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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
day_n	dutch_a	march_v	mile_n	8,684	5	13.1893	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61855	The perillous and most unhappy voyages of John Struys Through Italy, Greece, Lifeland, Muscovia, Tartary, Media, Persia, East-India, Japan, and other places in Europe, Africa and Asia. Containing, I. Most accurate remarks and observations of the distinct qualities, religion, politie, customs, laws and properties of the inhabitants: II. A due description of the several cities, towns, forts, and places of trust, as to their site and strength, fortifications by nature, or art, &c. with other things worthy of note: and, III. An exact memorial of the most disastrous calamities which befell the author in those parts (viz) by ship-wrack, robberies, slavery, hunger, tortures, with other incommodities and hardships. To which are added 2 narrativs sent from Capt. D. Butler, relating to the taking in of Astrachan by the Cosacs. Illustrated with divers curious plates, first designed and taken from the life by the author himself. Rendered out of Nether-dutch by John Morrison·; Reysen door Moscovien, Tartarijen, Oost-Indien. English	Struys, Jan Janszoon, d. 1694.; Morrison, John, 17th cent.; Butler, David, Captain.	1684 (1684)	Wing S6019; ESTC R216963	334,708	398

and most barbarously massacred the Inhabitants and growing both in number and power were becom very formidable both to the King of Persia and the Great Duke They were headed by one Stenko or Stephen Radzin a discontented Person and one of great Power as to his proper Abilities bearing a Soveraign Aw among them About 14 days before our Arrival at Astrachan he had taken a costly Persian Boes valued at several Tuns of Gold in which were Horses and several other Presents sent from the King of Persia to the Great Duke of Moscovy ON the 17 as the Waywod of Astrachan was aboard our Ship came an Express bringing news that Radzin and the Cosacs had submitted themselvs to the Great Duke upon which the Waywod gave order that we should fire our Guns which we did The said Letters further mentioned how that they had delivered the Horses belonging to the Great Duke to the Russian General ON the 19 came 3 Cosacs into Astrachan in very costly Attire and with great pomp whereof the youngest was the Orator The Waywood after a long Treaty assured them of being established in the Great Dukes Favour But it seemed that they had som disgust because they were not formally introduced as is customary with all Ambassadors and Legates The Waywod excused it saying That he himself was a Bojar and resided there in quality of Waywod yet at his first taking that Dignity upon him was not introducted by his Predecessor nor the Nobility of Astrachan which was Argument and Token that he was not to do the like to others When the Conference was over the Waywod invited them to his House and gave them a splendid Treat ON the 21 early in the Morning came the Russian Fleet before the Town consisting of 53 Stroegs or Rowing-Barks upon each Stroeg was only one Piece of Ordnance but those in the Rere had 2 to wit one before and another aba●t Aboard each were so many Strelitzers which are the Soldiery that they could not mov if there had bin occasion to do any execution The said Fleet by order of the Waywod came to Anchor on the other side of the River About 3 in the Afternoon came the Cosacs consisting in 23 Sail and a considerable number of Men. Upon their Arrival we had an order from the Waywod to receiv 200 Strelitzers aboard under our Standard who placed themselvs in order round about the Ship The Russian Army then loosed and came before the City giving the Salvo with all their great Guns at once with abov 3000 Musquets which the Cosacs answered with their Cannons and Musquets upon which they in the City put out a white Flag which was a Token for us to Fire which we did with all our great Guns and about 200 Musquets Mean while the Master of our Ship fell over board but was taken up again thô with much ado for the weather was a little tempestuous Soon after the Russians gave fire a second time and came close up to our Ship upon which we gave fire for the last time with 13 Guns and 200 Musquets The Cosacs rowed off and came to Anchor where the Russian Fleet rode at first ON the 22 in the Morning betimes the Cosacs rowed up the River and were on a sudden out of sight and that morning issued a Proclamation that none should have any Commerce or Converse with them On the 23 came Radzin himself in Person into Astrachan and was saluted by all the Gentry the Waywod was also council'd to bring the Ammunition and Standard of the Rebells into the City which he resolv'd upon Mean while came news to the Waywod that Radzin was drunk whereupon he gave order that they should endeavor by good and gentle words to get him out of Town he being very unruly when overtaken with Liquor in which mood he had destroyed many Men both of his own Rout and others But the Insolencies he had committed during this Uproar cannot be recounted althô 't is said that besides the many Thousands of the Great Dukes Subjects he had caused to be massacred whereof himself boasted to have dispatched 8000 at one time he had from time to time massacred above 40000 Persians The Copy of a NARRATIV Sent from Capt. D. Butler dated at ISPAHAN March 6 th 1671. Worthy Sir AFTER a taedious delay we finally received an Order from the Great Duke to imbark our selvs with the Ships Company and com to Moscou Which being shown us I insisted continually that according to the said Order I might go up but it was thought good that the Ship should be first put in Equippage and supplied with Ammunition and in case of necessity be used against the Cosacks who under the Conduct of one Stenko Radzin as chief had already depopulated many fair Countreys upon the Caspian Sea and then reconciled to the Great Duke But in the Moneth of March came news how that the Cosacs were again revolted upon which Colonel Levonti Bogdonof was dispatched by the Great Duke with a Band of 800 Men to wit 400 Russian Cavalrie and 400 Nagaian Tartars to march to Zarit a a City lying about 80 Dutch Miles above Astrachan that being a City which abutts upon the Frontiers of the Cosacks and commands the passage of the River Don or Tanais which River nevertheless doth not fall into the Wolga as som have bin of opinion and as most Maps do make it for the Cosacks do come almost a days Journey with their Boats from the Don to the Wolga which they ballance with pieces of Timber the better to endure the violence of the stream for they are but of one entire piece or Trunks of Trees hollowed out These people have the Russian Speech and the same Religion They have also their Asyla or Places of Refuge granted them by the Great Duke whither they have recourse when they have perpetrated any villanous Fact or Enormity ABOUT the 27 or 28 of April came a Narrativ by a Courier from the abovesaid Bogdanof importing how that the Cosacks had taken in Tzaritza and that about 1200 Moscovians were kill'd and drown'd but to give a full account of the Stratagems they had used to gain the Town would make me more prolix and taedious than my present design is to be These 1200 Strelitzers or Soldiers were a part of those that were sent from Moscou to enforce the respectiv Garrisons upon the Wolga but especially this City in which the Great Duke reposed great Trust being able to check as I have said before the main Passage of the Rebels in their March for the South-East Countrey THE same day came news how that the Field Tartars were at discord and factious among themselvs and being drawn into 2 Head-parties used all manner of hostile Acts against each other so that Bogdanof thought good to draw up and march forward to Chornojar a City about 50 Dutch Miles from Astrachan He had also sent down a Captiv Cosac to Astrachan who was put upon the

Scorpion and a kind of fell Spiders which are a powerfull Poyson with the strange manner of Cure for the same Their Arrival at Natens A Faulcon fights and conquers an Eagle EIght days long stayd we in Caswin and departed thence on the 17 of December coming at night to the Village Membere where all the Houses are built round so that at a distance they appeared like so many Pigeon-Cotes The Town its self is well stored with Necessaries and affoarded us what we had occasion for On the 18 we came to the Village Areseng which is situated in a very pleasant Countrey and withall fertile affoarding good store of Fruit as Pomegranats Oranges Lemmons and other Summer Fruits then out of season Here we thought good to take up our Nights Lodging On the 19 we betook our selvs to our Journey and that day travailed about 24 English Miles over a high but level way coming towards night to the great Carawansera called Choskeru This is a very commodious and large Inn built altogether of square stones within is a spacious Court where was a Fountain of very good Water the Rooms and Appartments were no less commodious On the Walls I found several Dutch Polish and Russian Names and also wrote my own On the 20 we had a very pleasant days Journey through a delightfull Landship very close inhabited and full of Villages and Hamlets coming at night to a Carawansera where we took up our Lodging for that night and the next day set forward for Saba which is a City lying in 34 degr and 56 min. in a plain Field having on the West the Mountains of Elivend which for their exceeding heighth may be seen many Miles distant Saba is far less than Caswin but is munited with a Brick Wall which Bricks are not burned as ours but only hardned with the Sun Within the City is nothing worthy of remark but all lies wast and foul They drive no Trade here than what is usually don in Villages and mean Market Towns to wit Wheat and Barley which is both plentifull and to be had at a low price Fruits as Pomegranats Oranges Lemmons Grapes and other sorts which grow aswell within as without the Town There is a place not far from Saba where the Ground is red and barren which the Persians say was by reason that Omarzaad within whose Jurisdiction this Place was had murthered their Holy Hosseyn and for this reason it was cursed by Mahomet for his Posterities sake that it should never bring forth either Herb or Tree nor that any Vegetable should like or thrive being transplanted On the Southeast side of the Town grows abundance of Tobacco but not cultivated or planted which is no small profit to the Inhabitants On the 24 we departed from Saba and at night set down at the Carawansera Schach Ferabath It was now good travailing by reason of the Cold which in this hot Climate is very acceptable being not far from the Torrid Zone where in the Summer time besides the scorching heat of the Sun the Ground is so hot that it brings all the Skin off ones Feet the ways being altogether dry and sandy which also casts a reflection of the Sun upon ones Face as if it came out of a Furnace whence many are stifled with the Heat On the 25 we came to the City Khom and took up our Lodging in a Carawansera near to the great Maydan This seems to be a City of an ancient standing and is at present very large but by the Ruins of a Wall a considerable distance from the Town it appears that it has bin anciently much larger than now it is It lies in 34 degr 17 min. Northerly Latitude and is situate on a level flat Ground having on the right hand the Mountains of Elivend whence issue two Rivers which run thrô this City first uniting themselvs a litle above the Town In the Winter they lay a Bridge over it but in the Summer it is some times dry Near this Bridge stands a litle Chappel wherein they say the Sister of one Iman Risa who was one of the most eminent Successors of Mahomet lies interred The Persians have also a special veneration for this Female Saint and make long Pilgrimages to kiss her Tomb. However the City Khom has many fair and spacious Streets with many Piazzas and Galleries to defend from Sun and Rain They have also great plenty of Fruit as at Saba as also Cotton and Tobacco which grows here in no less plenty than at Saba aforesaid Besides the many rare Fruits and Plants they have there is an excellent sort of Melons having the outward form and colour of an Orange and is oftentimes taken for one but being cut up appears within as another Melon These they commonly carry in the Hand for the delicate flavour but have no very acceptable or delicious Tast They have also an odd kind of Cucumber about 18 or 20 Inches long but small which they pickle much after the manner we do ours and use 'em for Sauce They have also the common sort of Melons which we commonly call Musk-millions that far surpass ours for Delicacy Khom is a place very considerable in regard of Traffic this being eminent for Swords Knives Armorers and Cutlers Works Some of our Company bought here Scymiter Blades for which they paid to the value of 20 Crowns a piece yet were not those of the best sort The Steel they have from Niris near Ispahan where are several Mines Besides the Smiths work their chief Manufactory is Potts there being many Fullers who are esteemed the best in Persia and their work praeferred before Porceline which is transmitted all over the Countrey The Inhabitants are sociable and friendly enough to converse withall when you have not much to loose but we were warned to look well about us for they say that they are brought into the World with their Fist doubled My Patron lost here 2 new Scymiters he had lately bought and I a Tobacco box Six days long stay'd the Caravan here during which time there was much Merchandise negotiated Here I was cruelly pestered with a Greek Renegado who continually rail'd upon me crying You faithless Dog you Infidel c. The Fellow had so often affronted me with these and the like Words that I was no longer able to endure him but finding an opportunity I grasp'd him by the Collar and trounc'd him lustily off with my Fist and at last getting him down I pummeld him back and sides saying You varlet now you shall find the Fist of a Man and not the Paw of a Dog He seeing himself unable to get up again drew out his Knife which he indeavored to run into my Belly but I observing got it wrested out of his Hands althô not without a litle slash or two on the Palm of my Hand with which I gave him an Excellent Cross in the Cheek that he looked like St. Agnes of Monte Sante withall telling him

that althô he was a Musulman I would give him a Christian Token With this he began to howl out and I seeing the Coast clear thought good to get out of the way betimes being fain to abscond till such times as the Caravan was to set forward which was 24 Hours after On the 1 of Ianuary we left Khom and came that night to Carawansera Kosmabath where we set down That night it began to freez harder than is usual in those Countreys but was by day very fair and lovly weather The next day we got the Village Sensen lying about 5 Dutch Miles distant from Kaschan where on the 3 day of Ianuary we arrived towards the Evening taking up our Quarters at a very noble and commodious Carawansera seeming rather a Palace than an Inn. Kaschan lies in 33 degr 51 min. It is built long wise and points East and West being munited with strong Walls and round Redoubts after the old manner of Fortification on the South side of the Tow● is a place where they exercise the Spear in Tilt and Tournament where are also several Pillars set up for Butts or Marks to shoot at O● the other side of the Town are several Royal Gardens and Summe● Houses and amongst the rest one of a stately Fabric having a Thousand Windows Kaschan is at this day the most populous and emine● Marts in all Persia having also a very famous Basar and Maydan wit● Piazzas and stately Galleries wherein are many rich Shops It i● the staple for the most part of the Silk stuffs that are made in Persi● They have also many that work in Velvets and Sattins but not altogether so good as those in Europe so that the King has sent often to Venice expresly for Workmen to come and reside there which nevertheless he cannot accomplish The Carawanseras which are here very numerous do surpass all others that ever I have seen elsewhere tha● where we took up our Quarters being more like a Palace than an In● as I have said before having 65 spacious Rooms besides many Conveniences which others want Below it was all Arched and mad● into stable use and above with Galleries to entertain the common so● of People Hither resort many Indian and other Merchants coming very far and bringing with them many rich Wares and precious Commodities There are abundance of Looms for Cloth of Gold and Silver as also many that make Tapestry and no less is the number of Idle Persons who swarm hither from all Parts and like Drone● are maintained by the sedulous Labours of those that take Pains and here have I seen more Beggars than ever I have seen in any Town in all my Travels As for the Countrey of Kaschan it is very fertile and of an excellent Soil producing vast Quantities of Wine Fruit Corn and is very rich of Cattel insomuch that it is very cheap living there But this is also concomitated with other Annoyances to wit the Extreme Heat of the Climat and the Multitudes of Scorpions which haunt the Town those being both great and dangerous yet both in shape and colour differing from those in Italy The Inhabitants for fear of that venemous Animal dare not ly upon the Floor as in other Places where they only throw a Quilt upon the Tapestry but have high Couches hanging from the Roofs of the Rooms like Hammocks and althô this Creature be very venemous and many are stung by it yet few die they having found out a ready Medicin against it which is made of the Filings of Copper tempered with Vinegar and Honey which is a very speedy remedy yet if neglected the Party stung is in danger of his Life This I presume has bin first found out by an Antipathetical quality which seems to be between those Scorpions and Copper for not far from the City is the Copper-mint where if one of these be brought it dies immediatly Besides these Scorpions they are pesterd with another venemous Creature which they call Enkurekan being very much like a Spider but bigger than a Mouse som of these are speckled and som have long streaks over the Back These keep most in stony Places and haunt the Herb Tremne almost like our Wormwood The venemous Matter which they have in them they spit out as som say Toads do which wheresoever it lights whether on man or Beast it immediatly penetrates and incorporates with the Blood and so proceeds to the Head and Heart So soon as the Patient is touched he falls immediately into a deep sleep in such sort that all the calling and beating him will not avail or awake him or if by chance it do he remains still senceless The best and speediest Remedy for this is the Enkurekan it's self pounded into a Cataplasm and applied but when these are not to be had they use another mean which is thus The Patient is laid upon his Back and his Mouth set open into which they pour much Milk as they can make him digest which done they put him in a square Chest having on each side a Ring through which are four Cords put and made fast at one Ring on the Cieling This Chest thus hanging they whirl it about for a quarter of an Hour together till the Patient breaks up and vomits all he has within him This commonly lucks if the Patient can be brought to swallow the Potion yet they feel the vigorous force of the Poyson for a long time after These nevertheless do not much annoy the Town unless when they are brought in with the Faggots which they use for Fewel But wha● is most worthy of Remark is that Sheep covet them more than an● thing else and if they chance to spy one run in at a hole will not lea● throwing up Earth till she gets it and so snapp it up yet ail nothing at all After we had lay Eight days in Kaschan and bought Wares and Pr●vision we broke up and on the 13 at night came to Carawanser● Chotza Cassim which stands in the middle of a Grove of Cypres● and other Trees which Winter and Summer grow always green In the said Carawansera we found very good Accommodation Her● my Patron was taken with a sudden Fit of the Cholic which hel● him so hard that we very much doubted of his Recovery althô at last to my unfeigned Joy it went over On the 14 th we had very bad travailing way thrô dry and sand Ground and found no Villages nor Towns to refresh our selvs a● till we came at Natens which is a very pleasant little City Here w● set down and took up our Carawansera for that night The Countre● close by Natens is very fertile and affords great plenty of good Wine The Inhabitants being diligent Propagaters of the Vineyards Nea● this City is a Hill upon which is erected a very high Tower of squar● and polished stone which was built by Schach Abas as a Monumen● of a Battail between an Eagle and a

home I saluted him after the Persian manner withall manifesting my gratefullness to him for his many Favours which he had shown me althô without the lest deserts but he interpelling me in my discourse forbad me to talk any more of that saying I have not yet him so worthy as to give you the Reward I promised you which was to set you free when you came to Ispahan and now I understand you have redeemed your self with your own Money however I shall make it good to you by an Equivalent With that he opened a Chest and gave me 100 Dollars saying This I give you as part of Reward for your care to save my life when I was in danger of loosing it at the Caspian Sea This extraordinary great Bounty coming so besides my expectation put me to a stand what reply to make at first but considering how he might look upon it as an Ingratitude to be silent I expressed my self after this manner Sir I am not able ever to do you such service as may recompense your Goodness but I hope that GOD will remember your Bounty don in secret which is the truest Charity notwithstanding the unworthiness of my self on whom it is shown Great reason it is that I should record the worthy Deeds of this Turkish Christian or Christian Turk not only as don to me but as don to one of another Faith and that without vain Glory a thing he ever hated his calling me aside and forbidding me to make it known manifest the Absoluteness and Integrity of Charity well knowing that I was just upon my departure and consequently not likely to be his Trumpeter but the more he charged me to conceal it the more I reckon it my Office to publish it that Christians whose first and chief Duty towards their Neighbour is Charity and that the remissness of that Duty may be convinced by those who hold it as a voluntary and not an injoyned Act. In sum his fair Carriage towards me unfortunately thrown from a Condition of Freedom to a State of Slavery had so far ingaged me to love and honour him that had it not been for the Restriction and Care of a Wife and Children who lived all this time as Widdow and Orphans I could have bin more content to serv him all my Life as a Slave than to have the Liberty which I have before and since enjoyed with such Anxiety When with a faint Heart and Eies full of Tears I took my last leav of him he embraced me and told me he had yet hopes to see me once again and when I was at a distance cried out GOD in the highest Heavens conduct you GOD Almighty bring you in safety home which were the last words I heard him speak My two Companions to wit C. Brand and L. Fabritius were returned back again to Derbent with intent to go by way of Russia and I departed with the Caravan of the Honorable the East India Company from the Royal City Ispahan having a sufficient number of Camels and Mules to carry our Provision and Baggage to Gammeron The same day we travailed 8 Leagues and about 10 a Clock came to a village called Majar where we took up our nights Lodging We had also in our Company som of those Persians of whom I have already made mention that live still in Heathenism whom I found very civil and faithfull in all their Doings On the 18 it was very cold weather and snowy that we could hardly keep a Horseback The snow was here thicker than ever I have seen it to my knowledge in the Low-Countreys being between 4 and 5 Foot deep upon the Ground and the Path so narrow that the Horses oftentimes going out of the Way tumbled down in the snow with the Packs which happening so often mainly detarded that days Journey Before night we got the hilly Countrey and set down in the village Canischa where by reason of bad Weather we rested 3 days with the Caravan Upon the 22 we set forward again and had very hilly way which proved so incommodous that we travailed that day no more than 6 Dutch Miles and took our Nights rest at a Carawansera where we met another Caravan coming from Gammeron richly loaden with all sorts of Indian Commodities and bound for several Markets in Persia On the 23 we broke up and the same day had bad and slippery way insomuch that som of our Camels and Horses fell whereby the Chests and Goods were much endamaged The Heer Bent as I said before having appointed me as Caffil Abassi or Overseer it was my duty to look to the reparation of this Damage and to see the Chests effectually mended and therefore I went to see if I could meet with any Person who could help me in the Village letting the Caravan remain so long in a Carawansera At last after much enquiry I found one but coming back understood that my Portmantle and my Money was stole which put me in a great strait for I had not above the value of 25 gild or 55 sh sterling left I suspected that som of our Company was the Party that had committed the Theft and had also a privat hint given me of it The matter concerned me so far that I forthwith began to tax the Party with it that I had in suspicion but he stoutly denied it and was so displeased at me for blemishing his Reputation that he intimated the matter to som of his Companions who unanimously swore to be revenged on me and taking their opportunity fell all together upon me and used me in most cruel manner It was the Brother of the Party that told me averring that he had seen it but when he came to confront him denied every word he spoke to me insomuch that I was fain for the time being to be patient yet fully resolved to have it out of his Hide the first opportunity That day we travailed 7 Dutch Miles and came at night to a Village formerly called Jurgestan now Iesegas On the 24 we broke up again and that morning met a Post coming from Gameron and intending for Ispahan of whom I understood that the Director van der Dussen who had remitted the Money for my Redemption was gone for Batavia These Tidings I must confess were very unwelcom to me because I knew it would be 4 Moneths before any Ships would go for Batavia the more because I was to endure the hot season at Gameron This day we travailed 6 Dutch Miles and at night came to a fair new-built Carawansera The next day we broke up and passed thrô a fair Town called Surina About 12 a clock it began to snow very hard so continuing till the Evening when we met with a good Carawansera which was no small comfort to us having no stomach to lie such weather without a Roof in the open Field The same day we travailed 7 Dutch Miles On the 25 we had very good weather and the Way also

reasonable good so that in good time we got to a Carawansera which lay about 8 Dutch Miles or somthing more from the other Near this place are divers Ponds of sweet Water affoarding also great plenty of Fish wherefore we went to Angle and took about 40 Carps which because of the Novelty were very acceptable having eaten nothing all the way but salt Meat These Ponds as well as the Carawansera were made as we understood from an Inscription over the Door at the Charges of the Dutch East India Company On the 26 we had very high Hills to clamber over so that the hollow places in the way being fill'd with snow put us notwithstanding all the care and vigilance we could use to a great deal of trouble for the way being very slippery the Camels Mules and Horses often stumbled and fell which greatly endamaged the Chests which were but newly and very loosly repaired Besides that it snew very thick all the Forenoon which made us long for a Carawansera that we could not reach till late at night coming to the Village Gufti where we rested for that night having made no more than 5 Dutch Miles the whole day That night and the next day it continued snowing so that we resolved to continue under roof till the weather grew better About noon came a Caravan from S●yras but we having taken up the place they were fain to go forward till they found another On the 27 the weather grew better and the Sun shone so that we proceeded on our Journey but having travailed an hour or two we were surprized by som Robbers who all on a sudden assail'd us and beset the Caravan round and fell a tearing all they could com at Our Company being affraid of their lives deserted the Camels and left me alone to stand out the brunt of all One of the Robbers thrust his hand into a Bag in which were 3 or 4 Flitches of Bacon and som Hams who when he came to know what it was fell a cursing and menacing me that I did not warn him for he was thereby unclean and according to the Mahometan Superstition not to com into the Society of others or enter the Temple That Gnat it seems he strain'd at yet stuck not to swallow a Camel Having taken what they could carry they left me but not without a Token to remember them giving me so many Rebounders about the Head with their Truncheons that I was taken up for Dead by my faithfull Fellow-Travellers who came again when they saw there was none to molest'em That day we travailed 24 English Miles and at night came to a very commodious and stately Carawansera such as I had not met with all the way unless in som great City being all round with Galleries On the 28 we set forward on our Journey and came to a fair Village called Mestzid where we had a very commodious Carawansera and stay'd there that night The said Carawansera was nothing inferior to that we had the night before aswell in respect of Conveniency as ornament having much variety of Carved work as Foliage Fructurage c. after the Persian manner the Walls also were covered with a neat sort of white glazed Tiles Near to this Place is the Sepulchre and Tomb of the Mother of Schach Solyman being a fair Monument of white Marble hither repair many devout Women to visit the Tomb and pour out their Prayers and Supplications for themselvs and Friends which I remark'd was very brief for they only according to the general Injunction push'd the Tomb with their Head 3 times and as often stooped to kiss it then muttered out a short prayer which doubtless they have by form and so departed Having stay'd there that night we went in the Morning to buy up som fresh Provisions and Fruits that place being very famous for Winter-growth of Fruits both as to plenty and Cheapness On the Nine and Twentieth of Febr. we came to a little village called Siwa having that day travailed 5 Dutch Miles The next day we set forward on our Journey and travailing a good pace came pretty early into the village Mardasch where we resolved to rest a little being almost wearied out with the badness of the Way and Weather The next morning I took a turn without Town on Horse-back with one of our Company where having rode about 2 Miles to the Eastward from the Town we descried a huge fair Pile of Building which afterwards by som Pilgrims that we met we understood was a Sepulchre The general Structure was a very fair Temple altogether built of Marble standing on a rising ground and supported with 10 high and massy Pillars When we entred we ascended several steps and went thrô a very stately Gate of fair white and speckled Marble but understood very well that 〈◊〉 Christian was permitted to enter lest they should pollute it however being shorn after their manner and having no discrepance of Habit whereby they might suspect me to be any other than a very Musulman I went boldly in to view all that was to be seen which a privat Person and a Layman was permitted to view for the innermost Vault is not to be seen unless of Princes and the Spiritualists Above the said Vault hung several golden Lamps which burn continually and as the Watchmen told us the Coffins that stood below were of massy Gold In this Sepulchre they told us were preserved the Bones of Noah and his Wife of Shem Ham and Japhet together with the 5 Sons of Shem viz Ashur Arphaxad Lud Aram and Elam by whom the City Persepolis is said to be first founded of old called Elamus This was told me by an old Persian with whom I had som Discourse who also said that he had the keeping of som old Registers and Antiquities Here they also show several Skeletons and Pieces of Bones to Pilgrims in Golden Dishes which they say are the Bones of Noah and of his Grand-child Elam but beleev it that list About 2 Leagues from Chehilminar are the Ruins of som Statues and amongst others one which they say was the Image of Rustan a ●ersian Champion of great fame for which reason every great Hero among them that has performed any valorous Atchievment is called ●stan and glories as much in that as the Greeks of old by the usurped ●me of Achilles or the Roman Stage-players in the name of Roscius ●his Image as also all the rest are about 3 times as great as the Life ●●d armed with Clubbs and other ancient Armor But to rehearse 〈◊〉 the Fables that the Persians told me of those Heros would rather ●pair the Credit of what is already said in conformity with Truth than giv Satisfaction to the Curious wherefore here as in many other places where I might have interspersed such Dreams I thought good to spare the pains of relating them CHAP. XXXIV Arrival at Scyras They meet with som Carmelites The base

with a Hook and Line for they were alwaies provided therewith to use when occasion and opportunity concurred The next day it blew hard and was intermixed with showers of Rain so that we had very bad travailing and almost wearied out Towards the Evening I happened to espy som persons driving on very hard after us and coming nearer to my great joy and happiness I descryed that it was Father Felisello the Carmelite and Doctor Robine who were going for Gameron to direct som affairs they had there Besides my good Fortune to enjoy the Company of such Friends I was further obliged by fresh kindnesses they offering me alwaies to eat with them till we came to our Journeys end which was no small happiness for me considering my mean Condition and great strait being very short of Moneys and almost in despair of coming to Gameron with the Charge I had upon me I cannot but tell you how much I was ashamed to be so caressed by Strangers who had nothing to expect from me and loath I was to be so burthensom to them of whose hands I had not deserved the smallest friendship and kindness that they manifested towards me yet being so cruelly straitned on every hand I was forced to accept of their Offer They held a very noble Table and had taken along with them a great Case of Bottles full of Scyras Wine which they spared not so long as it lasted The Doctor had with him 3 Men to attend him and was every where highly respected being a Gentleman of a sweet Temper discreet and and sociable so that my Journey seemed much shorter for his Company This day being as I said very bad weather we hardly travailed 6 Dutch Miles The next day setting forward we came at night to a Village called D●bba where we set our Caravan down This Village appeared like a Camp or Army with their Tents the Cottages being so mean and the highest house hardly sufficient for a tall man to stand upright being built only of Reeds and Twigs plated like Basket-work and ●aubed over with clay The Inhabitants like the Cottages they lived ●n were very poor and despicable People insomuch that we had not much Divertisement or accommodation there This day we hardly ●vanced 5 Dutch Miles On the 4 we set forward and went over very Rocky and hilly way ●ssing through several villages Upon those Hills grow great ●ore of Dates and are so cheap that one may buy 100 lb. weight for the ●lue of 2 Shillings Sterl and are both of an excellent tast and lovely ●lour The Date-tree seems to have som harmony with living Ani●als in their Procreation and have also their Sexes The Female will ●ot bear any Fruit if planted alone so that they are always planted ●y Pairs together all along and indeed do naturally grow so But ●he Female growing old will not bear Fruit unless they take a piece of the Top-branch of the Male and ingraft it in the Female which they also do to som young Trees to make them bring forth good Fruit which would otherwise be of a bitter and odious Tast I have ●●rther remark'd that when the Male and Female are planted a small distance asunder they will lean towards each other as if there were som mutual sympathy between them The Inhabitants who have bin from one Generation to another used to plant and propagate these Trees told me many remarkable things about them which because I will not be prolix I shall ommit This day we travailed 7 Dutch Miles and at night got a fair Carawansera to take our rest in The next day we had very dry ground and a barren Countrey to pass thrô and in som places rocky so that we travailed that day no more than 5 Miles On our way and near the Carawansera which we took up for that night we saw great Flocks of wild Goats which som of our Company had a great mind to tast and went out in th● Evening upon the Chace but the Creatures were too cunning to b● catch'd so that our Hunters were fain to return to the Carawanse● hungry and weary The season being sharp and cold we laid on great pile of wood and warmed our selvs throughly The day following in the Afternoon we came to a Town call● Scharim which I presume had bin anciently a City and walled i● it stood in the middle of a grove altogether of Date-Trees It is all a Town of considerable Traffic in consideration of their Manufact●rie in Cottons there being very many Weevers There is also a ve● fair Market-place where besides the many Shops of their own M●nufactories are several rich Ware-houses of Silks and Persi● Stuffs in which they also drive a great Trade and have correspo●dence with the greatest Marts in all the Countrey round Besides t● great Concourse of Trading-people they have a Market twice a we● for the Boors which is no small advantage to the Town Findi● this a very commodious place to rest in we tarried here 3 days refresh our selvs and ease our Camels Horses and Mules having f● 3 or 4 days had very bad way and weather Having sufficiently taken our rest at Scharim we set forward a● had very good weather travailing all the day long thrô a flat Cou●trey and by the way saw many Noblemens houses and here a● there a Grove of Date trees and many fair Orchards so that th● was the most pleasant days Journey we had from Ispahan Here 〈◊〉 met a huge Caravan consisting of a great Troop of Men Camels Mules and Sumpter-Horses loaden with rich Indian Wares T● said Caravan came from Gammeron and intended to go by the same Po● we came being bound for Scamachy and Surwan In this company met accidentally with a Persian who had bin our Neighbour at S●machy and delivered him two Letters the one for my Master H● Byram which was written in Turkish and the other for my Wife whi● he promised to send for me by way of Smyrna At night we ca● to have very rocky and ill way but found a Carawansera where we to● our rest having travailed that day about 24 English Miles When we were lay down to sleep we were surprized with abo● 30 Robbers that came boldly into the Carawansera with intent as 〈◊〉 had reason to beleev to murther us all whilst we were asleep ' T● true they did not at first make any assault but deferred their purpose till midnight thinking perhaps that we not suspecting them might grow supine and judging our selvs secure grow so negligent as to fall asleep but we thought good to set a narrow Watch and kept our selvs in a readiness all the Night with Weapons in our hand for fear of a sudden assault About midnight they fell in and fought outright so that 5 of our Men lay presently under Feet being in all 37. We fought joyntly together with good Courage so that we speedily allayed their Fury Our Party as we could

observe were much stronger than theirs yet if we had not bin unanimous and faithfull to one another we had not com so well of for there was not one Man from the greatest to the least but fought manfully and with a good ●ill till the very last when they ran into another Room and shut ●e Door after them which was no small advantage to us for when ●e had them so pen'd up we knew our selvs secure there being no ●ther Passage for them to com out at The Door we barricado'd in ●ith huge Stones and with all our Carbines and Blunderbusses ●oured in shot upon them so long till they began to beg for Quarter ●hich we resolved not to giv them but promised them the liberty 〈◊〉 com forth and to stand to our mercy In the mean while we had ●bserved that several of them lay dead and wounded After they had consulted a while among themselvs they resolved to comforth but we refused to let them com all together but one by one keeping a narrow watch at the Door that they should not rush out altogether Having got them out they were very patient and suffered us to ty them back to back Those that were wounded we killed outright and and when it began to be light we set forward on our Journey taking the rest being abov 20 along with us and coming to a Grove of Date-Trees there hung them up by the heels and stripping off their Cloaths ●ashed off their Noses Ears and Hands which we nailed to a Tree as Monuments and Relicts of Roguery and left the Bodies hanging How we came to be so happy as to conquer those Villains was no small wonder to me since there was never a man among the Company that fought with any other Order than as his Courage led him so that we see what som will do and can atchieve when Life and Goods lie at the stake Their Punishment 't is true was severe enough to let them die a lingring Death but the Loss of our Companions was so precious to us that could we but have bethought a harder they had bin sure t● have gon that way to pot and not have had the opportunity to pre● upon Passengers again Having performed the Hangmans Office we went to our Came● and Caravan leaving the Bodies there for an Example to their Co●panions The way proved very hilly and uneaven wast and rocky being of a hard Flint-Stone and indeed so uneasy that we had mu● ado to get all the Camels and Horses forward som weary and read● to lay down others stumbling and others straying for the way was no beat However in the Evening after 4 Dutch miles Travail we got Carawansera and there resolved to take our rest Here about we sa● great Flocks of Partridges which Father Felisello who was passi● dextrous with a Birding-piece went out to shoot and brought 〈◊〉 many as served us for supper which we illustrated with a Glass of d●licat Scyras Wine CHAP. XXXV The incommodous Travelling over Mountains They com into an Inn or Carawanse● where they are well entertained Arrival at Lar. A Description of that Tow● The Vnwholsomness of the Air and water there The Inhabitants given 〈◊〉 Hospitality and Lovers of all kinds of Discipline and Science Mummay Kob● a pretious Balsam Remarkable Monuments of Robbers executed Depart● from Lar. They meet with another Troop of Robbers whereof 7 are killed They are overtaken by Monsr Kasenbroot Their Arrival at Gamron THe next morning being the 12 of March we got all in a re●diness in order to our Journey and had very steep and dang●rous rocky hills to clamber over insomuch that we durst not ke● a Horse-back but were fain to allight and lead the greatest part of t● way being in danger if the Horses should happen to stumble to 〈◊〉 dasht in pieces upon the sharp Flints which were terrible to look at in respect of their acuity and sharpness These are a part of that Circ● of hills which encompass the famous Taurus This day we advance● 5 Dutch Miles and got a good Carawansera On the 13 we betook our selvs to our Journey and about 3 in the After-noon got to a Carawansera Father Felisello finding her● som sheep to be sold bought a Lamb which althô it was in the Fast he was resolved to Feast of saying that all Meats was dispenced with a Travailer who must eat what he can and not what he will But this being the Birth-day of the good Father he was resolved to celebrate it with a good supper which indeed we had and drunk good store of Wine to boot in which we remembred the Catholic King and his Royal Highness the Prince of Orange in several healths and that to such a Mesure that we were in as good as mood a those Potentates themselvs could be in short we were so moistned within that we slept that night without much care On the 14 in the morning betimes we set forward and passed by several Pitts which were digged through from one to another under ground so that the water ran through them all The same Pits were well stored with Carps and other Fish which our Company angled for and took several which served us for a Novelty at night these Pitts or rather Ponds were convey'd by a channel or narrow Conduit to a great Stone Cistern which was near to a Carawansera where we took our Nights rest having that day travelled 5 Dutch Miles On the 15 th about Noon we came into the Village Barry where we ●et down and stay'd there 2 Days finding our selvs unable to go any further without a Pause and the Camels and other Beasts almost wearied out understanding moreover that we had very hilly and rocky way to pass over This day we had only advanced 4 Miles Dutch On the 18 th betimes in the morn we left Barry and clambered up a very steep Hill meeting by the way som Gentlemen that were diverting themselvs with the Hawk which there as well as in Europe is held for a noble Game and not a Gentleman but has his Faulcon In the Afternoon we got the height of the Hill where we found a very old Man who neither combed nor shaved his Hair but let it grow negligently so that it looked like a Mop. This Man as we understood afterwards was one that lived a Heremitical and austere Life being reputed for a Saint among the Inhabitants The said Hermite came to me and begged that I would give him a pipe of Tobacco which I did and got his Prayers for it Having that day travelled 6 Leagues we came pretty late in the Evening to a Carawansera On the 19 we travailed through a most pleasant Valley where we saw many Boors Cottages and great groves of Date-trees on the right hand and on the left We called at a Boors house and would have bought of them som Milk but the People would take no Money for it They asked

me from whence I came I told them from Surwan Scamachy but that being a place they had never heard of in their lives asked me further if that were as far as Ispahan I told them it was more than twice as far at which they greatly wondred thinking that I must needs com from the utmost bounds of the World these being a poor ignorant People and never travail farther than their Market Town which is a little Grange in the Valley and never heard tell of any Countrey than their own in short they would have had me to stay longer with them but my Time was too precious to spend in answering all they would have asked me At night we came to the City Laar where we took up our Resting place in the Dutch Lodge where we found very good Convenience and only an old Man and a Woman to look to the House and assist the Caravans who were set there by the Company Here I got the Chests and Cases repaired that were broken and endamaged by the often falling of the Camels thrô the rocky way Laar or Lar is a pretty big Town but has no Walls to resist or endure a strong siege save only such as are made of Bricks that are dry'd in the Sun but is reasonably strong in respect of its Scituation as well as for the Fort or Castle which is built upon a Hill on the North-side the Walls thereof are of solid stone and the Fort it self so seated that it can command the whole Town having one narrow Passage to enter it which is very steep it is supplyed with several pieces of great Ordnance which the King sent hither from Ormus when by the help of the English he took that City in About Laar grow abundance of Date-trees but no Wine and by reason that they have no Commerce or Traffic abroad but poor must supply themselvs with Water which as well as the Air here about is very unwholsom insomuch that many times Strangers who are to make use of it for want of Wine fall sick and are tormented with a small Worm but long which breeds between the Skin and the Flesh and cannot be taken out without great pain They show'd me one that was above 5 Foot long and not so thick as an ordinary Goos-quill The Inhabitants of Laar are very free and sociable to converse withall and great Lovers of Sciences and Learning Not far from the Castle is a certain Rock out of which issues a very precious Balsem called by the Persians Mummay Kobas This Balsem or Oil is gathered only in the Moneth of June about which time it runs stillatim or drop by drop out at a Vein The said Rock from whence it coms is continually guarded with a strict Watch by Order of the King and none is suffered to touch it upon pain of Death This Oil is reckoned and well known by experience to be the greatest Antidot against Poyson in the World althô never so strong and is therefore held by the King as an inestimable Tresure and never suffered to be exported out of his Dominions The King also willing to show any of his Subordinat Princes and Deputies an extraordinary and high Favour always sends them a few drops thereof to make it the greater in esteem and value and with one injoyns them not to send it out of the Kingdom upon pain of his displesure Without Laar are erected several Pillars for Monuments of the Execution of several Robbers who had made the high Ways unfree to Travel Half of their Bodies are set up on these Pillars and the other half buried in the Ground being cut asunder whilst they are still alive Having tarried here 3 Nights and 2 Days we set forward on the 22 and had very bad and rocky way We saw here great Flocks of wild Swine whereof our Company shot 2 with their Hand-guns but durst not fetch them for fear of the Persians that threatned to leav us if we did for they loath them more than Toads We also shot several Eagles which notwithstanding they prey upon the Pigs the Persians fed heartily upon them This day we travailed 7 Dutch Miles which we thought more than a diëta rationabilis or an ordinary Stage in regard of the badness of Way and Weather and at night had a good Carawansera On the 23 we broke up and passed by a fair Town called Pharate which we left on the right hand The said Town was pleasantly seated in the middest of a Grove of Date-Orange-and Lemmon Trees By the way we met with a Party of Robbers who furiously set upon us but finding themselves too weak betook themselvs to flight leaving 7 Dead behind them We also lost 2 Men of our Company that were outright killed in this Bickering and had six wounded The Dead we buried near the Way and bound up the wounded At night we came to a small Village called Sarap where we took up our nights rest having that day advanced 6 Miles On the 24 we set forward again and at night came to a great Village which we took up for our Stage having a fair and spacious Carawansera in it We had no sooner disburthened the Camels but had 50 or 60 Women who came and proffered us Milk to sell and were so importunat and troublesom that we could not get rid of 'em till we set the Doggs upon them These went all with their Face uncovered which I had not seen any Honest Women in all Persia do except in one Village between Scamachy and Ispahan This day we had furthered our Journey by 7 Miles On the 25 we had a great and wearisom Mountain to travail over at the Foot whereof was a River which we were forced to wade thrô by reason that the stone-bridge which had formerly lain over it was broken down After we had travailed 5 Dutch Miles we took up ou● nights rest in a Carawansera But we could here get no manner of Refreshment the Countrey round about being dry and barren producing nothing but Date-trees that we could see On the 26 towards night we came to a Grange of Fisher-men of whom we bought a few for our use We were no sooner set down but came Monsr Kasenbroot with his Slaves riding into the Town being sent for from Ispahan to Suratte The night being very still we could easily hear the rushing of the main Ocean That day we had travailed 7 Miles On the 27 we went onwards and about Noon came to a Carawansera which lay close to the shore and could see Ships a sailing which filled me with a more than ordinary Joy not having seen such a comfortable sight in a long time Hence we saw Gammeron and could distinctly discern the English and Dutch Flaggs fly abroad that were planted upon the Lodges However we thought good to tarry there that night having only advanced 4 Dutch Miles that we might enter Gammeron the fore part of the Day On the 28 for the

there are 3 at Novogorod which bring up yearly Ten Thousand Gilders and so all others according to proportion The Imposition upon Iron Corn Salt Tar Furs and other Commodities are very considerable If so the Revenues of this Prince be Great so likewise his Court is as sumptuous and House-keeping very Royal besides the vast Charges in maintenance of the Strelitzers who are exactly and duly paid Their Laws as we have elsewhere said are very rigorous against Malefactors and quite different from other Nations The first and lightest is the Battoki which is when the Patient is to lie upon his belly then come two men one sitting down upon his Neck and the other upon his Leggs who beat him till the Judge or Officer commands them to hold up The Knutten is a Punishment of a higher degree and such as usually those that sell Brandy Metheglin or Tobacco without a special License from the Czar are punished with and is after this manner The Executioners Servant takes the patient and strips him from the middle downwards and takes him upon his back which done the Executioner with a scourge of Thongs made of a raw Elks-hide dried gives him a certain number of stripes according to a Ticket which is delivered him immediately before he takes the scourge in his hand This punishment is exceeding severe and yet not sufficient to suppress continual smuckling and selling by stealth which the more they are punish'd and threatned the more eager they are to do it The Executioner and his Office are not there so contemptible as with us for it is sometimes purchased by the most wealthy Merchants in the Land Other Crimes are punished with Chapping off a Hand or a Foot and sometimes only a Finger according to the enormity of the crime False Coiners have liquid mettal poured down their Throats and Ravishment of Virgins or as our Laws call it a Rape is expiated by gelding of the Delinquant of which if he recover well and good but it is very rare that any does CHAP. IX Celebration and Solemnity of Palm-Sunday The Departure of the Author out of Moscou to Astrachan Heads and Officers They set Sail. A heavy storm Arrival at Nisen-Novogorod Plenty of Provision at Nisen A description of the famous River Wolga Beginning of the Cerem Tartars Their Customs and Nature Their Idolatrie Ceremonies about the Dead Their Habit Polygamy c. ON the 18 th of April being Palm-Sunday was celebrated a great Feast wherein was much Triumph and Joy manifested with Arches and Pageants amongst which was our Savior his manner of riding to Ierusalem This Solemnity was performed with an infinite number of People and led by the Emperour himself in Person attended with all the Bojars and the greatest personages about Court The Patriarch sat upon a Horse apparelled all in white representing the L. Jesus Christ The Czar being supported by two Bojars led the Horse by the Bridle being richly apparreled with an Imperial Diadem upon his Head The Patriarch as was said before was arrayed with a long white Stole with a Hierarchichal Infula or Mitre upon his Head richly set with Pearls In his right Hand was a Cross of Gold set with Diamonds and precious stones with which he signed the Multitude that came thronging to him with great Reverence and Devotion He sat cross over the Horse which Horse was set out with splendid Trappings and richly Capparison'd after the manner of an Ass On each side the Patriarch went several Bishops and the Superior Clergy with white Surplices Having Thuribles The Host the Chalice the Pax Books Bells Tapours and other things used at Mass besides a great number of Flags The Way from the palace to the Crescent was all laid with Red-cloath Here it was where the Patriarch first took Horse the Horse being there tied to a pale After the Patriarch follow the Bojars bearing a huge Tree woven and wound with Silk and Ribbons as also many sorts of Fruits thereto annexed Herein sate several litle Children with Apples green Twigs and Branches After all came the Mobile strowing the way with Branches which they had in their Hands crying out Hosanna Son of David blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the Highest c. When they were returned to the Crescent the Patriarch gave the Benediction to the Multitude and so the Procession ended In the Evening the Patriarch sent the Czar 200 Roebels for his good service in leading the Horse I also saw their Paschal Solemnities at what time they continually kiss one another at meeting saying Christ is risen with one delivering a died Egg and therefore at this time they have many Booths all over the Town where they have Eggs of all colours to sell These Ceremonies are so universally observed that none passes the street without giving and receiving of Eggs of what Condition or Degree soever they be Towards the Evening they entertain one another every one in the best manner he can as well Clergy as Laïty and now are all the Taphouses or Kabacks crouded with men where they toss off whole Bowls of Metheglin Brandy and strong Beer till they fall together by the Ears On the 4 of May we departed with a Strough from Moscou which was laden with Ammunition and provision We were 15 men in all who were sent down with this Vessel We made quick passage down the River for the next day we arrived at Colomna which is 134 English land-Land-miles by Water but thwart the Land about 50. This City is well fortified with a strong Wall and many Turrets It is seated upon the Mosqua having a long Wooden Bridge over that River On the 6 dito we came into the River Oka making a deep and broad stream where it unites with the Mosqua Here we saw a very fair Village called Dydenof by some Gedino and about the Evening we arrived at the Wharf where the Ship Eagle lay having the Imperial Paludiments on her Stern We were very kindly received by the Heer Cornelius Roeckhoven Coll and Mr. Lambert the Master who expressed great joy for our arrival Besides those were other Officers preferred aboard the Ship to wit Monsr Stark Lieut. Coll. 2 Captains a Chirurgeon a Jeweller an Interpreter and a Purser Their Pay was as follows The Collonel 100 Rix-dollars per Moneth The Lieutenant Collonel 30 The Captains 40 The Chirurgeon 20 The Interpreter 10 The Purser 10 Captain Butler 160 Gilders The Master of the Ship 100 The Mate 60 The Carpenter 80 Carpenters Mate 36 Foremast-men each 50 My self 57 Our whole Company consisted in 20 Dutch On the 12 we set Sail from Dydenof which was the Wharf where the Ship Eagle was built conducted by the Col. Boekhoven about 2 leagues downward The same day in the Afternoon we came to a Town called Nicholo where we found provision incredibly cheap Here I bought some Wild-fowl in the Market about as big as Wild-gees for a

another for the Calmuc-Tartars which 2 last-named may not come together altho they be both Mahometans and under the Jurisdiction of the great Duke The Calmuks dwell not in Towns as other People do but travail all over the Countrey pitching their Tents where they find a fertile fat Soil which when their Horses Camels Cows and small Cattel have eaten bare they break up and march forward to find out some other place as Historie records of the Scythians who without dispute were the same People Their chief and choice Diet is Horse-flesh which they eat raw after they have rode a litle upon it thrusting it between the Sadle and the Horse Upon the 15 of August we sailed past 2 Islands to wit Criusna and Saponoufka as also by the Hill Solottogory which is as much as to say Gold-hill so called from a rich booty of Gold the Tartarians had once taken in a Caravan which they divided among themselves by cap-fulls On the 16 ditto we came before the River Ruslan on the left hand right over against a round Hill called Vrak-ofskarul from one Vrak a Tartarian Prince who lies there buried This Beck comes from the famous River Don upon which River those that are called the Don-Cosaks have their being which also is the Countrey and Residence of Stenko Radzin In the year 1668 the Russes had build a new City at the Mouth of the River Ruslan to give a check to the Don-Cosacks who much annoyed the VVolga with their small Boats comming down the said River dayly in great Troops and committed many insolencies However it seems not much available for they have devised a new mean to shun the Fort and come into the VVolga by drawing their Boats over land upon Wheels which they do for 7 Dutch Leagues together for the Countrey there is flat and even The next day it began to blow very hard for which reason we were fain to remain that day at anchor and on the 18 th to set sail having a gentle Gale which brought us before the City Czaritza which is as much to say Caesarea or rather Empress lying on the Right hand at the foot of a Hill The City is in it self not great but very strong munited with 6 Ramparts or Bulwarks besides other Fortifications The Garrison is well maintained with Recruits of Strelitzers being a Place of great Trust and Importance especially for that it lies upon the Tartarian Continent On the 19 we came before the Place where Czares-gorod of old had stood by the Ruins thereof we could observe that City had been built of Brick It was demolished besides many others by Tamerlan the Great The stones have been of good use to those of Astrachan wherewith they built their Walls Towers Churches and Monasteries On the 20 we haled over several Riffs and shallow Foords and at last ran our selves aground upon a sand where we stuck 3 hours before we could yet clear From this place where we were fast all along the Banks to Astrachan grows great plenty of Liquirice but all the Land to the Caspian Sea wast and not fitt for Tillage On the 21 we got the Island VVesaway which we left on the Starboard-side and that Evening came before Tzornogar or Tzornojar being in regard of any requisite occasion in such a place considerably strong it is environed with Palizados and about an English mile without the Town On each side are several Watch-houses with Towers from whence they can see the Enemy at a distance the Countrey being level and not Woody The first occasion of the building of this City was said to be from a party of 400 Cosacks which had spoiled a Russian Caravan intercepting it between the Land and the Boats where the Strelitzers were that were appointed to Convoy it and by reason that the stream was so strong that the Boats could not row against it the said Robbers made their escape with a very rich Booty At that same time there was at Tzornogar a Persian Ambassadour arrived with all his Moveables and a great Retinue intending for Moscou The said Ambassadour came aboard our Ship and received Presents from our Officers which although he willingly accepted yet remunerated them with things of greater value and worth On the 22 we set sail and saw the Mountain Polowna where the Russian Fablers say the Moon goes every night to bed because that over that Hill is always a great mist About 2 in the afternoon we got the Island Kitzier in sight and speeded our course so that we gain'd the sight of Astrachan before the Sun set The 24 before noon by the grace of the Everlasting GOD we arrived at the long-wish'd-for Astrachan where we for Joy fired all our Guns to the Astonishment of the Inhabitants who had never seen a Ship of that Burthen and Force before From the day of our Arrival here we lay off in the stream till the first of September and then came up close to the Kay with our Ship and Yacht thanking the Almighty for his special Bounty in delivering us through so many perils and bringing us at last to our desired Port. CHAP. XII Situation of Astrachan The Inhabitants How Astrachan became subject to the Czaar Strange manner of Tents or Cottages Provision very cheap and Brandy dear A Desart affoarding good Salt and a strange kind of Fruit. The Form and Nature of the Nagayan Tartars Their Habit manner of Life and House-keeping Their Trades and way of earning money Horseflesh Mares-milk and Blood in great esteem by them A Strachan lies upon the Dividing of Europe from Asia upon the Island Delgoy in the Countrey of the Nagayan Tartars where the Northern Pole is elevated 46 degr and 22 min. above the Horizon and is about 50 Dutch Leagues from the Caspian or Hyrcan Sea It is environed with a thick stone wall and that time I was there furnished with 500 great Brass Cannon besides a very strong Garrison with Ammunition proportionable to defend it against the Tartars and Cosaks who have often had a design to retake it It gives a very noble prospect from abroad with it 's many Towers and Lofty Piles of Buildings as well what appertain to the Fortifications as to the Churches and Religious Houses It is a famous Town for Traffic frequented not only by all the Regions of Tartary adjoyning to the Caspian Sea but also by Persians Armenians and Indians who bring their Goods and Merchandises in a certain sort of Shipping which they call Boeses being about 80 Tun burthen a piece But these Vessels cannot Sail by traverse but alwaies before the Wind. Of all the several kinds of Merchandise which those of Astrachan deal in Silk is the chief so that this seems to be the sole Magazin of that Comodity whence it is re-exported up the Wolga and consequently through the whole Russian Empire Astrachan has been formerly the Royal Seat of the Nagayan Tartars but making a League with the Crim-and

take a Journey for Scamachy there to repair his Houses which were thrown down with an Earth-quake in the year 1667. On the first of September we were ready and set forward with a Caravan of 1800 Horses and a great number of Camels Dromedaries Asses and other Beasts of Carriage having in Company several Thousands of Men. The first day we passed over three Rivers to wit Kurgani Kostar and Sambur whereof the second is the greatest running thrô the Mountains of Elbur This River divides it self into 5 branches or arms broad but shallow and runs over a stony Ground The next day we travailed 8 Dutch miles further and came to Koctep a large village where we took our rest for that night By the way we saw a goodly Tomb erected to the memory of a Persian Saint The Inhabitants of this Town and the Countrey about it are called Padar in their Language They are much addicted to stealth and Robbery so that we were fain to keep a narrow watch over them the time we lay in the Town which was not above 8 hours Their Houses are but little built square and covered on the Top with Earth not exceeding 6 or 7 foot high above ground but are as deep below as they are high On the 3 of the same moneth we set forward and travailed through many great villages amongst which was a very fair one called Nisabath or Naysabath which I guess lies about 41 degr and a quart It is seated in a very pleasant Countrey of Old Media now called Surwan or Schirwan This is the Place where som time agon the Holsteyn Ambassadours suffered Shipwrack At night we set down at Muskar being a Town without Walls or any other Fortification but seems to have bin in times past a place of trust as well from its Situation as the Ruins of the Walls and Bulwarks which yet appear By the way we saw abundance of Robbers in the Woods but they knowing us to be too strong would not adventure the Attempt On the 4 we broke up and that day came to Scabaran a little City where the whitest and best Rice in all Persia is brought to market and grows in the Countrey round about It is also in such plenty that the Hundred weight is sold for 13 Ochbas being about 4 Shil 2 Pence Sterl or a halfpenny per Pound The Walls of this City are now demolished so that it is no more than an open village The only Remarkable I found here was the Ruins of the Ovens wherein they averr Alexander the Great had Bread baked for his Army On the 5 th we came to the mountain Par or Barmach which lies close to the Sea and is very famous for it's many veins of Naphte The word Barmach is an Appellativ word and betokens in their Language a Finger so called from it's similitude to a Finger pointing out Above at Top it is very cold and has snow on the North side all the year long at top there grows som grass but not much and that all hung with Iceicles On this Hill appear the Ruins of som Watch-Towers and below have been several Fortlets to check the Tartars and secure the Medians from the Invasion of the Scythian Robbers Amidst those Ruins is a huge deep Pit digged and laid in with stone Naphta otherwise called Petroleum or Petrelaeum is an Oil coming naturally out of the veins of the Rock which veins do run thro the whole stones as in Marble There are 40 Pits digged as Receptacles to hold the said Oil being convey'd thither by several Pipes or Conduits But there are three of those whence it naturally flows or springs where you may see it buble up like boiling pitch Of this Oil there be two sorts the one tending to a brown or black which has a very strong smell but the other which is white is of a lovely smell when fresh and held in far more esteem than the other On the 6 dito we set forward again and went over very high Hills coming at night to Bachal a village seated in a low but fruitfull Valley Here grows much Rice and that very good it being a marshy Ground where that Grain likes best Barley also grows there in good plenty The Inhabitants have an excellent way of making Cakes the main stuff thereof being Honey and Oil whereof for the rareness and novelties sake my Master bought certain to use on our Journey On the 7 dito we left Bachal and after a good Days Journey came into Cothany which is a very pleasant Place and here we took up our Lodging This Village lies in a low Valley which is full of Woods of Hasles and other small Trees in which Woods are the greatest plenty of Hares that ever I have seen in all my Life On the 8 dito we arrived at the famous Scamachy called also Sumahi and Samachy It is a very famous Mart and lies in 40 degr 30 min. In the Province of Schirwan or Media It is handsomly seated in a Vally so that one cannot see it till he be within Cannon Shot of the Town The distance between Derbent and Scamachy is computed a Weeks Journey excluding Sunday to wit following the High-way which is crooked and Winding for by reason of Hills and Rivers they are fain to travel far about or otherwise one might go it in 2 days there is also another way which Passengers take when they go not with the Caravan the Caravan would also go that way but the Tolls about the Mountains of Lahatz are very great and oftentimes long a clearing so that they rather chuse to go the other way In former times this was a Town of some consideration as to matter of strength but in the Wars of Abas the Scach or King of Persia against the Turks it was by him dismantled and made an open village which was ever by him a Maxim of Military Policy by reason the Turks were wont to retire into fortified Places under pretext of Refuge and after a few Moneths proving strong and numerous would surrender up the Town to their own Nation in time of War or upon an Uproar so that all the Walls toward the South were demolished and only those on the North-side left standing which will not much avail upon such sudden Occasions And now was none more happy than my self in imagination not thinking otherwise than suddenly to have my Freedom On the 1 of November I was sent for by the Ambassadour where being introduced into the Parlor he speedily bad me sit down and fell to asking many Questions about my Nation and my coming to be a Slave I told him all from the Beginning to the End He then called for a Bowl of Wine and bade me drink Whilst I sat there were two young Georgian Girls brought to the Door who being stole by the Dagestan Tartars of handsom Bodies and tolerable Beauties as also the Ambassadours own Countrey Women he had compassion of them and

Cold no Oranges Lemmons nor the Usefull Vine will take or like there only Apples and Pears they have which were but just ripe when we were there and as they say have no Blossoms till May or June but without the Mountains it is very warm and affoards good Plenty of the abovesaid Fruits The arable Ground here is very fertile except where it is suffocated with the Sand that the Whirl-winds bring about and Wheat is both good and cheap for having order from my Patron to buy som Bread I had 12 Loavs weighing each 4 po●ds for the Value of an English Shilling and that very white and good Bread In this part of the Countrey is also very good Pasturage which is no small Profit to the Schach or King who has imposed a Toll of Four pence half penny for every Sheep great and small that passes the Bridge which by reason of the vast Flocks and great Inclination of the People to bring up Cattel brings up yearly an incredible sum of Money At that time when I was there were Commissioners appointed by the King himself althô 2 years before it was farmed out and the King coming to understand what large Profits superabounded to the Farmers thought good to bring that Remnant into his own Coffers as a Corolary One of those said Commissioners being an old Acquaintance of my Patron told him that when they turned over the Accounts they had found Toll taken for above 700000 Sheep between March and September which amounts to more then 26000 lb. Sterl which is considerable for the bare passage only but far greater is the Toll which is imposed on every Sheep that is sold Within the Jurisdiction of Ardebil lie 57 Villages and Hamlets and those so close together that the Town is easily supplied with plenty of Lactuaries or what else the Land affoards Ardebil is a very great Town but not close built for every eminent House has a Garden or Orchard behind it At this day it lies without Walls Trenches and other Muniments It is watered with one small Rivulet which they call Baluchlu taking its first spring from the Mountains of Scamaschu about 6 miles to the Southward of Ardebil Before the Town it divides its self into two Channels the one running into the Town and so forward till it finds the Carasu This River is somtimes very small especially in the Summer but about March and April when it ordinarily rains very hard with the Snow and concurrency of the Water that settles off from the Mountains swells to an● incredible bigness and overruns the Banks so that against this time they usually make a Catarract or Dam which diverts it from the Town and upon negligence or want of due Repair of the same the Town is in danger of being lost as in the time of Schach Abas the great● the Dam being not sufficient the Waters came with that suddenness from the Mountains that it made an irruption and washed away a great part of the Town the Houses being mostly built of Clay and a sort o● Brick In this unexpected Innundation they record many Men and Cattle to have been carried away with the violence of the Floods I● Ardebil are 5 Capital Streets to wit Derwansche Tabar Niardouve● Kumbolan and Keserkuste all these were very stately and broad being pla●ted with rows of Ash Teil-or Linden-Trees which is very pleasan● and cool in hot weather Besides these 5 great Streets are also many fai● ones but narrower and not beplanted with Trees whereof the chie● are Bander chan Kamankar Degme Daglir and Ursumi Mahele famous or to say more properly infamous for Whores who have here their Residence and ply all over the Town and in the Carawanseras and are reckoned as a Corporation or Gild. These are all Poetesses by Occupation som Composing Elogies and Hymns in the Praise of A● and Hosseyn others do make Encomiums setting out the Noble Deeds of the Scach and others dance naked before the Chan. c. These of all that ever I have seen in my Life are the most impudent and sensual for they perceiving me to be a Stranger pester'd me as I wen● along the Streets and gave me work enough to keep their Hands ou● of my Codpiece Moreover so sensual and beastly have I observed then to be by their Conversation with young-men who are not shie or it the lest ashamed althô at noon day in the middle of the Street that should not willingly use that immodesty to relate all I have seen Ther● are also several Squares and Plains with Piazzas and Galleries round about in and under which are very rich shops They have also a Place of Refuge whither Malefactors betake themselvs at the Entrance whereof is an Oratory or Chappel in which lie interred the Body of a reputed Saint But the Delinquent fearing himself unsafe can easily gain the great Sanctuary of Scech Sephys Mescaich or Sepulchre whence the King himself should want the Heart to fetch him out by force Coming from this Maydan or Sanctuary you com to the Basar or great Market-plain On this Plain is reared a very magnificent and sumptuous Building four square in which as in our Exchanges are sold all manner of costly Wares and rich Merchandizes as Cloth of Gold and Silver Jewels Precious Stones Tapestry Silks c. This Place they call the Kaysery Behind this you find three Streets almost arched over in which there are many Shops stored with Wares of less value The Carawanseras or Inns of Ardebil are very numerous and those frequented each with a distinct sort of People as Turks Tartarians and Indians who sojourn to and again upon the account of Merchandise In Ardebil are many fair Metzids or Temples whereof one they call Adine surpasses all the rest being founded upon the Top of a Hill in the middle of the Town and besides that graced with a pompous Tower which outbraves all the rest in the City rearing its Top aloft to an exceeding great Height This Temple is thought worthy only to be visited on Fridays which according to the Institution of Mahomet is their Sabbath and from hence it has it's name Before this Temple is a Fountain brought by an Aqueduct from a Place about 5 English miles without the City at the Charges of Muhamed Risa the Rochtaf or Chancellor of Persia The design thereof is that every one willing to visit the Holy Sepulchre must first wash himself there CHAP. XXVIII Hadzi Byram goes to perform his Religious Duties at the Sepulchre of Zeyde Tzebrail The Author begs of his Lord that he may be Spectator of the Ceremonies which at last after many intreaties is granted A Description of that noble Mausoleum Famous Baths in Ardebil The Sulphurous Baths whither the Author accompanies his Patron The manner of using those Baths The stupendious and sumptuous Sepulchre of Scach Sephy described The great Zeal and Devotion of Hadzi Byram The Oratory or House of Prayer where as they say

Convention or Exchange of Whores The Common Place of Sepulture and Metzid of Scach Beslade the Son of Hosseyn by which the Persians swear The Offering of a Camel FOurteen Days we staid in Ardebil during which time I had leisure to see what was worthy of Remark and Opportunity besides being apparreled like a Persian so that none distrusted me to be a Musulman but allowed me access over all When these 14 days were expired the Caravan made preparation to break up and pursue the Journey for Ispahan for which end many fresh Camels and Horses were taken in When the Caravan was ready we observed that the Company was considerably increased with new Passengers and Merchants On the 25 by sound of Trumpet all was warned to joyn themselvs with the Caravan that intended for ●spahan and accordingly left Ardebil and came to Busun which lies about 14 Miles from Ardebil where we staid that night The day following we broke up and had that day a very rocky and uneasy Way insomuch that most or all allighted from their Horses and Camels and went a foot By the way we met several Troops of Robbers who probably had understood what a Prey and Purchase we had yet finding the Caravan so very numerous durst not assail us At night we came to Sengoa a beautifull Village where we had very good Wine and made our selvs merry but not to excess for that is in general odious to the Persians Here I saw the best Beauties and most comly Faces that I have seen in all Persia their Women seem to have a greater Liberty than in most places where they do not only go covered abroad but are also denied the converse with Men for here they go bare with their Face and are very familiar with those of the Masculine Gender and if I be not mistaken were too familiar with some who within a few daies after began to scratch their Heads and this is the first time I knew that the Persian Women understood French In sum our Company enjoy'd themselvs here so contentedly and well that som of 'em thought the Sun had mistaken himself and was risen an hour too soon The day following leaving Sengoa we had high and rocky way but towards the Evening came into a most sweet and pleasant Dale or Plain through which a River glided very swiftly This Valley was very pleasant and notwithstanding the season appeared as if it were in May. This River is called Kis●loseyn having a very fair Stone Bridge over it over which we passed and pitched on the South side in the open Field for there were no Houses to be seen On the 28 th we broke up and went over the famous Taurus being a very rough and dangerous way insomuch that all the Company were fain to allight and lead their Camels and Horses till we came into a Valley where we took our Rest for an Hour or two This Valley is very deep and a Nest of Robbers and Vagabonds who find many lurking Places to hide themselvs in out of which they assail and surprise Travailers if they think themselvs strong enough but we as was said before being increased to a considerable Number knew our selvs sufficiently out of peril Out of this Valley ariseth the River Kisiloseyn which running very swiftly and beating thorow the Rocks makes a very hideous Murmur so that one cannot hear another speak thus receiving as it were inlargement runs through the Champain Countrey of K●lan and thence is hurried with an admirable celerity into the Caspian Lake into which it empties it self On the Banks of this River is a Village bearing the same name where is a fair Stone Bridge of 9 Arches or Bows All along the Way side grow great plenty of Almond Cypress and other Trees which served us all the way in stead of Parasols but when we were come over the River found the Way very bad being forced to clamber over Rocks the Path being so narrow that only one Camel at once could go on it On each side were many great Clefts and deep Caves which with the rattling of the Horses feet made a dreadfull and horrid Eccho and being come to a place which was the fullest of those Caverns all the Company gave a Shout which with an Eccho resounded from one Place to another that it seemed as if there had been 10 or 12 Troops of Men in so many several Places calling to one another On this way it happened that a Camel broke the Leathers wherewith his Pack was fastened to the Crutchet or Saddle being just at the Brink of a wide and deep Pit where no Bottom could be seen It cost the Slaves who attended him much labour to save him and were in struggling once in great hazard themselvs of tumbling down Camel and all yet at last with loss of the Pack which in spite of all they could do fell down they got clear The Pack was very rich and the loss thereof so concerning to the Merchant that if others had not hindred him he had thrown the Slaves after it for their Negligence This ill way much detarded us on this Days Journey for we were more than 5 Hours in travailing one Mile Being got over this bad way we found a Village where it was designed that we should take our nights rest The name of the Town was Keyntze being very poor and not in a Condition to supply us with such Necessaries as we desired for our Money On the 29 we broke up and had that day very good way coming at night to the village Hortzimur where we were very ill at ease being cold Weather and the Place not able to supply us with House-room The next day leaving Hortzimur we travailed thrô a very dry and barren Heath meeting by the way with som Robbers who being but few in number durst not make any attempt upon us However night coming upon us here we were fain to set down on the Heath and for fear of Robbers forced to watch all night but were so benummed with cold that we many times wished for break of day On the first of the next Moneth we came into a litle City called Senkan which is reputed the best Refreshing place between Derbent and Ispahan there being plenty of Oranges Lemmons Pomegranats Melons divers sorts of huge Grapes and many other Fruits then out of season Veal and Mutton was here very cheap as also Bread Thus finding Provision here very cheap we bought what we thought necessary As for the City it self there is not much worthy of Remark about it save onely a very fair and beautifull Metzid It is situated in a Plain and a flat Ground but near the Town very barren and dry It has been formerly a great Emporium and flourished more than 4 Centuries of years in Traffic and Commerce with the circumjacent Countreys but since it was demolished by the great Tamerlan is so run to decay that it is out of Hopes ever to arrive to it's

they were in boiling Cauldrons or in sweeting Tubs so that I have known many who not able to endure the Heat would jump into the Sea and remain there till the Heat of the day be over During the time of my abode there the Heer Padberg came as Envoyé from the Lord General to establish the Commerce and Trade of the Company on a better foot at Moschate but he had not made an end of that Affair when we left the Place On the Third of August we set sail and on the 22 got sight of the fast Land and Cape Comorine which is a fair Promontory on the Malabar Coast We directed our course thence for Ceylon and so for Batavia On the 28 we got the Straits of Sunda where we met several Javaners that came aboard us and bartered Fish Coconuts Piesang Ananasses and other Fruits for Iron Hoops The Day following we got the height of Toppers Angle and on the 30 came into the Road of Batavia On the first of September I went ashoar and so directly to the General and Council to return them my humble Thanks for their unspeakable Favour and Goodness in redeeming me from the wofull Estate of Slavery with promise of returning the Moneys disbursed upon my return home which in the year 1673 I faithfully performed On the 27 I went to list my self in the Companies service for Sail-maker for 18 gild per Moneth aboard the Ship called De Hollandtsche Tuyn On the 15 of October we received Order with 6 other Ships to cruse upon the English and French Ships before Bantham Mean while I longed so to see my Wife and Children that I had no more enjoyment my self so long as we made such delay wherefore I assumed 〈◊〉 boldness to send 2 Letters one to the Heer Spelman then Ordin● Council for the Indies and another to the Heer Piete● van Hoorn hu●bly begging that I might be dismissed my present service and be se● home which they were graciously pleased to assent to and gave ord● that I should imbarque my self aboard the Flyboat Nieuw poort ● return to Batavia and so to go aboard the Ship Europa wherewith set sail on the 4 of February 1673 in Company with the Ship Te●veer as Admiral The Alphen Vice-Admiral and Pynaker Rere Admiral besides the Ships Starmeer and Papenburg We directed our Course W. and by S. thrô the Straits of Sunda On the 5 we came before Bantham and found there the 7 Ships which were crusing before that place for the English and French On the 6 we found our selvs without the Straits of Sunda and se● our Course directly South-South-West till we came in the height of ● degr then altered and bore up W. S. W. till we came at 28 degr a● then set our course directly South till we came at 32 degr which is the height of C. de Bona Esperanza where on the 15 of April we arrive● in the Bay and found theresom Ships that were bound for the Indi● coming from Holland Here we first heard the doleful news that the French had already made themselvs Masters of 3 of the 7 Province that the 2 De Witts the Pensionary and Ruart of Putten were sadly mass●cred in the Hague as also that his Royal Highness the Prince of Ora● was made Erf-Stadt-houder or Lord Deputy Haereditary CHAP. XXXVII Their Departure from the Cape of Good Hope The Ship Europa taken by th● English The English take the Island of St. Helena and 2 Dutch Ships more Th● Author warns the rest of the Ships Three Dutch Ships scape a scouring Arrival at Ascension Abundance of Tortoises on that Island A Descriptio● of the said Island It 's Vnfruitfullness and want of fresh water A Debate ●e● among the English to leav the Dutch upon the Island Departure from Ascension Arrival at Kingsale in Ireland Their Departure from thence Arrival at Bri● and finally at Home WE tarried here till the 17 of May on which day we received an Order from the Governour to depart with the Ship Europ● for the Island St. Helena which Island he had taken from the English about 14 Weeks before The rest of the Ships were to follow us in 7 or 8 days time and so to sail together for Holland Thus having a brisk Gale of wind we hoised sail and had aboard us one Captain Br●denbach who was to be Governour of St. Helena We set our course North-West and on the 21 of May being Whitsuntide came before Saint Helena but coming just in at the Bay we found we had got a wrong Sow by the Tail finding instead of our own 7 great English Men of War with a Fireship and 3 Merchant Men. The English finding us within Shot did so welcom us with their upper and lower Tires that we were presently quit of Hopes Ship and Goods They gave us Nutmegs enough but those were so cruel hard that we could not grate much less digest them with our wills In short they shot so hotly upon us that we had several Men on a sudden killed and many wounded We had aboard us about 50 Men and had not above 5 or 6 Guns that we could use Being thus in a great Strait and not knowing what to do having no leisure to consult it was resolved that we should board the Assistance an English Friggat of 48 Guns which followed us with the Fire-ship Hereupon our Captain gave order that the Hatches should be shut and nailed up that none might creep out of the way but unanimously to fall upon our Enterprise yet when all was don we came short of Ammunition and were at last fain to surrender our selvs Ship and Goods to the Mercy of the English who never left firing upon us with 12 and 18 Pounders The English were no sooner com aboard but they fell a plundering us searching so narrowly that I knew no longer how to conceal the Jewels which my Patroness Altine had given me being Ten Bruto or rough Diamonds for I had sold one at Batavia which was the meanest for about 1000 gl And now that good Treasure which I had so long hid and secured from Theevish hands lay at Stake for an Offering to impious Mars and finding that they began to make a new Search I called an Englishman aside and told him that I had so many rough Diamonds which if he would please to take and hide for me I would give him 5 upon further Condition that he would be faithfull to me and redeliver me the other back again when we arrived in England but abov all to keep the matter secret He promised me with many Protestations that he would In the mea● while the English continued plundering and breaking up the Chests throwing the rich Silks and Cottons so on Heaps that we coul● hardly yet a passage through My Tresurer was a while very faithfull and still but coming accidentally to get drunk revealed our Secrets to another of

Island is white with the Dung of Mews Cormorants and a sort of Wild-geese that com thither to build and breed as also to prey upon the dead Fish which lies in heaps upon the shore and in the small Inlets and Creeks There is no fresh Water upon the Island which if there had we had bin very unhappy for the English had intended to leav us there with a little Provision till our own Ships should come to fetch us off but seeing there was none they were so kind as to carry us for England The reason of their design to do so was because they had very many sick aboard and grew every day weaker and weaker by the Death of their Men fearing therefore that we should rise and make our selvs Masters of the Ship when we found an Opportunity being about 300 Dutch in all On the 23 of June we left Ascension Island and set our Course N.W. till we came under the Aequinoctial and then North till we came in 13 degr which is the height of the Barbados then steered N. and by E. till we came in 43 degr where we altered our Course N. E. till we found that we were in 48 degr then changed our Point N. E. and by E. till we came at 51 degr 11 min. then steered East till we had 51 degr 20 min. and the next day got sight of Ireland and the day following arrived safe at Baltamore which is a very fair Haven and good Anchor-ground as also a safe Harbor for Shipping against all Winds Being arrived here the Captains gave us liberty to go where we liked so that som of our Men went over Land for Kingsale On the 26 we had news of the Engagement between the English and Dutch The day following I set forward with som of our Company afoot over land passing through many fair Towns as Balthamore Top Ross and others On the 28 we came at the Castle Til Britton where we stay'd all night and the next morning betimes set forward on our Journey and about noon came to Kingsale being one of the most commodious Havens and strongest Place that I had seen in all Ireland The Haven is sufficient to contain a considerable number of Shipping as at our being there were 80 or 100 sail laying at Anchor all Ships of a great Burthen The City it's self is also strongly Wall'd and has an impraegnable Fort. We tarried here 10 days and set forward again for Cork where we happily found a Ship ready to sail for Bristol Cork is a fair City and the Metropolitan of the Province of that name being also a Bishops Seat The Master received us aboard and in the Afternoon set sail and that night came to Anchor before Cow which lies about 5 Leagues from Cork On the 10 betimes in the Morning we weighed and had a brav● Gale of Wind. About Noon we descried a small Vessel which w● praesumed was a Dutch Privateer but ours being a good sailer outstrip● her far The next day we found ourselvs in St. Georges Channel and about the Evening came before Bristol On the 12 I went ashoar and pursued my Journey afoot to London where on the 15 I arrived and stayed 3 Days viewing to my great astonishment the City all rebuilt after a magnificent manner being not long before in Rubbish and Ashes by a dreadfull Fire that happened in the year 1666 but now appearing with a far greater lustre than before From London I travailed to Harwich passing thrô many fair Villages and a most delightfull Countrey And from hence imbarqued for Holland where after many Miseries and Perils by the Goodness of Almighty GOD I embraced my Wife and Children on the 7 of October in the year 1673. Anchora de prora jacitur stat littore puppis THE END The Copy of a NARRATIV Written from aboard the Ship EAGLE belonging to his Imperial Majesty the Czar of Moscovia riding at Anchor before ASTRACHAN upon the River Wolga bearing date September XXIV M DC LXIX O. S. ON the 28 of May we left Moscou and with a small Boat fell down the River Occa till we came at Dedenof being the Wharf where the Ship and Yacht were built which we found ready for a Launch ON the 6 of Iune we set sail with our Ship and Yacht coming the day following before Nisen Novogorod where the River Occa incorporates with the Wolga In the mean while we had run our selvs a ground three or 4 Times but that was more thrô the unskilfullness of the Pilot than the Badness of the River which is deep and navigable as also on each side inhabited and grown with Woods The name of the Gentleman who resided at Nisen as Waywood or Governour was Maxim Ivanowitz Nachokkin who made us very welcom and according to their custom sent us several Dishes of Meat also during the time we lay there at Anchor came several times aboard us and at our departure convoy'd us down som part of the River and supplied the Officers with Necessaries and Refreshments HAVING the advantage both of Wind and stream we arrived the First of July before the mouth of the River Casanka which is about a mile from Casan Here we broke our Cables and with much ado made fast to the shore with a single Rope We had also lost our Bowspriet among the Trees in falling down the Occa. The Waywods name of Casan was Iurien Petrovitz Trobieskay a liberal Gentleman and not at all incomitable he treated us several Times at his own House and upon our Departure gave us som Provision aboard us After 15 days aboad here we loosed and passed by several fair Towns as Camuschinka Dosoroska and others too long to relate This said Camuschinka is lately built by Order of the Czaar being fortified Diamond wise by Collonel Thomas Bailey an English Gentleman It 's end is to prevent the Irruption of the Cosacs the River Camuschinka running into the Don. ON the 13 of August we got sight of Astrachan and on the 14 came before the Town where we gave the Salvo with all our Cannon and 60 Musquets and in the Evening dropped Anchor in the Road near the Town We had before got Intelligence how that the Cosacs had appeared upon the Wolga but coming to Astrachan were further informed how that the Russes were gon out against them in which Expedition were 50 Stroegs and about 3000 Men under the Command of Knees Simeun Ivanowitz Geboof who was the third Voyce or suffrage of Astrachan It is now 3 years since the first rising of the Cosacks in which time they have depopulated many fair Towns upon the Caspian Sea and about a year agon had taken in Iaick a City belonging to the Czar where they had besides many Insolencies committed killed and dispatched abov 8000 Men by cruel and unheard of Torments amongst whom was one Dutch Officier of known fame for his good Conduct IN Persia they had taken in and demolished 3 Citys

Rack and in such manner tormented that all had compassion of him MEANWHILE all things are made ready at Astrachan and the Shipping design'd for service in this Expedition put in equippage The Waywood also sends a Person of Quality with a Body of Soldiery to joyn with those under Boogdanof these were then to be commanded by a Pole whose name was Ivan Russinski and a Proselyte in the Russian Church and next to him one James Wondrong a Scotch Gentleman born in Edenburg aged about 33 years and universally well spoken of for his Piety and faithfull deportment The Dutch Officers were Paul Dolf Captain and Engineer with his Son in Law Lewis Fabritius besides Captain Robert Hind an Englishman Nicholas Schaak my Lieutenant was also made Captain There were also 2 Dutch Lieutenants sent upon this affair who were baptized into the Russian Church As also 2 or 3 Ensigns The rest of the Officers were mostly Poles and Russes UPON the 25 of May being Munday in Whitsun-week the Captains departed from Astrachan in about 40 Stroegs all under the command of Knees Simeun Ivanowitz Elboof Each Stroeg had one Piece of Canon and all necessary Ammunition the whole number of the Men that were aboard this Fleet as appeared by the Muster-roll did not exceed 2600 Men whereof 2100 were of the Strelitzers of Astrachan who have some manner of Distinction among themselvs THE same day the Cosac who had bin so cruelly tortured was hanged up in sight of the whole Army In the mean time the Inhabitants of Astrachan began to murmur and breath Rebellion inciting one another against the Governour and Magistracy which seemed to be a very bad Omen of some ill Consequence for from that time forward they continued bolder and bolder till at length it burst out into palpable Rebellion About this time arrived a Dutch Chirurgeon at Astrachan who had bin in the Retinue of the Moscovian Ambassador at Ispahan of whom I bought som Silk stuffs and 480 Hides of Turky leather for which I immediately tendered the Money ABOUT the beginning I think the 4th day of June came a Gentleman from Chornojar with very unwelcom News His Message was that the same day that Knees Simeun Ivanowitz with the Russian Army was arrived before that City the Cosacks appearing far more numerous and strong those in the City revolted declared themselvs Cosacks and surrendred up the Town to Radzin and the Rebells He added further That all the loyal Officers who indeavored to disswade them there from were most inhumanly massacred This sad Express altho smothered as much as was possible by the Waywod and Council of Astrachan was nevertheless come to the knowledge of the Townsmen who were very impatient to bear the yoke of Obedience any longer Upon this news I was sent for by the Waywood who asked me if my Men were able to manage the Cannon and gave order that in the first place all the Cannon should be visited that lay upon the Walls and to repair those that were defectiv which was forthwith done ON Thursday the 5th of June we left the Ship and brought all the Goods in the Fort by order of the Governor our Gunner also loaded a great part of the O●dnance Still continued whispering and murmuring against the Governour so th● neither He nor the Council durst appear without doors for fear of an Uproar T● Chirurgeon of whom I have already made mention having bin conversant abo● 14 years with the Russes and not unacquainted with their tumultuous spirits to● me he could easily foresee that the City would be betray'd ere long if the Commo● sort did not see better marks and clearer evidence of Security and without dou● we that were Strangers and in service of the Great Duke must expect som wof● Catastroph and therefore since our Pay was retracted and our service only aboa● the Ship and not in the Land Army it was more advisable to betake our selves ov● the Caspian Sea to the Persian Coast I had already ordered our Men to buy up ● Moneths Provision of Necessaries fearing a Siege UPON this Motion of the Chirurgeon I summoned up my Officers and to● Council together with them what was best to be don in this case they unanimou● resolved that it was more secure to betake our selves to flight since we had no Pay and therefore not under any obligation to serve the Duke by Sea much less by Land They were willing to leave all they had at Astrachan except only their cloaths b●cause it would be an incumbrance yet because I had many costly Cloaths and other Goods they resolved to take as much as they could with them and pack'd all ● in a great Portmantle and a Trunk which I had besides two little Chests which assented to Every one took as much Provision of Bread in his own Portmantle ● he thought might serve him and it was resolved that we should leave none behind save only 2 Seamen who had each a Wife and a young Child On Friday in the Afternoon my best Things were brought aboard it being intended that we sho● depart that night which the two Seamens Wives coming to perceive would by a means go with us But I weighing well the Enterprize with my self and considering the danger of adventuring with 22 Persons more in a Shallop of 26 Foot long I thought it not good to essay the matter I had with me one Christian Brand ● Gunners Mate with whom I resolved to stay and see what the event would be ● Astrachan and if our fate was such to die on the Bed of Honour rather th● to flee we knew not whither This I intimated to the Master and the Doctor who also were content to venture their Lot Immediatly I sent a Seaman to the Maste● Mate aboard the Shallop to acquaint them with the Alteration of my Resolution but that night the Gates were shut sooner than the customary hour so that he could not get speech to them This put me into some doubt fearing that they might p● off without me but the Master and two Seamen perswaded me to the contrary saying they would never have the boldness to go without me which for that time ma● me rest contented That Evening I went the Rounds with the Vice-roy upon the Walls of the Castle which was laid ore with Heaps of Stones to use in case of Storm ON the seventh of June being Saturday early in the morning I sent a Seaman to the Ship again with som privat Instructions but he making som delay and I not have the patience to wait any longer went my self with the Chirurgeon and found that they were gone off with the Shallop The Master and the rest were or seemed to be surprized at the matter as not beleeving they would have had the boldness ● go without further order 'T is true it seemed not so strange to me being only that I expected from them However we concluded it the safest way for our own security