The six voyages of John Baptista Tavernier, Baron of Aubonne through Turky, into Persia and the East-Indies, for the space of forty years : giving an account of the present state of those countries, viz. of the religion, government, customs, and commerce of every country, and the figures, weight, and value of the money currant all over Asia : to which is added A new description of the Seraglio / made English by J.P. ; added likewise, A voyage into the Indies, &c. by an English traveller, never before printed ; publish'd by Dr. Daniel Cox

CHAP. VI. Another Road from Constantinople to Ispahan, by the Euxin or Black Sea; with some Remarks upon the principal Cities thereabouts.

THere are three Roads yet remaining, leading out of Europe into Persia or the Indies. That of Constantinople, all along the Coasts of the Black Sea; that of Warsovia, crossing the same Sea at Trebisond; and that of Mosco, down the Volga, which has been amply describ'd by Olearius, Secretary to the Embassy of the Duke of Holstein. In this and the next Chapter I shall describe the Way from Constantinople, all along the Black Sea, and that from Warsovia; not knowing any person that has hitherto mention'd any thing upon this subject. And first of all I will give a short Description of the principal Places that lye upon that Sea, as well upon the side of Europe as of Asia, with the just distances of one Place from another.

The principal Cities upon the Black Sea, on the Coast of Europe.

From Constantinople to Varna they count it two hundred Miles, four of which make an Alman League; miles 200

From Varna to Balshinké, miles 36

From Belshinké to Bengali, miles 70

From Bengali to Constance, miles 60

From Constance to Queli, miles 25

Near to this City of Queli the great Arm of Danow throws it self into the Black Sea. Here is the grand Fishery for Sturgeon.

From Queli to Aquerman, miles 50

The City of Aquerman belongs to a Kan of the lesser Tartary; but it is not the place of his residence, for he keeps his Court at Basha-Serrail, twenty-five miles up in the Land.

From Aquerman to Kefet or Kaffa, miles 350

This is a great City, and a place of great Trade, wherein there are above a thousand Families of the Armenians, and about five hundred Greeks. They have every one their Bishop, and several Churches. St. Peter's is the biggest, very large and very beautiful; but it falls to decay, because the Christians have not Wealth

enough to repair it. Every Christian aboue fifteen years of age, pays a Piaster and a half tribute to the Grand Signor, who is Lord of the City; and he sends a Bashae that lives in the ancient City call'd Frink-Hessar. However the Kan of the Lesser Tartary extends his Jurisdiction as far as the Gates of Kaffa.

From Kaffa to Assaque, miles 70

Assaque is the last City in Europe, belonging also to the Grand Signor. By it runs a great River of the same name, the other side being in the Territories of the Duke of Muscovy. Down this River come the Cossacks that do so much mis∣chief to the Turks. For sometimes they come with threescore or fourscore Gelia's which are a kind of Brigantines, the bigger sort of which carry a hundred and fifty men, the less a hundred. Sometimes they divide themselves into two parts, one of which makes Havock toward Constantinople, the other Ravages the Coast of Asia, as far as Trebizond.

The Coast of Europe bord'ring upon the Black Sea is 861 miles in length.

The chief Cities upon the Black Sea on the Coast of Asia, which is 1170 miles in length.

From Constantinople to Neapoli, miles 250

In this City are made the greatest part of the Galleys and Vessels that belong to the Grand Signor.

From Neapoli to Sinabe, miles 250

From Sinabe to Ouma, miles 240

From Ouma to Kerason, miles 150

From Kerason to Trebisond, miles 80

From Trebisond to Rise, miles 100

From Rise to Guni, miles 100

The City of Guni belongs half to the Grand Signor, and half to the King of Mengrelia, with whom he keeps a good Correspondence, because the greatest part of the Steel and Iron that is spent in Turkie comes out of Mengrelia through the Black Sea.

The only good Ports upon the Black Sea from Constantinople to Mengrelia, are,

Quitros, Sinabe, or Sinope, Onnye, Samsom, Trebisond, Gommé.

The Haven of Quitros is very deep, and the Vessels lie shelter'd from the winds, but the entrance into it is very bad, which only the Pilots of the place, or they who have often accustom'd themselves to that Trade can only find out. It seems that anciently there had been most stately Buildings round about the Port; and several noble Pillars are to be seen all along the shore, not to speak of those which have been Transported to Constantinople. Near the City toward the South stands a high Mountain, whence there flows good store of excellent Water, which at the bottom gathers into one Fountain.

To go from Constantinople for Persia by Sea, you must embark at Constantinople for Trebisond, and many times for Rise or Guni, which are more to the North. They that Land at Trebisond go directly to Erzerom, which is not above five days Journey off, and from Erzerom to Erivan or Tunis. But there are few that will venture upon this Sea where there is no good Anchorage; besides that it is subject to prodigious Tempests, from which there are very few good Ports to defend them; which is the reason it is call'd Cara-denguis, or the Black Sea: The Eastern people giving to all things, mischievous and dangerous, the Epithet of Black.

They that are Bound for Rise or Guni, go to Testis the Capital City of Giorgia, and thence to Erivan, for though the way be bad, yet it is far better and smoother than the Road to Tauris.

The principal places from Teflis to Erivan are these, together with their re∣spective distances.

From Teflis to Soganlouk, leagues 3

From Soganlouk to Senouk-kupri, leagues 7

From Senouk-kupri to Guilkac, leagues 7

From Guilkac to Daksou, leagues 6

From Dakson to Achikent, leagues 6

From Achikent to Dillou, leagues 6

From Dillou to Yazegi, leagues 6

From Yazegi to Bicheni, leagues 4

From Bicheni to Erivan, leagues 2

From Erivan you keep the ordinary Road to Tauris.