Selected quad for the lemma: land_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
land_n	end_n	league_n	south_n	1,555	5	9.7325	5	false

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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

four Galleys ready upon all Occasions for Defence of the Havens besides a considerable number more which they have in their Arsenal in good equippage these are often imployed as Auxiliaries for the Venetians against the Turks On the Sea-side stands a Watch-Tower on which by night they set a Beacon and just at the Entrance of the Haven stands a huge piece of Ordnance mounted upon a Carriage continually guarded with a Sentinel The Dukes Person is guarded with a Body of 500 Soldiers who with their Colonel have a place allotted them in the Palace The City is generally well built with stately Houses and magnificent Structures more especially on that side which is seated near the Sea having besides the more eminent Hostels and Public Buildings 30 fair Parish Churches of which that dedicated to St. Laurence claims the priority as Cathedral In the Church dedicated to the H. Eucharist they show'd us a Key made of an Emerald being of the unusual bignes that ●t's worth may not be computed Coming to the Church of St. Bartholomew we saw a handkercheif with which they told us our Saviour wiped the sweat from his face and as they say has done abundance of Miracles The City is very populous their Merchants rich and numerous and their Manufactury also very considerable especially in Velvets there being according to the relation given us above 8000 Looms in the Town so that considering the Magnificency of Building the Riches of her Merchants Commodiousness of Situation and Splendor of her Court and Palace may be reckoned as a Town of the first Magnitude On the 12 of April we set sail directing our course for Velez Malaga where on the 15 we arrived On the 18 we hoised sail and made for Malaga and on the 24 came to cast anchor in the Bay where almost all the Banditti were set ashoar Here we took in a hundred Pipes of Wine with candied Fruits and other Refreshments for the sick On the 29 of May we weighed Anchor and with a brisk gale of Wind reached the Straits mouth on the 2 of Iune When we were past Gibralter we steer'd our Course towards the Salt Islands which was designed for another place of Refreshment from whence we gathered that our Voyage must needs be longer than at first we thought for till then none aboard the ship unless the Officers knew whither we were bound or upon what account we were sent out On the fourth of Iune we met with 9 Turkish Men of War about the 3d. Watch in the night who Hail'd us asking from whence our ship we answered From Genua and asked them From whence they were they made answer From Argiers Our Commander hearing that unwelcome Eccho was not a little alarm'd and could have wish'd himself at a further distance however he resolves to exchange a ball or two with them by break of day and in order thereto gets all in a readiness commands every man to his Post and gave us all the courage he could by his own Example The Corsairs who although better man'd and mounted than we had no great stomach to go so early to breakfast for observing such marks of Courage in our Officers and that they were absolutely resolved to fight'um made all the sail they could and left us On the 14 we pass'd the Flemmish Islands and on the 6 of July we arrived at Boa Vista where we came to Anchor in the Bay On this Island were several of the Banditti who brought us such Provision as they had aboard we took in also ten boats of salt About this Island is such plenty of Fish that at one draught we got 1500 Corcoads and Salmon-Fry Boa Vista is one of those Islands which are called Cabo Verdo Islands having obtained that appellation from it's delectable prospect from the Seaward and lies 7 leagues to the northward of Ilha del Sal and is reckoned to be about 20 leagues in circumference stretched out in length South-east and North-west That part which lies near the sea is all sandy and hilly ground but within altogether montanous and high land On the north end is a long Bank near half a league in length which repelleth the billows of the sea with great violence There are yet besides this several other Foords which are often the occasion of Shipwrack On the South is also another where the Rocks sometimes appear above water and points out towards the East and E. and by North. The best and safest place to come to Anchor in is at the Southwest Point where is a very commodious Road for Ships of the greatest burthen having at lest 16 or 17 fathom Water and a fine sandy ground In this Road we lay at anchor 6 days and then set sail for Majo St. Iago Fuogo and Brava which are the nearest Islands to Boa Vista The Island Majo lies about nine leagues S. S. W. or rather mo● Westerly from Boa Vista and is the smallest of all the rest being about 7 leagues round Within land are several steep hills and on the North a Plain about a league in breadth from whence reaches out a long Bank towards the North-east and another towards the West which cause impetuous Breaches of the Sea and consequently great danger for Ships that sail that way The Island is almost round in circumference having its breadth and length almost equal and is full of small Capes or Promontories which make so many Inlets The common Road belonging to this Island is on the South-west Coast where you have 15 and 16 fathom Water and a sandy ground having the Western point of the Island at N. and by W. and another Point at E. S. E. and the South end of St. Iago S. W. On the North side of the Island behind a litle black Cape lies a small Bay or Road for Anchorage at 5 or 6 fathom water and upon the lowest point on the East is a Village of 10 or 12 houses This Island is very rocky high and dry having litle grass upon it but what grows in the clefts of the Rocks It is also very barren of Fruit neither Lemmons nor Oranges will like there nor no other fruit whatsoever unles sigs and those by reason of the drought of the Season and Ground seldom ever come to maturity or return to profit There are in this Island some Cotton-trees and good plenty of Goats so that there are many thousands of those Hides transported yearly from hence There are also some wild Horses Kine and Asses good plenty of Fowl as Patridge Heath-hens Bustards Wild-geese and other Fowl not known with us in Europe There are also many Saltpans on this Island where the Salt by the Ground Water and the Ingress of the Sea with the help of the Sun is well concreted yet is somewhat too yellow in colour The Inhabitants are a mixt folk of Negros and others who follow Goat hunting using Wolves in stead of Dogs Some also follow the

that were willing for we saw the Vessel jogg too and again very lightly that we easily suspected some bad design as afterward it appeared for when they saw us wind about they made all the Sail they could and pursued us till finding that we were very well armed they gave over their chace The men aboard were Cosacks and as we beleeved of Radzins Folk Finding that they left us we consulted which way to steer and resolved to let drive before the Wind. We sounded and found 4 fathom and came in a short time close by Zierlan which we found to ly in 43 degr 7 min. From hence we saw the famous Ararat mounting his head far above the Caucasus which was nearer us The Land of the Island Zierlan is all covered with shells which seem to be wash'd over with high Floods and Inundations whence I presume none will Inhabit it About evening we put off and after an hours failing sounded and found we had 6 fathom and a sandy ground When night came we were surprized with a great Tempest and the Sea rose mountains high insomuch that we expected every moment to go to bottom and so we were thrown to and again on the tops of the billows In the morning it began to clear up and the Winds abated something so that we made a litle sail and indeavoured to steer towards the High-lands on the Circas coast After much labour in beating through the Waves and danger of our lives we got that heighth We sailed by a Tartarian City Seated near the Water between two Hills and by the way met with a Moscovian Boes where the Men aboard had acquaintance with us having lay with their Vessel aboard our Ship at Astrachan The said Men invited us all to dinner of Fresh Mutton and Rice which they first parboiled and afterward stewed with Butter of which we made a hearty meal After we had taken our leaves of them we steered away by the Coast and saw many pleasant Valleys and a fruitfull Countrey When the Evening came on and we seeing it good weather resolved that night to take our rest which we had not done for 3 nights together and to that end dropped anchor On the 20 we came within 15 Leagues of Derbent which is the land of the Dagestan Tartars who are so called for that they inhabit the hilly Countrey the word Dag in their tongue signifying a Mountain That part of the Countrey which lies toward the Sea is dry and heathy but within land very fruitfull as afterward to our sorrow we found it The men are very robust and able of Body of a deep swarthy complexion and terrible to look at Their Habit is much at one with the Circas-Tartars Their shoes are onely made of an Horses hide undrest and of one piece drawn together above the foot with Thongs Their Arms are only Bow Arrows and a Scimmatar although some have also Spears and Launces when they ride out or go upon any expedition they put themselves in Harnass to wit a Helmet and a Target They are great Men-stealers not sticking if they find oppo●tunity to sell their own Relations or Children of their nearest Friends which they bring to the Turks and Persians They are very bold and not easily daunted at any forreign Power trusting to the steep cragg● and Mountains which are to others inaccessible They are Mahometans by profession but sorry Zealots for their Religion The Wome● feed and keep cattel but their men go out a Robbing These Mountains are very barren and sandy except where it is chalky The next day we weighed anchor and came before the Tartari● town Boynak which when we had just passed by it began to blow very hard from the Sea ward we having then about 16 fathom Water In the mean time the Sea began to grow very rough and hollow that we were forced to run the Shallop immediately a strand for fear of overturning being then but 5 leagues from Derbent which was the nearest Land Directly before the coast lay a long Rif or Bank and round about us was rocks which we by the grace of GOD escaped tho very narrowly for indeavoring to get our selves afloa● again we ran into a Circle of Rocks about 3 or 4 foot under Water and had much labour to get clear Having now wrought our selves out we gave our selves over to the mercy of Heaven letting the Boat drive what way it would till at last by a great Sea we were thrown upon the strand without either loss of men or Goods every man packing up what they thought fit to carry along with them The Goods which belonged to Capt. Butler and Mr. Termund we buried in the Sand thinking to send for them upon occasion by the Persians But most unhappy proved this our landing here for no sooner were we come ashoar but we were espied by the Tartars who came and delved up the Goods we had so hidden and carried it away upon their Horses to a litle Village hard by and brought the news of such an accidental Booty to Aly Sultan their Prince who came on Horse back with a guard of Troopers to seek us Altho by day we hid our selves in the Woods and by night went forward on our Journey Having remained one night in the Woods where we took our rest Our Company consulted what was best to do whether to march forward on our journey or to tarry It was advised by the major part to go but I was rather desirous to tarry 3 or 4 days longer till the heat of the pursuit was over that so thinking when the Tartars should have sought for us a while in vain they would give us over for lost However they were very forward to be going and rejected my Council In the mean while C. Brak slept with his wife and child at a litle distance from us and the rest of the Company would that we should leave them there because that the Woman and Child were but a cumber to us So soon as I understood their intent was to leave them so I insisted on the contrary with words to this effect Pray Gentlemen remember your selves to what end should you do such an unworthy act and leave those poor souls behind us who have neither Money nor means to subsist and must in all apparency perish in a strange place and then what guilt must we have upon our Consciences But know this if you indeed resolve to go and leav'em it is also my resolution to cry out and make our Fates equal When they saw me so zealous and in a hot passion they were contented to take them with us I was the more concerned at it for his Fathers sake who when we left our Native Countrey show'd us all imaginable Friendship and therefore indeared him the more to me About half a day we marched with Muskets and other heavy Armor upon our shoulders besides our baggage along the sides of the Mountains till at last we came into a

day arrived safe at Yarmouth On the 15 of January we weighed anchor and left Yarmouth having taken in our intended Loading and directed our course for the Straits of Gibralter On the 2 of February we entred the Straits and on the 10 th got Leghorn When we lay at anchor here there happened a misunderstanding between Mr. Ketel and my self about a trifling business which brought us both without the bounds of Moderation for proceeding from Words to Blows we were at last soo deeply ingaged that we both tumbled over board Our Master was so kind as to let me climb up but when I came upon Deck put me in Irons that seeing our courage was not yet cooled in the Sea he had that one mean to keep us asunder In the mean while some had taken opportunity to pillage my chest and borrow 116 Ducatoons but I could never be so happy as to learn who was my Creditor so that I had but a small portion left me with which I purposed to go by land to Venice Leghorn is so well known of all Gentlemen and Marriners that have seen Italy that it may seem needless to describe it Nevertheless since it is a part of my Province to take notice of such Towns as are in any regard eminent and famous I shall not ommit to say something briefly of it This City which is one of the chief Havens in renowned Italy was by Francis and Ferdinand great Dukes of Tuscany upon consideration of it's commodious site raised from a mean village to a great Emporium The said Dukes fortified it with a stone wall since which time it was gradually advanced by the encouragement of Trade and is at present strengthned with 5 Bulwarks and 2 Cittadels or Forts the one whereof commands the Haven and the other secures the Town on the Land side towards Pisa which is furnished with 60 great Guns About 6 English miles from the City is a Beacon for direction of Marriners by night there being many Rocks toward the South that are often the occasion of Ship-wrack and is therefore called Malhora These Rocks do cause impetuous breakings of the Sea which yet render the entrance of the Haven more free and secure So that Ships and Galleys may ride safely at anchor in this Road. The City on the out-side appears more magnificent than it is indeed inwardly The Frontispieces as well of Privat as Public Buildings being plaistered upon which are painted Sea-fights Histories and Landschap In the midle of the Town is a stately Market place and an Exchange where as at other Places Merchants meet and negotiate their Affairs Corn Flesh Fish and other necessaries are here very good and cheap which occasions almost all that are bound farther up to put in there for Refreshment On a Corner Stand four statues in brass representing the Father and 3 Sons who attempted to row away a Galley belonging to the Duke of Tuscany and ply'd so strongly that the rest of the Galleys had enough to do to overtake them and were ready to yield it for lost These 4 men were Moors and for that notable Essay are recorded with their Images in mettal which are set one against another with their Hands behind their back Leaving Leghorn I set forward for Pisa but before I was got half way was assail'd with 4 Highway men who were well mounted and arm'd two whereof allighted and clapt their Pistols to my breast bidding me deliver my money In the mean while they fell a searching of my pockets and breeches but not finding my money which I had stitch'd up in the lining of my Coat they gave me 2 bunches of Grapes and rode away On the 22 of February I came into Pisa where I took up my lodging for that night and the next day went to take a view of the Town It is seated at the foot of a great Hill about 8 leagues from the Sea between two Rivers Ausere and Arno and seems to be of ancient Standing It was made an University as some write about the year 1339 but began to grow out of Esteem till restored by Cosmo di Medicis Duke of Florence and afterward by Laurence his Nephew to wh●m Vollaterran and Machiavel ascribe the Founding There are here several fair Churches that dedicate to Saint Iohn is a very stately building and renowned beyond any other Church in Italy for it 's costly Tower which is of admirable rare Workmanship The Church-yard otherwise called Campo Sancto is visited by many strangers which was made at that time when Frederic Barbarossa went to Warrs against the Infidels in the Holy Land to which Expedition those of Pisa assisted him with 50 Galleys But the said Frederic Barbarossa being casually drowned the Galleys returned back again all freighted with Earth of which they say the Church-yard is made On the 23 towards night I left Pisa and went to Florence Between which two Towns is the most delectable Fields and Valleys that ever I have seen either before or since insomuch that I thought my Journey neither long nor irksom though on foot On the 26 I entred Florence which is seated in a pleasant Valley ' and divided by the River Arno into two parts which is the same River that runs by Pisa On the West it hath the Champane land which is admirably delightfull on the East the Countrey is Hilly and stored with abundance of Fruit-trees and on some part it is fortified with the Appenin Hills This City is reckoned about 7 miles in compass and enjoys a subtile and wholsom Air which renders the Natives and Inhabitants more acute and of a sharper Genius than those that Inhabit or are born in places of a grosser The City which is divided by the River is again united by four stately Bridges which so beautify the Town that perhaps gave Charles the Arch-duke occasion to say that this was a City only to be seen on Holy-days The fertile Hills and rich Valleys wherewith it is environed affoard the Inhabitants plenty of all necessaries Here is the Court and Residence of the Duke The Palace being one of the most magnificent in all Italy yet far more spacious and splendid within than without but to recount the spacious Halls Pompous Antichambre Marble Statues and Pictures in the Galleries with all it's Appendencies were an endless labour Right over against the Pallace is a Lifeguard consisting of a hundred Germans Before the Palace is also a very stately Fountain adorned with huge Statues both of Marble and Brass out of which springs Water being all in emblematical representations Upon the Mercato Novo is a very sumptuous Building in which the Citizens meet and treat about the affairs of Merchandise The Palace of the Medici is a stupendious Fabric and for artificial carved works aswell in Wood as Stone and Pictures of the most eminent Italian Masters seems to aemulate the famous Vatican Besides these are many other inferior Palaces Bublic Puildings Churches Chappels

them to proceed on their Journey thither They thanked us for our Advice and directed their Course for Terky that being also a good Market We agreed among our selves to follow the like course with intent at least to supply our want of Provision not knowing whether the Town was taken in by the Cosacks or that it was still under the Emperour About 9 in the Evening we anchored before the Town and immediately upon our anchorage saw 10 or 12 Soldiers come rowing towards us but when they came nigh saw that we were well armed offered not to do any violent Act but only asked us Who we were and From whence we came We answered That we were Hollanders belonging to his Majesties great Ship at Astrachan and were come thither to sound the Bay and Haven Ho! Ho! said they are you those men You must come before the Lord Deputy hereupon we made answer That it was then too late but the next Morning betimes we would wait upon his Excellency With this answer they seem'd to be satisfied but we thought it not safe for us to tarry there long but before creek of day we loosed and set our course S. and by W. Terky is situate in 43 degr and 27 min. about an English league from the strand It has been 3 times surveyed and laid out The first time by the Russes themselves the second time by one Cornelius Claasz a Dutch Ingenieur about the year 1636 who also strengthned the said Town with Walls and Bulwarks after the modern way of Fortification and in the year 1670 it was survey'd and fortified anew by Colonel Baily an English Gentleman with huge strong Bulwarks and and a wide and deep Mote encompassing it quite round The City is seated in a Champan Countrey without either Wood or Hill so far as one can view The River is also called Terky by the Moscovians but by the Inhabitants Timenky The Banks lying upon the Sea are all grown over with Canes and rough Terky is a place of great Trust being the Kay or Barricado of the Czars Dominions for it lies on the Frontiers of the Russian Territories and for that end has always a Garrison of 2000 Strelitzers All the night it blew very hard and in the morning we saw land on each side The Island which lay on the Larboard side we called Meynders Island because he was the first that discovered it We steered directly through the Islands and when we were about 20 leagues within the Bay we discovered high land which we afterward knew to be the famous Caucasus and Ararat which also border and extend to the Circas Hills and sailing a litle further we found that we were near the Quick-sands so that we were fain to tack about and bear up to the Channel where coming we sounded and found it 2 fathom and a good sandy ground Being just got thorow the straits or narrow Channel we looked about and discovered a great Bark making up toward us with all the Sail they could which afterwards we understood was sent by order of the Governour of Terki to pursue us having 62 Soldiers and all well armed aboard with a charge from the Governour to give us no quarter but to hack us in pieces and to bring back the Shallop and Goods to Terky We seeing them in a full pursuit thought it no time to dally but laboured as hard as we could till we got the Island Sierlan where we came to Anchor and the Bark seemed to give over their chace On the 18 ditto betimes in the morning we set Sail and indeavoured to gain the High land which before the Evening came on we did putting in at a River and were assured that we were not within the Jurisdiction of the Czar which is bounded by the Timenki The Circas Dominion begins at the Timenki and is bounded from Nagaya by the Step and from the Dagestan-Tartars by the River Bustro The Countrey is very fertile producing good store both of Fruit and Grain and is also good Pasture-ground The men are very corpulent and withall robust have broad-faces but not square like the Calmucs or Crims they are of a swarthy yellow complexion and shave their Heads and Beards after a strange manner Cross over the head they make a bare stroak and yet let a tuft grow in the Crown and on each side it hangs down in two great bushes which sometimes they let hang loose and sometimes plate They wear gray Felt-coats with a mantle of the same which is rough without this they hang slovenly about the neck made fast with a great button that they can turn it which way they list and make it serve for a Buckler against the Wind. They sometimes wear Bonnets made of cloath which they fold into a square figure that they look like Jesuits Caps when they wear them They are a surly ill-natured people and blockish not fit to converse with but yet more friendly than the Calmucs They seldom appear abroad without their Horses upon which they seem as if they were planted Their Arms are a kind of Musquet but the Long-bow is with them more in use which they can handle with great dexterity CHAP. XVII They Author and his Company err in their Course They meet with a Cosac-Bark A great Tempest The Beginning and Limits of the Dagestan-Tartars Their Posture or Frame of Body Habit and Way of Living They are great Plagiaries The Barrenness of the Dagestan Mountains Another great Tempest The Shallop run astrand and is spied by the Tartars who plunder them The strange way of electing the Dagestan Kings They are assailed by another Company who ravish the Woman in presence of her Husband and convert them all to Slaves The Author tortured to detect his Companions which he manfully endures They are brought before the Osmyn and chained ON the 19 ditto we set sail and directed our course towards the Island Tzetzien which we sailed past and had Tzierlan to the leeward having very misty weather all the while which dured 24 hours or more The next morning it cleared up and we got sight of the high Circas Mountains which we aimed at if possible to come nearer the shoar so to coast it all along after we had laboured and lay beating in the Wind about 3 or 4 hours we saw a long neck of Land which we took for an Island and indeavouring to sail through a narrow passage we found our selves in a Quicksand so that we were fain to tack about having sail'd the whole day in vain and at the dawning of the day we came into the Channel which was a good sandy ground and fit for Anchorage Here we met with a Bark having about 60 or 70 Men on board who called to us and prayed us to help them afloat pretending they were aground and fast among the sands which some of our Company would have done but the major part were for the Negative and so oversway'd the rest

Assailed and Plundered A famous stone Bridge The sepulchre of Zeyde Tzeybrail Arrival at Ardebil The Situation of that Town The bitter Cold. Great and raging Whirl-winds Extraordinary good Wheat The great Toll and Duty paid for Sheep Seven and Fifty Towns within the Jurisdiction of Ardebil A Description of the City of it's Streets and of the Street of Strumpets who are Poëtesses and ordained to compose Hymns of Praise to the name of the Great Aly. Free Places within the City The Markets and Shops Sumptuous Mezids and Chappels ON the 30 dito by Gods good Conduct we set forward with the whole Caravan which consisted of 2000 Men or upwards and about 1000 Camels and Horses of Carriage My Master also had 20 Horses of his own in particular loaden with Chestnuts for a Present to the King of Persia for one having any Matter or Affair at Court never appears before either the Scach or any subordinat Prince empty handed Our way was over very high and steep hills amongst which we found the Sepulchre of a great Persian Saint called Pyr Mardechan being at the foot of the Mountains of Faherlu The Countrey here about lies waste and desart there being neither Inhabitant nor Provision to be had by the way so that we made all the hast we could to get the Carawansera This hard travailing was not very unwelcom to us because that the weather was cold althô som of the Horses being heavy loaden and tired were left behind About the Evening we came to Kasily where we took up our nights lodging The Countrey round about Casily is altogether barren and dry except here and there some good pasturage so that the manner of Living with the Inhabitants is like that of the Tartars moving to and again over the face of the Countrey with their Wives Children Utensils Cattel and what else they have and when they set down pitch their Tents all in Rows which they call Ostak During our travailing thrô this Countrey we could get litle else but Milk to refresh our selves however my Patron out of his Bounty would not suffer me to want for any thing but imparted to me what he had as well Victuals to eat as Wine to drink which served me for a good Breast-plate against the Cold. Having staid one night at Kasily we set forward and about 8 a clock the next evening came to a fair Village called Tzawaar or Tzawat as some call it which is so much as to say a Thorow-fare because that here is the Passage which brings over the grand River Araxes and here every one is to show his Pasport out of fear that some Turks should slip over with the Caravan of whom the Persian is alwaies jealous and are constrained to take sharp notice of every particular Person At this place is a long Bridge made of Keels and thwarted with massy Planks that are fastned together with great Bolt and Chains which for better security is guarded with a good number of Soldiery When we were transported over the said River we took our Nights-rest in the Open-fields The River Araxes takes its head about the high Mountains between Schirwan and Mokan behind Mount Ararat running North-east till it finds the River Kur or Cyrus where it disgorgeth it self about 39 degr 54 min. Northerly latitude where these two Rivers are incorporated Kur as it is vulgarly called rises in the Mountains of Georgia or Gurgistan Araxes is reckoned to be one of the swiftest Rivers in all Asia very deep and good Water Araxes also receives several other noble Rivers to wit Carasu Senki and Kerni Arpa About the Mouth of Carasu it is at the deepest but about a league from Ordabath it makes a horrisonant roaring and a most hideous murmur where it receives the floods of the famous Mochan which River as well as the Araxes abounds with various kinds of Fish The Banks which in most Places mount very high are all grown ore with the shrub Gli●yrrhiza a kind of Liquirice as also Liquirice of the common kind but far thicker than either the Spanish German or that which is brought from Moscovia for I have seen som of it that was thicker than my Arm. On the 3 of November we travailed 5 leagues over the Heath of Mochan and saw by the way many Hurdles and Boors Cottages but durst not call at any to provide our selvs with Refreshments being sensible of the perils for hither are all those sent to Exile whom the Scach thinks good to banish and hither resort all the Mutineers so that these like the Banditti in the Alps render the way very unsafe and incommodous to travel somtimes surprizing and assailing the Caravans when they find themselves of Force enough or the Caravan too weak to withstand'em On the 4 th dito we set forward and in the way found the River Baltharu which for Greatness gives place to all the before named but for the Multitudes of Tortoises that are taken here about no less famous nor inferiour to any other in all the surface of the Countrey All along the Banks we saw holes and caves which those Animals had made in the Sand the shoar appearing like a Coney-borrough These Caves have their mouth or entrance alwaies to the Southward where they lay their Eggs. On the Countrey through which this River softly glides we saw several Cottages or Tents as we did the day before but found the Inhabitants harmless and very poor yet merry and jocund the Children were stark naked and the Men and Woman had hardly cloaths enough to cover their middle They received us in very friendly manner according to their ability bringing us Milk for our selvs and Provender for the Camels and Horses which they sold at a very mean and inconsiderable Price considering under what necessity we were then This day we travailed 6 Dutch Leagues On the 5 we travailed about as far as we did the day before but were fain to take up our Lodging under the great Canopy of Heaven setting down with the whole Caravan near som Water-pitts where we found good pasturage for the Beasts considering the season of the year The next day we found an end of the Heath Mokan and had high-High-land to travail over as the Mountains of Bethzyrvan or Bethzyrum This day we crossed a small River if I well remember 12 times having a crooked or serpentine Course which the Merchants of Scamachy for their Conveniency had promised a considerable Sum of Money to som Ingenieurs to to make streight yet by reason of many intervening Hills and those mostly of a hard rock could not be effected At night we got the Village Schechmurat where my Patron sent me out to fetch som Spring-Water but being about half an English mile without the Town was assail'd by 3 Robbers who suddenly came running out upon me having their Eies fixed my Armor so that in all probability that which I had for my Defence would have been my

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