good what Pomponius Mela sayes in his Geography, to wit, that the Caspian Sea breeds so great a number of monstrous Fishes, which he calls Belluae, wild Beasts, that that is one of the main Reasons, why it is not Navigable. This fish delights much in the Liver and Flesh of Beef and Mutton, whence it is that the Inhabitants of Kilan, especially those who live towards the Mountain of Sahebelan, as being the most hindred in their Fishing, make baits thereof, wherewith they cover strong and sharp Hooks fasten'd to Great Cords, with which they draw them to Land. Nor are we to credit what the same Bizarrus and Contarinus affirm, when they say, that there is no other fish in the Caspian Sea; for, on the contrary, it is ex∣tremely well stor'd with fish, and there are in it abundance of Salmons and Sturgeons, as also a kind of Herrings; nay there are in it some fish, which in other places are numbred among the fresh-water-fish, and are had only in ponds; as for instance Breams, which they call Chascham, and Barbels, which they call Schwit: but the latter are tough and insipid, if they exceed two foot in length. There is also a kind of Trouts, which they call Suggaht. These are not eaten fresh, but falted and hung up in the smoke, and their way of dressing them, is, to lay them on the hearth, with a clean linnen Cloath about them, and then to cover them with hot ashes, till such time as they are ready: being thus ordered, they make a very pleasant and delicious dish. There are no Pikes nor Eels in all Persia, insomuch that those Persians, whom the King sent along with us into Germany, when they saw us eat Eeles, conceived a horrour thereat, as ta∣king them for Snakes. The King of Persia farms out the fishing of the Caspian Sea, towards the mouths of Rivers, which brings him in very considerable sums of Money, many times more than the Farmers make thereof, for instance, the City of Kesker, where a Farmer named Schemsi paid eight thousand Crowns for the farming of five Rivers, which that year had yield∣ed but six thousand. Their fishing is only from September to April, and during that time, there is a Palisadoe or kind of Hedge made in the Sea at the mouth of the River, to hinder the fishing of those that have no right to fish, within that enclosure; but all the year besides it is indiffe∣rently permitted to all, and in the Sea it self, at all times.

[illustration]

[illustration]

Notes

• * 1.1

  JUNE,
• * 1.2

  Columna.
• * 1.3

  Peresla.
• * 1.4

  Rhesan.
• * 1.5

  Cassinogo∣gorod.
• * 1.6

  The City of Moruma.
• * 1.7

  The Tar∣tars of Mordwa.
• * 1.8

  Nisenovo∣gorod.
• * 1.9

  The Wolga.
• * 1.10

  AUG.
• * 1.11

  1636.
• * 1.12

  B••silig••∣rod.
• * 1.13

  Ceremi••••∣ses.
• * 1.14

  The City of Sabakzar.
• * 1.15

  The City of Suiatski.
• * 1.16

  The City of Casan.
• * 1.17

  A Tartar Prince.
• * 1.18

  The Pro∣vince of Casan.
• * 1.19

  Reduc'd by the Musco∣vites.
• * 1.20

  The Tar∣tars Ma∣sters of the City of Moscou.
• * 1.21

  The Great Duke Tri∣butary to the artar.
• * 1.22

  The fidelity of the Wey∣wode of Resan.
• * 1.23

  Casan ••e∣sieged by John Ba∣silouits.
• * 1.24

  And takes it by storm.
• * 1.25

  Melons of extraordi∣nary big∣ness.
• * 1.26

  The Course of Wolga.
• * 1.27

  Ice in Au∣gust.
• * 1.28

  The River Kama.
• * 1.29

  The City of Tetus.
• * 1.30

  The River of Utka.
• * 1.31

  The River Ussa.
• * 1.32

  The super∣stition of the Musco∣vites.
• * 1.33

  The City of Samara.
• * 1.34

  The Moun∣tain of the Cosaques.
• * 1.35

  SEPTEM∣BER.
• * 1.36

  The City of Soratof.
• * 1.37

  The King of Persia's Cuptzi.
• * 1.38

  The first Branch of Wolga.
• * 1.39

  The City of Zariza.
• * 1.40

  1366.
• * 1.41

  The second branch of the Wolga.
• * 1.42

  1636.
• * 1.43

  The City of Tzornogar.
• * 1.44

  The third branch of the Wolga.
• * 1.45

  The fourth branch of the Wolga.
• * 1.46

  A fifth Branch of the Wolga.
• * 1.47

  A sixth Branch of the Wolga.
• * 1.48

  The seventh Branch of the Wolga.
• * 1.49

  The Ambas∣sadors come to Astrachan.
• * 1.50

  A descrip∣tion of the City of strachan.
• * 1.51

  A descrip∣tion of Nagaia.
• * 1.52

  The Isle of Dolgoi.
• * 1.53

  Salt-pits▪
• * 1.54

  The Fruits of Nagaia▪
• * 1.55

  Its Inha∣bitants.
• * 1.56

  Their food▪
• * 1.57

  Their Reli∣gion.
• * 1.58

  A custom of Persia to make Presents to persons of quality.
• * 1.59

  The Cupt∣zi's Pre∣sent.
• * 1.60

  1366,
• * 1.61

  The Cupt∣zi visits the Ambas∣sadors.
• * 1.62

  The Wey∣wodes Pre∣sents.
• * 1.63

  The Ambas∣sadors vi∣sit the Tar∣tar-Prince
• * 1.64

  1636.
• * 1.65

  The incivi∣lity of the Musco∣vites.
• * 1.66

  The Cupt∣zi's Feasts.
• * 1.67

  The Tar∣tars much given to Hawking.
• * 1.68

  The Treat∣ment of a∣nother Per∣sian Mer∣chant.
• * 1.69

  Brugmans ••••npru∣dence.
• * 1.70

  Another Tartar-Prince visits the Ambassa∣dors. The Wey∣wodes Pre∣sent.
• * 1.71

  OCTOB.
• * 1.72

  Provisions for the continua∣tion of the Voyage.
• * 1.73

  The Am∣bassadors leave A∣strachan.
• * 1.74

  Simples of extraordi∣nary big∣ness.
• * 1.75

  Snakes.
• * 1.76

  A Musco∣vian Slurr.
• * 1.77

  The civility of a Per∣sian Pilot.
• * 1.78

  An omi∣nous day.
• * 1.79

  NOVEM▪
• * 1.80

  Terki de∣scribed.
• * 1.81

  The Garri∣son of Terki.
• * 1.82

  The Cupt∣zi's Present to the Am∣bassadors.
• * 1.83

  A mutiny in the ship.
• * 1.84

  An Eunuch belonging to the King of Persia visits the Ambassa∣dor.
• * 1.85

  Their Pre∣sents to the Weywode.
• * 1.86

  Their mes∣sage to the Tartar-Prince.
• * 1.87

  The recep∣tion of the Envoys from the Ambassa∣dors by th•• Tartar-Princess.
• * 1.88

  The Colla∣tion.
• * 1.89

  The curio∣sity of the Tartar-Ladies.
• * 1.90

  The Tar∣tars en∣clin'd to theft.
• * 1.91

  The Am∣bassadors leave Ter∣ki.
• * 1.92

  The Wey∣wode's Present.
• * 1.93

  An Island in the Cas∣pian Sea.
• * 1.94

  Mount Caucasus.
• * 1.95

  Mengrelia.
• * 1.96

  Mount Aratat.
• * 1.97

  A Tempest.
• * 1.98

  The Am∣bassadors disembark with part of their retinue.
• * 1.99

  A strange resolution in the ut∣most ha∣zard.
• * 1.100

  The Ship runs a-ground.
• * 1.101

  A descrip∣tion of the Caspian Sea.
• * 1.102

  1366.
• * 1.103

  Is a sea by it self.
• * 1.104

  The length & breadth of the Cas∣pian Sea.
• * 1.105

  1636.
• * 1.106

  The water is Salt.
• * 1.107

  Neither Ebbs nor Flows.