the Avenues were all open never considering how dangerous it was to give the least suspicion to a People that are so jealous of the Christians and look upon 'em as their most mortal Enemies Upon this a Soldier that was not far off observing 'em after he had call'd some of his Companions ran to 'em in a terrible chafe belabour'd 'em with a great Cudgel and had certainly knockt out their Brains but for some Domestic Servants of the French Consul that happen'd to come by in the interim by chance who put a stop to the Fury of the Soldiers giving them to understand that they were Strangers altogether ignorant of the Custom of the Country that they dreamt no harm only thought they might have been allow'd the same liberty as is usually permitted in Europe where it was a common thing for any Body to enter into such Places which they find unguarded and without Defence But this business was not so put up for the Consul sent an Express to Nicosia to complain of the Brutishness of the Soldier upon which he was order'd to receive a hunder'd Bastinado's After some days Repose the Thundring Iupiter arriving tho very much shatter'd by the Tempest we reimbark'd to set sail for Alexandretta in company with another Vessel of Marseilles that joyn'd us at Cyprus We set sail both together at the same time and at the same time also found our selves by the favour of a fair Wind at Nore just against the Gulf of Alexandretta near the entrance into which was to be discover'd at a good distance a Point of Land running out a great way into the Sea and which the Arabians call Canzir or the Wild Boar because this Cape resembles perfectly the Head of a Wild Boar. Before we doubl'd this Promontory our Pilot being desirous to give notice to the Pilot of the other Vessel what Course to Steer in the Night which was at hand had like to have destroy'd both the one and the other as well by Surprise as by Imprudence For while he bore up too near the t'other Ship to the end he might be the better heard not considering that we sail'd with a side-wind he quite lost the Wind which the Sail of the t'other Ship depriv'd him of so that the Current having brought 'em foul upon the other never was known such a terrible Out-cry and Confusion among the Sea-men Presently they betook themselves to their Booms to hinder the two Massy-bulks from Bilging one against the other and in regard the motion of the Waves carry'd 'em with great Violence and for that their Yards Arms and Cordage were entangl'd one within another never were two Ships thought to be so near perishing But at length by cutting the Masts Yards and Tackle they made a shift to get clear of each other After which having refitted their Rigging as well as they could for the short way they had to make we got safe into Port the next day maugre all the unlucky Accidents that had befallen us Alexandretta which the Turks call Scandaroon is a Town seated upon the Sea-shore in a very unwholesome spot of Ground by reason that the Mountains with which it is every way surrounded hinder the Wind from ventilating and purifying the Air which is extreamly thick and being heated and inflam'd during the Summer causes many violent and malignant Distempers And notwithstanding the Advice which had been given us before our Departure out of France to make but a very little stop there we were constrain'd to stay for Three whole weeks together till the Roads infested by the Soldiers that were continually upon their March out of Asia to Constantinople were a little rid of those troublesome Passengers No sooner had we got ashore but we had the pleasure to see dispatch'd away before us one of the Messengers which they make use of in those Parts to carry such Intelligence as they would have speedily made known For the doing of which their most usual way is this A Merchant of Aleppo who desires to have the most early Information of what Merchandizes are come from France or any other parts takes particular care by an Express to send away a Pigeon that has young ones much about the time that the Ships are expected at Alexandretta where he has his Correspondent who as soon as any Vessel comes to an Anchor goes and informs himself of what Goods the Vessel has brought most proper for his turn of which when he has given a full Account in his Letter he fastens the Paper about the Neck of the winged Courrier and carrying her to the top of a little Mountain gives her her liberty never fearing her going astray The Pigeon which we saw let go after she had soar'd a good heighth to discover doubtless the place from whence she had been taken some few days before and push'd forward by that instinct which is common to all Birds that have young ones took her flight towards Aleppo and arriv'd there in less then three hours thoâ— that City be very near thirty Leagues from the place from whence she was sent However they do not make use of any sort of Pigeons to carry their Dispatches in regard that all Pigeons are not alike proper for that Service For there is a particular sort of these Birds which are easily train'd up to this Exercise and which as occasion serves are of extraordinary use especially for the swift management of Business and where speed of Intelligence is requir'd as in the Factories of the Levant far remote one from the other This was the only piece of Curiosity which we could observe during our stay in this same first Port of the East We would willingly also have seen the Shore upon which 't is believ'd that Ionas was thrown by the Whale that swallow'd him up But being inform'd that it was very dangerous to go too far on that side by reason of the Excursions of the Arabians when they understand that there are any Ships arriv'd in the Road we satisfi'd our selves with only seeing at a distance the Piramid that was erected in remembrance of that Miracle At length the first Thursday in Lent being fixt upon for the day of our Departure there was a Caravan made up of about forty Persons They call a Caravan in Turky any number of Travellers design'd to one certain Place and bound to keep Company together for fear of being Plunder'd or Murder'd by a sort of profess'd Robbers with which the High Roads are numerously infested Our Company therefore being all ready we set forward from Alexandretta under the Guidance of a Turk a very honest Fellow who perform'd the Office of Caravan Bachi or Conductor of the Caravan and of whose Fidelity the French had a long time had experience Our first days Journey was but short for we lay at a Village call'd Beilan not above four or five Leagues from Alexandretta The next Morning we travell'd on by Break of day and cross'd
the skin that makâ—s it so highly esteem'd but when any body comes to buy one the owner will not let it go but upon condition the Purchaser shall fill it with as many Crowns as it will hold Though ir is a long while that this Trade has been settl'd in Muscovy 't was none of their faults that it was not formerly as great as it iâ— now For before the discovery of these Sable-Martins they were contented all over the Kingdom with common Furrs and unless it were the Ermin-Furr which only Persons of Quality made use of they knew no other sort But since the discovery of these Creatures so much sought after which fell by chance rather then cunning into their hands they have made appear such an eager thirst to satisfie their Avarice at the expence of those whom they have found profusely fond of this sort of Ornament that they have made no scruple to engage ' emselves in those forlorn Countries in hopes to find wherewithal to enrich ' emselves By the means of all these their irregular Incursions it was that they laid open several New Roads which led 'em insensibly into China Now in regard that those who have happen'd to hit upon the way to the Borders of the Country have every one taken Roads quite different the one from the other so they have been able to inform us which are those that are most certainly to be depended on for security and shortness And here we shall give an account of what the Relations which are kept in the Chancery of Moskow more particularly instruct us The first Road that carries a Traveller by Land into China is that through India and the Mogul's Country which the great number of Robbers and the vast Deserts that are to be cross'd over render very dangerous and almost impracticable We are beholding to the Jesuits for the knowledge of it whom those dangers have no way discourag'd The Tartars of Astrakan and Bokara have sometimes taken this Road but then they have been very careful to joyn with a numerous Caravan The second is that which the Merchants of Bocara take who Travel through the Cities of Samarkan Kaboul Kachemire and Tourafan and several other Cities of the Yousbecs from whence they go to Barantola which the Residence of Dalaâ—-Lama renders the most considerable of all the Cities of the Greater Tartary But this Road is not a little difficult by reason of the Sands that are to be cross'd and because of the Calmoues that infest the Roads But the Muscovites make choice of this way without any scruple And they have been often known to fall down from Tobolsk to Bocara through Cazan on purpose to Travel this Journey with the Yousbecks notwithstanding the easiness of going to China by the River Ohi. The third is frequented by the Yousbeck Tartars by the Trading Calmucs and the Muscovites also From Tobolsk you ride along by the Lakes that yield great quantities of Salt near Irticks and Kama after which you Travel for some time by Water upon the first of these two Rivers as far as a City call'd Sinkamè where you continue your Journey by Land through the Territories of the Kalmouc's and Moguls as far as Kokutan which is not above Eight or Ten days Journey from the Famous Wall which separates China from Great Tartary Neither is this Road without some difficulties as want of Water and molestation of the Calmoues unless well provided to make a stout resistance However the Taiso Ajonka who is the Kan or chief Captain of the Horde of Tartars who have no fix'd Habitations but live after the manner of the Ancient Scythians might if he pleas'd secure this way and make it safe for Travellers which sometimes he will vouchsafe to do for the sake of some little Presents And from Kokutan you may enter into China through many Gates of this great Wall The fourth supposes that you pass through Tobolsk and go by Water upon the Obi and the Szelinga as far as the City of Szelingui from whence you Travel by Land through the Countrey of the Monguls From this last-mention'd City it will require Eight weeks time to reach the place where the Kan of Bechroesaim and the Coutoussta-Lama reside From whom by the Intermediation of some few Civilities you may obtain Guides and Carriages and a good Convoy to carry you to China This Road the Muscovites have held ever since the war between them and the Chineses near the River Yamour and it is the safest and most commodious way of all the rest Only you must make provision of Water and Wood in some places And though you may sometimes meet upon the Road with Robbers they are neither so Cruel nor so numerous as in other parts The fifth is that which the Envoy of Muscovy Spartarius made choice of for China and then you must pass through Siberia to get to the City of Nero-Zinki upon the River Szilkâ— after that you go to Dâ—uri not far from the Kiver Naiunai from whence you continue your Road to Cheria that lies upon the entrance into China The distance is equal from Nerc Zinski to Dauri and from Dauri to Cheria If you will believe this Relation of which I have thus far given a faithful Copy this Road is as safe as it is short for that from Nerc Zinski to the River Argus that falls into the Yamour you shall meet all along with the Yachutchiki or Martin-Hunters After which you pass through the Territories of certain Monguls who are terribly afraid of the Muscovites But it is not probable there is now so much security as formerly in passing through those Monguls for that Travellers at this time either take a little higher through Albazin and fetch a compass to get from thence into China or a little lower passing from Szelingui through the Territories of Beckroesaim The sixth is also through Nerczinski and the Mongul from whence you Travel on to the Lake Dalai or you may go from Nerczinki to the Lake in one Week There you meet with the Emperor of China's Subjects who have manur'd all the Lands that lye about the Lake from which you may go in three Weeks to China upon Wagons drawn with Oxen. Out of this Lake Dalai it is that the River Argus a very fair River takes its rise It is Navigable all along and carries you by Water to the River Yamour into which it falls Near the River Argus are several Mines of Silver and Lead and there it is that a considerable Tayso whose Name is Sebdenkan resides who is bound to find Convoys for the Musoovites that Travel for China three times a year and to secure the Road that they may Travel it in so much the shorter time To all these Relations we ought to join one more which affords us a very ample knowledge of all the People that inhabit the Countries joining upon China which was imparted to us by a person of good Reputation who had it
supply the room of those who after they had gloriously ran their Race were no longer in a condition through their great Age or other Infirmities to cultivate this flourishing Mission or to increase their number proportionably to the New Converts who are multiply'd to that degree that one Pastor is forc'd to take upon him the care of several Churches One of the most Zealous Missionaries of China now grown old under the Burthen of Evangelick Fatigues declar'd to me some years ago after a most sensible manner the conditions of those Missions in a Letter wherein he invited me to go along and bear my share with him in those extraordinary Imployments which he was no longer able alone to take upon him I am all alone said he in a Province which is above a hundred and thirty Leagues in extent with four or five Churches under my care every one of which had formerly a Father belonging to it so that I am forc'd to travel a great part of the year not having any one to whom to make my Confession at the point of Death by reason of the great distance that separates us And not only my self but a great many other Missionaries are reduc'd to the same condition But notwithstanding the great care that is taken to send from time to time new recruits of Evangelic Labourers to uphold and propagate the Faith in this vast Kingdom what with Pirates Shipwracks and Diseases what with other inconveniences of a tedious and tiresome Navigation still many more are destroy'd and miscarry then safely arrive in the Country I have been told by Father Couplet an Illustrious Missionary whom all Paris beheld with so much satisfaction after his return from China where he had resided above thirty years That he had made it his business to make an exact computation of the number of Jesuits who had set forward out of several parts of Europe in order to undertake the Mission he had quitted and that he had found that of six hunder'd who had taken Shipping for China since our Company were permitted entrance into that Kingdom not above a hunder'd safely arrived there all the rest being sacrific'd by the way either by Sickness or Shipwrack Therefore to avoid for the future the loss of so many Missionaries of which the Indies and Kingdoms farther remote will be a long time sensible a Resolution has been taken some few years since to find out a Passage into China by Land Nor was it a difficult thing to meet with people who were willing to contribute toward so great a Design Among others who presented themselves in order to this new attempt I my self was made choice of and I have had the consolation to make it my business these five years together To this purpose it was that I travell'd all over Turky Persia Armenia the Southern Tartary Muscovie both Prussia's and Moldavia that I took Shipping several times in different Seas of Europe and Asia and that I expos'd my self though with a great deal of pleasure and delight to all those Dangers which I knew were not to be avoided by those who undertook such laborious and toilsome Voyages Before my departure from Paris I went to Montmartre to the end I might collect together some Sparkles of that Sacred Fire which St. Ignatius and St. Francis Xavier left even after their Death as Reliques still sufficient to inflame the Hearts of their Spiritual Children After which in company with Father Couplet I went to Lion where I was forc'd to quit him and continue my Journey to Marseilles where I was to take Shipping There it was that God was pleas'd to give me a tast of some parts of that Comfort before I left France which formerly St. Bernard felt when he forsook the World One of my Brethren already a Priest spurr'd on like my self with a desire of devoting him to the conversion of Infidels overtook me at Marseilles before my departure in order to let me know his Resolution to share with me in the Toil and Labour which I was about to undertake Now in regard he had for some time before prepar'd himself in pursuance of a zealous and godly Life for this Employment I thought it high time to procure him the happiness which he had all along so passionately desir'd which was that we might be both together more strictly united in the Bonds of Grace then we had been till that time by the Ties of Nature To which purpose meeting in this Port with the convenience of a Vessel of St. Malo's bound for Cività Vecchia we embark'd and after a prosperous and quick Passage landing safely we continu'd our Journey to Rome Father Charles de Novelle who was then General of the Jesuits was readily induc'd to grant us the favour which we requested of him For he admitted my Brother into the Society and after several particular marks of a Goodness really paternal he gave his Blessing to both of us And no sooner had we receiv'd it but we hasten'd to Leghorn to embark our selves in a Vessel that was bound for the East in company with a Man of War called the Thundring Iupiter the Captain of which had been diguin'd by the King some years before for engaging alone four Pirates of Tripoli for three days together and putting 'em to flight Our stay in this City was longer then we expected However we lay not idle For in regard we were oblig'd to spend our Christmas there till the lading of both Ships that lay bound for Cyprus were ready the Officers and Seamen lying a Shipboard in the Road found us business enough during that Holy Season For we confess'd 'em and gave 'em almost all the Communion and because they were not permitted to go ashore we made a kind of a Floating-Church of the biggest of the two Vessels where all the people being assembl'd found wherewithal to satisfie their Devotion in such Exercises of Piety as we took care to settle among ' em Some days after they gave us notice that they were ready to weigh Anchor and that therefore we must hasten to take our Places in expectation of a fair Wind which serv'd the same day that we embark'd which was the 13th of Ianuary in the year 1685. insomuch that the next day we lost sight of the Islands of Capraia Elba and Sardenia Of all the Accidents that cross'd us in our Voyage none discomposs'd us so much as a most dreadful Tempest which toss'd us most severely within sight of the Coast of Candy after we had been some days before as extreamly and inconveniently becalm'd This happen'd upon the 21st of Ianuary being St. Agnes's Day that a Greek Wind rising about Midnight after the going down of the Moon the extraordinary redness of which was a dreadful presage to us found us a world of employment and exercis'd the Skill of all the Seamen for four and twenty hours together and in regard the Storm grew fiercer and fiercer still as
Leaves are not carry'd from one end of the Empire to the other but only by the Water that rowles 'em along through the Caverns of the Earth Upon this Sea it was which so many particular Qualities render very remarkable that we embark'd in a Muscovite Fly-boat but very ill equipp'd But the Season which was extreamly proper for Navigation supply'd all things that could be wanting otherwise we gain'd the Volga six days after we set sail from the Road of Nizzova which is one of the safest and most convenient in all Persia. For besides the great plenty of Wood in the Parts adjoyning which serves for the refitting and repairs of shatter'd Vessels there is a prodigious number of Towns and Villages able to furnish a numerous Fleet with all manner of Provision After we had left the Sea by the favour of a fair East Wind which carry'd us about Sixscore Leagues in a little time we found our selves upon the Volga before we knew where we were For in regard this famous River discharges it self into the Caspian Sea through Seventy Mouths as we are commonly assur'd and for that it still preserves the Majesty of the Current for above Thirty Leagues after it has quitted the various Shoâ—rs that close it on both sides it seems to dispute the Possession of its Channel with the Sea So that the only Mark to be assur'd that you are got into the River is the freshness of the Water which he that first discovers receives the same Rewards as in other places the Seamen do that first descry Land No sooner were we got into one of the Mouths but our Vessel being deep loaden struck upon a Sand-bank which the Pilots had not the foresight to avoid But in regard this Accident befel us several times afterward during our Voyage I rather attribute it to the Shallowness of the River which divides it self into too many Arms to be able to carry a Vessel of an ordinary Burthen then to the Seamen's want of experience However it were certain I am that we spent twice as much time in getting up to Astracan which lies not above Twelve or Thirteen Leagues from the Mouth of the River then it took us up to Sail from Persia to the Rivers Mouth Not that we were thus equally perplext but only till we had got to the first place where the Muscovites have a great Fishery which is one of the best Revenues which the Czar has There it was that our Vessel had Orders to stop for two or three days till the Governor of Astrakan to whom we despatch'd a Messenger to give him notice of our Arrival gave us leave to make forward During that little time that we were oblig'd to stay we had good sport in seeing the Fishermen catch Sturgeons which is one of the greatest curiosities that ever I saw in my Life and the manner of it is this The Muscovites to make their best Advantage of the great plenty of Fish which the Caspian Sea distributes to all the Rivers that fall into it have driven in long Piles of Timber from one side to the other in one of the Channels of the Volga which they thought most proper for their Fishery Howerever they do not shut up all the Passages so close but that they leave one of each side for the Fish to swim up the River and for the Vessels that return from Persia and other places a little above this first Barricado of Piles they drive in others all a row in the form of a Triangle into which the Fish is easily carry'd by the violence of the Stream tho when he is in 't is not only impossible for him to get out but even to stir himself as well by reason of the narrow compass of his Prison as because of the huge bulk of his Body In the mean time the Fishermen who keep beating the Water to frighten the Fish into the Snare visit their Entrenchments made on purpose twice a day where they never miss of the Prey which they look for which done they thrust a great Hook through the Ears of the Fish and having drawn him up just above Water beat out his Brains with a great Club to prevent his escape or doing any other Mischief should they preserve him alive in their Boats After this they carry their Prize to the Banks of the Fishery where they disembowel the Fish and take out the Eggs of which one single Sturgeon sometimes affords 'em so great a number as weighs above two or three hunder'd Pound This is that glutinous Substance so well known in Foreign Countries under the name of Caviar which they prefer before all the rest They Salt it very carefully and put it up with great care to serve 'em in their Ragou's instead of Butter which is forbidden 'em during Lent As for the Body of the Fish after they have cut it into Quarters they squeeze out the Oyle or else they pickle it up to be transported into all the Provinces of the Empire or else into the Neighbouring Kingdoms where they have an extraordinary vent for it But the pleasure that we took in this Fishing sport was very much allay'd by the inconveniencies of an Army of Gnats that swarm upon the Volga a little before and after Sun set Their Stings so terribly torment both Man and Beast that I am easily induc'd to believe that of all the Plagues of Egypt the Plague of the Flies was the most noisome and insupportable Therefore to secure themselves from this Vexation Travellers wrap themselves over head and ears with a little Tent which they carry with 'em on purpose so soon as they begin to feel 'em sting But in regard we had made no provision against these formidable Enemies we lay at their mercy all the while we staid in the Volga So that when we came to Astrakan we should have been taken for Leapers or people that were troubl'd with a Dropsie but that the Inhabitants were well acquainted with the reason of the Wheals and Blisters that disfigur'd us However this Martyrdom was at an end after four days for the Governor of Astrakan having sent his Lieutenant to the Vessel to do it the more honour as belonging to the Grand Duke the Passengers had leave to quit the Ship and put our selves into a Shallop or kind of Gondola the lightness of which and the dexterity of the Rowers was such that we quiekly got sight of Astrakan Astrakan which the most exact Geographers place in the forty eighth degree of Northern Latitude is a City seated in one of the Islands of Volga about thirteen Leagues from the mouth of the River whatever Struys says who will have it to be fifty Leagues remote from the River's mouth It is encompass'd with a double Wall without any other Fortification only some few Tow'rs half Musquet shot one from another The great Guns are very fair ones and the Garison is very numerous Now in regard the ground upon which that
with several high Mountains where the Snow lies all the Summer long as well as in the midst of Winter And doubtless this it is that constrains Travellers to spend many times seven or eight days in crossing it tho it be not above eight Leagues over For this Lake being as it naturally ought to be the general Rendezvouz of various Winds that blow through the hideous Rocks with which it is environ'd 't is to be thought that when they happen to blow from several points at the same time they must put the Vessels which they meet to a great deal of trouble and that it requires and extraordinary forefight or good luck to prevent a stop for some time After you have quitted this Lake if you please you may enter into a River call'd Schelingâ— and then going still by Water you meet about fifty Leagues from the mouth of it with a City of the same Name which the Muscovites built to facilitate the passage of their Carâ—vans or if you rather chuse to land immediately after you have cross'd the Lake then you find your self among the Monguls that lie to the South of whom you buy Mules and Dromedaries to continue your Journey to the first City of China to which you come after fifteen days travel After this manner the most part of the Muscovite Merchants travel that traffick with the Chineses By which 't is plain that all the Countries that were formerly but confusedly known under the Name of the Grand Tartary are neither so desert nor so untill'd as people to this day imagine and that the not taking the benefit that might have been taken by a narrower search has been a considerable loss those Countries being water'd with a great many fair Rivers and furnish'd with so many valuable Commodities as are daily discover'd Not to speak of Rubarb Azure-stone and Castors which are very plentiful among the Yousbecks and Monguls the Sables and Black-Foxes that are taken all along the Rivers of Obi Tongusi and Angara the Ginseng-Roots the Pearls and Badian which the River Yamour affords the Silver and Lead-Mines near Argus the Muscovites have found out more especially in the Lands that advance more to the North several other Rarities wherein they drive a considerable Trade Besides Furs of all sorts which they fetch from all Quarters and of which the sale is so great that the City of Genâ—ssia alone pays every year to the Grand Duke's Treasury fourscore thousand Roubles custom which amounts to near Sixscore thousand Crowns of French Money they have discover'd a sort of Ivory which is whiter and smother then that which comes from the Indies Not that they have any Elephants that furnish 'em with this Commodity for the Northern Countries are too cold for those sort of Creatures that naturally love heat but other Amphibious Animals which they call by the Name of Behemot which are usually found in the River Lena or upon the Shores of the Tartarian-Sea Several teeth of this Monster were shewn us at Moskow which were ten Inches long and two in Diameter at the Root Nor are the Elephants Teeth comparable to 'em either for beauty or whiteness besides that they have a peculiar property to stanch Blood being carried about a person subject to bleeding The Persians and Turks who buy 'em up put a high value upon 'em and prefer a Scimiter or a Dagger Haâ—t of this precious Ivory before a handle of Massy Gold or Silver But certainly no body better understands the price of this Ivory then they who first brought it into request considering how they venture their Lives in attacking the Creature that produces it which is as big and as dangerous as a Crocodile They were beholding for the discovery of this to the Inhabitants of a certain Island out of which if the Muscovites are to be believ'd issu'd the first Colonies that ever peopl'd America And thus much we learnt upon this subject from the Vayvode of Smolensko whose Name was Mouchim Pouckhim a person of as great a wit as a man can well meet with and perfectly acquainted with all the Countries that lie beyond the Obi as having been a long time Intendant of the Chancery of the Government of Siberia After he had ask'd us in a Discourse which we had with him in what manner we thought that America came to be first peopl'd upon the general Answer which we gave him grounded upon the common Opinion he gave us to understand that he had a Conjecture more probable then any of ours There is said he beyond the Obi a great River call'd Kawoina into which another River empties it self by the Name of Lena At the mouth of the first River that discharges it self into the Frozen-Sea stands a spacious Island very well peopl'd and which is no less considerable for hunting the Behemot an amphibious Animal whose Teeth are in great esteem The Inhabitants go frequently upon the side of the frozen Sea to hunt this Monster and because it requires great labour and assiduity they carry their Families usually along with ' em Now it many times happens that being surpriz'd by a Thaw they are carry'd away I know not whither upon huge pieces of Ice that break off one from another For my part added he I am perswaded that several of those Hunters have been carry'd upon these floating pieces of Ice to the most Northern parts of America which is not far off from that part of Asia which juts out into the Sea of Tartary And that which confirms me in this Opinion is this That the Americans who inhabit that Country which advances farthest toward that Sea have the same Physiognomy as those unfortunate Islanders whom the over-eager Thirst after Gain exposes in that manner to be Transported into a Foreign Climate We might add to what the Vaivode told us that there are also in that part of America several of those Creatures that are so common in Muscovy more especially Beavers which might have been Transported thither after the same manner And this Conjecture seem'd to me to be so much the better grounded in that it is frequently to be seen in Poland that such great pieces of Ice keep whole and entire from Warsaw till they come to fall a great way into the Baltic Sea But it would be requisite for the better confirmation and assurance of a matter of this importance to be well inform'd of the Language of those People that so nearly resemble the Islanders in Face and Body for if there were any thing of Affinity between their Languages methinks there should no farther question be made of the Conjecture We might have learnt many other Curiosities of this Vaivode who without doubt is the most Accomplish'd Person in all Muscovy but that we were afraid of awaking his jealousie by multiplicity of Interrogatories And besides we observ'd by some answers which he made us that he was fearful of creating himself trouble at Court where his extraordinary Merit
Generosity as good Fortune as will be seen by the Sequel of this History The End of the Fourth Book TRAVELS IN MOLDAVIA Book the Fifth IF the constancy God inspires amidst the greatest Misfortunes that seem most to oppose our designs is a sensible proof that God approves them we have a great deal of reason to believe that the discovery of a way to China by Land which we had undertaken has been agreeable to him since that far from being disgusted by all the difficulties we have met in it we never had greater hopes of Success than at the time when they seemed altogether desperate After the refusal we had from the Muscovites we had but one resourse for the execution of our Project which was to follow Count Syri into Persia whose good Intentions seconded by his admirable Qualifications promis'd us a more prosperous and more certain Success than that we had flatter'd our selves with till then Indeed it was a very great risque to venture on so long a Journey after all our pass'd Fatigues a thousand dangers seem'd to attend our enterprize of going for Constantinople at a time when the War between the Christians and the Infidels seem'd to shut up all the Avenues thither but what can be impossible when seconded by the Grace of God we abandon our selves to the care of Providence Notwithstanding the dangerous conjunctures of that time we took our measures to pass into the East and to leave no means unattempted to succeed therein We apply'd our selves at first to the Emperour's Envoy call'd Ierowski who was at Warsaw at that time thinking he would not refuse us the Pass-ports we wanted to go to Vienna from whence we might easily repair to Buda and from thence to the first City possess'd by the Grand Seignior upon the Danube Some Political Reasons having hinder'd that Minister from favouring our Designs Heaven fortunately inspir'd us with the thoughts of applying our selves to the Great General of Poland whom we only knew by the extraordinary and admirable things we had formerly been told and were still daily publish'd about him The Civility and Kindness he express'd to us the first time we had the honour to speak with him soon convinc'd us of the truth of those reports and we had leasure to discover in the sequel during two Months time in which we conversed with him that his Reputation tho' great was much below his Merit This Lord the most lovely and the most belov'd of any in Poland being inform'd with all our past Adventures and with the Motive which made us apply our selves to him made us very sensible from that very moment that he took a great deal of Interest in our Concerns and how much he desir'd we should rely upon him for the execution of our Enterprise My dear Fathers said he embracing us being French-Men Jesuits and Missionaries as you are you need not question but I will be proud to serve you Whatever vexation you have received from the Muscovites by the refusal of the Passage you desn'd of them I cannot be displeas'd with them for the trouble they have occasion'd you since it affords me an opportuninity to serve you As the only favour your Zeal requires is to put you in a way to reach Constantinople assure your selves that I will get you thither If you have no business here prepare your selves to go to Leopold with me and there we will take all necessary measures for the Jonrney you undertake for the Glory of God Tho' Father Beauvollier and my self were extreamly tired with the fatigues of our return and stood in want of rest we receiv'd new Vigour upon the agreeable assurances our generous Protector was pleas'd to give us and we follow'd him full of Joy and Confidence to Leopold which is the place of his usual Residence As soon as we came there he dispatch'd two Couriers the one to the Hospodar of Woldavia and the other to the Bashaw of Caminiec who were best able to favour our Passage at that dangerous time Besides his Application to remove all the difficulties that stood in our way he extended his care to our Persons with an extraordinary kindness Being sensible that we had suffer'd considerably in our last Voyage of Muscovy he omitted nothing that was capable to restore us to our former Health in order to enable us to perform that we were shortly to undertake He entertain'd us in his own Palace in which he gave us a fiue conveniont Apartment and would in no wise permit us to Lodge with our Fathers that are settl'd at Leopold We remain'd there about two Months in expectation of the return of the Couriers during which time we sensibly discover'd the singular favour we had receiv'd from Heaven in the Potent Protection of the incomparable Palatin of Russia whose Holy Example serv'd as much to animate our Zeal for the Service of God as his Eminent Qualifications to challenge our admiration of him This Illustrious General whose Heroick Actions have render'd his Name as formidable to the Enemies of the Faith as venerable in all Europe possess'd to the highest degree all the advantages of Mind and Body that may concur towards the forming of an accomplish'd Heroe His Air is Noble his Port Majestick his Heart Great his Genious Incomparable his Humour Agreeable his Behaviour Charming he is Learn'd Curious Magnificent Liberal Prudent in all his Military Expeditions Undaunted in Danger Bold in all his undertakings for the good of his Religion and the advantage of the State But that which surpasseth all his Noble Qualifications is the solid Piety he professes the which he joyns so admirably to the Functions of his Place that he passes for the Bravest and most Religious Lord in Poland He daily allows himself two or three hours for Prayer he hears several Masses every Morning he employs a considerable time in reading of Books of Devotion he often participates to the Holy Misteries and always disposes himself to that great Action by a Rigorous Fast. Altho' he is a severe observer of Vertue his Conversation is sweet and ingaging He argues incomparably well upon all Subjects insomuch that every body delights in his Conversation he loves to be among the Learn'd and is seldom without some about him Above all he delights in discoursing of Mathematicks and History We have often had the honour to pass the best part of the Night with him to observe some Constellations and some Planets with several fine Mathematical Instruments he sometimes employs Besides all this he has a very particular Respect for our King Having thus described some of the Vertues of the Illustrious Iablonowski no body will be surpriz'd at the high Reputation wherewith Heaven rewards his Merit and has given him the most accomplished Family that can possibly be seen Besides the two Palatines of Plock and of Posnania his Daughters who are two Models of Vertue for all the Polish Ladies to imitate he
that dy'd Monsieur de la Roque-Perin our Captain resolv'd to Anchor in the Port that is form'd by that Island in order to cause his Men to be visited and to ease the Ambassadrice who was very ill by continual Vomitings occasion'd by the tossings of the Ship We enter'd happily into it and having found a good ground we drop'd our Anchors and undesignedly allarm'd a small French Bark that likewise Anchor'd there However we put out our Colours to reassure her but she looking upon it as a Snare to catch her durst not draw near us While time was allow'd her to satisfie her self who we were the Commissary of our Ship was sent on Shoar to get some Provisions by reason that ours began to fail Some Officers follow'd him to divert themselves with Hunting In the mean while the Patron of the Bark which we had discover'd to be French by her Colours which she hung out having descry'd ours not coming up to us like the other Ships that had follow'd us we sent a Sloop to her to mind her of her duty Whereupon the Patron immediately weigh'd Anchor and having Saluted our Ship in passing by her he came on Board to Salute our Captain who straight caus'd a Strapado to be prepar'd for him for having tarry'd so long to submit to the King's Colours But my Lady Ambassadrix obtain'd his Pardon and he came off with the fear The same day about Eight at night the Hunters being come back from the Village of St. George brought us the â—ews of the fatal death of our Commissary who was kill'd by one of our Store-keepers who shot him in the Right Shoulder of which wound he dy'd upon the Spot This Accident stop'd us lâ—nger than we had design'd for whereas our Captain was resolv'd to secure the wretch who had committed the Murther and had made his escape he thought fit to send an Officer a shore with a Company of Souldiers to Summon the Chief Magistrate of the Village to use his utmost Endeavours to secure the Murtherer thereby also to oblige his Islanders to deliver him into his hands The said Officer and his Men arriv'd two hours before day at the Village the Inhabitants whereof were terrify'd at the Ringing of the Allarum-Bell and at the sight of our Souldiers Five or Six Hundred Grecians dispers'd themselves immediately in all the parts of that small Island and at last found the unhappy Fugitive who being brought back to the Ship was put in Irons until he could be Try'd in due form While some were imploy'd in search of him the deceas'd was Bury'd on the Sea-Shore near a little Chappel built as 't is most likely by the Inhabitants of the Country After which we weigh'd our Anchors and put out to Sea with a favourable Wind which in a short time enabled us to double the Golden Cape and to discover the Isle of Argentiere where we Anchor'd in order to inquire about the Fleet of Algier which we had all along been in dread of not having as yet been able to hear any thing about the Conclusion of a Peace between that Republick and France We remain'd two whole days in that Road and could not put out to Sea until the Second of November upon which being favour'd by a fair Wind we pass'd by the Isles of Sapienza having met the Venetian Fleet by the way Steering towards Coron having pass'd the Golf of Venice we discover'd the point of Sicilly towards night However we were somewhat disquieted all Night about a Fire we perceiv'd at a distance some imagin'd it was the Lanthorn of a Ship that Conducted some Squadron which oblig'd us to stand upon our guard and to prepare our Artillery in case of need Others on the contrary affirm'd that this Fire proceeded from Mount Gibel which was within ken but the next day we discover'd the falsity of our Conjectures when we came over against the Cape of Passaro The Spaniards keep a Garrison there in a kind of Fort which they have built for the security of the Coast and as soon as they discover any Ship they are oblig'd to light Beacons from space to space to warn the Country People to precaution themselves against the Pirates that land but too often there While we doubled that Cape M. de Persin put on the Signal to give notice to the Barks and the Tartane to draw near to his Ship to be in a posture of defence in case the Spanish Gallies should appear Some time after we discover'd the Isle of Maltha which lies about 20 Leagues from Cape Passaro We met with a Storm in that place which was follow'd with some Whirlwinds and great Claps of Thunder after which the Wind becoming favourable to us we advancâ—d as far as the Isle of Panteleria which notwithstanding the smallness of it yields very considerable Revenues to the Spaniards who are Masters of it We remain'd two days in sight of that Island being surpriz'd by a great Calm there occasion'd by the extraordinary heat of the weather but a Southerly Wind happily arising we continu'd our Course and soon after discover'd the Cape of Bonae It is a point of Africk where there is no Fort but those of Tunis keep a Beacon there for the security of their Ships and of the Inhabitants of the Country which a Maharbou or Dervich who makes Penance there takes care to kindle to give notice by as many fires as he makes of the number of Sails he discovers On the left hand of this Cape stands the Fort of Galipa scituate upon a very high narrow Promontory almost inaccessible where the Cannons that are very numerous are capable to defend the place from all parts and to hinder the approaches of the Enemy While we were considering all this the South-East-Wind encreas'd to that degree that we did run about three Leagues an hour and we soon lost sight of the Isles of Sembrow Had it continu'd we had soon come within sight of Sardinia but about Midnight it turn'd to North-West and tormented us strangely all the remainder of the Night This tossing and rowling of the Ship which agitated us by turns discompos'd us extreamly and the Contrary Winds which from time to time occasion'd Whirlwinds took from us all hopes of doubling the Isles of St. Peter so soon as we had expected and the Wind still rising more and more insomuch that we could no longer resist it we were oblig'd to put into Barbary which we did on the 14th of November and dropt our Anchors over against Portofarine which is a pretty good Haven and where the small City of the same name is pretty well Situated to shelter Ships from the great North-west and Westerly-Winds It is built at the foot of a high Mountain upon a Peninsula where the Ships may Ride securely It belongs to those of Tunis whose Capital City is not above 7 Leagues from thence and there is no other way to it but through
come with their Goods to Traffick at the Gate and bring their Horses to sell to the Catay Men but are not permitted to come within the walls except very few at a time Thus their whole Journey from Tomo Castle to this Gate took up twelve Weeks besides some days that they stood still and from the Gate to the great Empire of Catay ten days and so arriv'd at the City or Castle of Catay about the beginning of September where they were lodg'd in the Great Embassador's House During their stay in Catay which was four days they were Visited by a Secretary attended by two Hundred Men upon Asses well Apparell'd and Entertain'd and Feasted 'em with Sack and other sorts of Wines and told 'em that the Emperour or King Tambur had sent him to know what Business had brought 'em into the Dominions of Catay To which they made Answer that their Great Lord and Emperour had sent 'em to acquaint themselves with the Dominions of Catay and to wait upon the King of the Country But the Secretary reply'd that without Presents they could not be admitted into the King's Presence and withal gave 'em a Letter which Letter they brought with 'em to Tobolsko and from thence they were sent with it to the Emperour's Majesty They left Cathay about the Twelfth of October and arriv'd at the Castle of Tobolsko about Whitsontide in the Year 1620. FINIS BOOKS Printed for Tim. Goodwin against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet MEMOIRS of Emerick Count Teckely in Four Books wherein are Related all the most Considerable Transactions in Hungary and the Ottoman Empire from his Birth Anno. 1656. 'till after the Battel of Salankement in the Year 1691. Done out of French The Life of Lewis of Bourbon late Prince of Conde digested into Annals with many Curious Remarks on the Transactions of Europe for these last Sixty Years Done out of French Lex Parliamentaria or a Treatise of the Law and Custom of the Parliaments of England With an Appendix of a Case in Parliament between Sir Francis Goodwyn and Sir Iohn Foretescue for the Knights Place for the County of Bucks 1 Iac. I. From an Original French Manuscript Translated â—nto English Pollitica Sacra Civilis or a Model of Civil and Ecclesiastical Government wherein besides the positive Doctrine the State and Church in general are Debated the Principal Controversies of the Times concerning the Constitution of the State and Church of England By George Laâ—son Rector of More in Salop. An Enquiry into the Power of Dispensing with Penal Statutes together with some Animadversions upon a Book written by the late Lord Chief Justice Herbert Intituled A short Account of the Authorities in Law upon which Judgment was given in Sir Hale's Case A Defence of the late Lord Russel's Innocency Together with an Argument in the great Case concerning Elections of Members to Parliament between Sir Samuel Bernadiston Bar. Plaintiff and Sir William Soams Sheriff of Suffolk Defendant in the Court of King's Bench in an Action upon the Case and afterwards by Errour Sued in the Exchequer-Chamber The two last Wrote by Sir Robert Atkyns Lord Chief-Barron of Their Majesties Court of Exchequer Var. obser Lond. 1685. Universal Lib. Tom. 8. Physic. Mathemat Obser. Par. 1688. Ibid. Riccioli's Geograph reformat Dudl Artan del mare Near four hunder'd Iesuits perish'd going to China A design to find out a new way by Land to China Two Vessels set sail form Leghorn for the East in 1685. They are toss'd by terrible Tempests within sight of Candy After three days Voyage they come to an Anchor in Lerneca Road. The Beauty and Fertility of the Island of Cyprus * A delicate Red-leg'd Fowl of which there are two sorts one somewhat less then our Godwitt that feed altogether upon Fish The other more like a Partridge that lives among Hills and high Grounds the rarer and dearer and perhaps the daintier of the two The Curiosity of some French Passengers punish'd by the Turks Two Vessels fall foul one upon another through the Imprudence of the Pilot. We arrived at Alexandretta A Pigeon despatch'd to Aleppo gives notice of the arrival of the two Ships We arrive at Aleppo The Turks never begin to travel on a Friday The Turks understanding me to be an European lay a great Imposition upon me The care of the Caravan to preserve themselves from Robbers in the Night A Machine made use of for the crossing of the River Tiger The Author like to be drowned The common Oath of the Country The Emir gives us permission to depart Five Curds attach a numerous Caravan The Armenians inclin'd to quit their Errors A Renegate srrviceable in the settlement of the Mission Father Barnaby goes to Irivan An Earthquake at Erzerum The Antipathy between the Turks and Persians and as Ichmiazin the Patriarchal Seat of the Armenians F. Barnaby and I departed from Irivan The cross Gurgistan An unlucky meeting with a Persian Chaper Schamaki describ'd Fat Pothier Murder'd The Caspian Sea describ'd The Errors of the Banians A Merchant of Yousbecs gives 'em great sight as to their farther Travels The distance of Bocara from Pekin Our Vâ—ssel burnt and we like to have been burnt in it In danger of being taken by the Calmoves A Muscovite Officer relieves us We quitted the Volga at Saratof Description of the Sleds in Muscovy The Countrey betwen Astrakan and Moscow very populous Our arrival at Muscovy Strangers oblig'd to undergoâ— a rigorous Examination at Muscovy The Country of Kitay The Cosacks Zaporoges the first Discoverers of the Countries beyond the Obi Why they submitted to the Muscovites The manner of Sable-Hunting The Bogdoi The Country of the Monguls The Calmoucs The Kan of the Calmoucs The Dalaè-lama Patriarch of the Idolatrous Tartars Tartars believe the Dalaè never dies The Delaè-lama is the Famous Presse-Jean Other Tartar People Albazin three weeks journey from Pekin Muscovites never spend above four months in going to Peking and returning to Moscow Sledds that Sail by Land with the Wind. The Lake of Baikala The Behemot furnishes the Muscovites with Ivory The first Colonies that peopl'd America came out of Tartary The Mouth of the Obi dangerous Genessai no less inconvenient Father Barnaby leaves me to go back into France where he happily negotiates our return Baptism of a Tartar Abjuration of an Hungarian Lutheran My Iourney to the Court of Poland The King of Poland gives me the Memoirs that had been given him by an Ambassador from Muscovy call'd Nicephore who had been in China through the great Tartary His Map â—is faithful excepting the Degrees of Longitude The King to Authorise our Designs grants us Patents as being his Mathematicians Pasports and Letters of Recommendation to the Czars of Muscovy A Copy of the King's Letter to the Czars Order to associate our selves to some Polish Iesuits Character of the two Iesuits who were chosen to go Missionaries into China Father Barnaby embarks at Roan in order to joyn