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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
water_n	fish_n	great_a	sea_n	3,519	5	6.8793	4	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

own Coasts to Gilan The Water in these Whirpools is hurried about with an incredible violence and makes such a noise that if the Weather be still they may be heard at 5 or 6 leagues distant It is my opinion that these are the Passages whereby this great Lake has a subterranean communication with the Euxin or som other Sea for it is well known that it receivs 84 huge Rivers besides the Wolga which is reputed the 3 d River of the World for greatness and hither do all the Floods of the Persian and Tartarian Rivers hasten as it were to their Center with an admirable celerity so that when we sailed we always made a calculation how far we would be carried off in thwarting the stream and so bore up towards the Coast as well for shortning our Course as to avoid the Whirpools where if any Vessel be brought she must inevitably perish The best and most commodious Shipping for this Sea is a Flat-bottom from 80 to a hundred Tuns Upon a time it happened that my Master and I fell into a discourse about Trading and Commerce making a paralel between their way of merchandizing and ours where among other Words I told him That If I were once again at Liberty I could make a good Advantage and did not doubt but that in a short time I should return with a Ship full of Hollands Commodities upon which he asked me If I was so rich then I answered No But if I came safe into my own countrey some or other would intrust me with a Cargo for those parts being now well acquainted with the Conveniency of the Caspian Sea My Patron hearing that thought that I might probably be som way instrumental to do him service and that night discoursed som Armenians about me who dealt in Silk upon which they desired to see me My Master having appointed them a day I went along with him where one of the most eminent asked me if I could speak Italian and if I was of Amsterdam or if I knew such a Merchant there I answered him in Italian That I was of Amsterdam but did not know the Gentleman he named yet was acquainted with several there who dealt in Silk He then entred into a discourse which was much after this manner That the only way to Trade with Holland was to bring over Lead Quicksilver Cloth Serges Says and all kinds of Low-Countrey Commodities and Manufactures which would be very marketable at Derbent Scamachy and Ardobil and might produce good profit so that all the Staple of Silk might be brought to Holland and That all Goods whatever might be more conveniently transported over the Caspian Sea and so up the Wolga bringing it down to Archangel and so for Holland which would not prove so tedious by far as to bring it over Land to Smyrna where by the way so much Danger and so many Duties were met withall and then from Smyrna to run the Hazard of the Barbary Corsairs thro the Mediterranean and the Spanish Sea besides unreasonable Duties that are imposed by the Turks which probably the Czar of Moscovia would not set so high to draw a Traffic of such importance thro his Jurisdiction c. That Gilan Scirwan and other adjacent Provinces bordering upon the Caspian Sea could deliver upwards of 50000 Bales of Silk every year Bocharen also affoards pretious Furrs and the East Countrey good plenty of Segrine-Leather Saffron Rhubarb and other precious Druggs This was the sum of all the Discourse we had for that time but not much hopes were then given me of gaining my Freedom by assisting them in a Trade to Europe The Caspian Sea may more properly be termed a Lake were it not that its Greatness and Saltness gave it the name of the latter for it is environed on every side with the Main Continent and receives 85 great Rivers as has been said before which nevertheless do not make it swell any higher upon extraordinary Rains and Tempest which the more confirms what I have already mentioned about the two famous Whirlpools What concerns the Breadth and Greatness of the Caspian Sea as also its ' Scituation Bays Rivers Creeks Islands Towns and their distance of Bearing they are sufficiently noted in the Card hereto annexed which I have with great diligence composed partly by my own experience and partly by the help of some Armenian Marriners who were well acquainted herewith It s length which is reckoned from Wolga to Astrabath North and South is computed to be 129 Leagues and from Tarku to the River Jemla which is accounted the Breadth being East and West is about 60 Leagues For 6 7 8 and 9 Leagues from the Coast the Water is somtime fresh and somtime brakkish and from 12 to 50 fathom Anchor ground but the Sea is within fresh and out of sounding It is also called the Hyrcan and the Salt Sea It has many Boughts Inlets Creeks and Angles the Bay of Gilan tends above 38 Leagues inwards taking its beginning at the Cape of Scabaran and reaches to Sengar Hasam This Sea is environed mostly on the East and North with a sandy and barren ground having also many Quarries of Marble and Alabastre On the East side of this Sea is a Noble River not much inferior to the Wolga which river parts the Calmuc-from the Gwin-Tartars but the Countrey on each side being inhabited with a wild People using among themselvs no kind of Traffic and therefore unsafe for others to adventure themselvs My Master Mahomet Sala once sailing past the mouth of this River I pressed him hard to sail up to view the Conveniency and take an account of the Quality of the Countrey But he told me he had a greater esteem for his Life Ship and Goods than to satisfy my curiosity about a busine● of so mean importance This Sea affoards great plenty of all kinds of Fish and is farmed of the King of Persia from April to September for a vast sum of Money and that for a certain Distance from the Coast which is set off with Stakes within which bounds none are to fish upon pain of Death but without every one has the permission to fish yet without Fish is very rare except in some litle Shoals here and there and those only at some Seasons which are uncertain After the Farm is expired it is also free within the Stakes for every one to fish Here is an incredible plenty of Salmon as also Carps Breams Sturgeon and other Fish held with us in great esteem and those in general both larger and fatter than those taken on the Coast of Holland or any other Sea or Water in Europe that I know Carps when come to their full growth are sometimes above 4 foot long but those are not so delicate as when they are less Here also many strange Fishes by us unknown and I beleev most of them proper only to this Sea Amongst those strange kinds is one which by reason of the disproportion of

the Sepulchre of an Emperour and 70 Kings 173. Sattiry Boggere an Island at the Mouth of the Wolga taken in by the Cosac Rebells 173. The Rebells erect there a Watch-Tower 185. Sauceages of Bologne how made 72. Savona flu 72. Scabaran a Cape in the Caspian Sea 224. Item a City in Media famous for Rice 237. Scalimene Lemnos so called 91. Scamachi or Sumahi a famous Mart in Media it's Situation 238. Described 239. Very subject to Earth-quakes ibid. Scirwan an eminent Place for great plenty of Silk 2●3 Scorpions very annoysom at Kaschan 311. Scyro Insul 110. Sierlan an Island 203. Sierras or Scyras described 331. Skorodom a part of Moscou so called 135. Slave market at Ervan 213. At Derbent 238. Slaves how unjustly used by the Turks 80. How used at Derbent 228. And in Moscovia 138. Smeriglio a blackstone of great esteem found at Nicsia 109. Smiowa a Mountain 173. Smolensko 136. Spoon meat much used in Russia 137. Stampalia or Astypalaea one of the Cyclid Islands 109. Standia the Rendevous of the Venetians 103. Stariza taken in by the Cosacks and 1200 Soldiers kill'd 194. Stenko or Stephen Radzin see Radzin Storm at Sea near Xante 74. Sultan of Derbent very favourable to the Hollanders 233. Sultanie a famous Town in Persia described Swiatki 166. Syberia a woody Countrey in Moscovia famous for Furrs 136. The Place of exile for Men that beat their Wives too much 140. T. TAfflis a City in Georgia 249. Taurus Mount. 299. Teil-tree see Linden tree Temple of Jerusalem at Moscou 134. Of Appollo it's Ruins 109. Tenedos besieged by the Venetian Armade and surrendred upon Articles 91. Described ibid. Besieged again by the Turks but in vain 104. Tenos the Castle blown up with its own Powder 110. Terky a Moscoviam City its Situation and present condition 203. Terra Lemnia or Sigillata 92. Torstok a River and City in Moscovia 126. Tobacco coveted by the Russians 126. Forbidden by Proclamation to be smoked 140. Tortoises in great abundance at Balharu in Persia 283. At Ascension Island 358. Trachana and Bouchort two sorts of Bread made at Mytilene very durable 109. Troy the Remnant of that famous City 78. The Author taken in a Vineyard near Troy and made slave by the Turks Tweer a City in Moscovia 126. Tzanle a beautifull Town in Persia 284. Tzawaar a Place in Persia where every one is to show a Pasport 282. Tzornoyar a City in Russ-Tartary 176. Tzurbag oppid 203. V. VIathe its Sterility but abundance of Furrs Honey and Fish 136. Volske a Province in Moscovia rich of Furs 136. Ustioga a Province in Moscovia famous for plenty of Fish and Cattel 137. W. WAter consecrated by the Armenian Christians 248. Wax a great Commodity in Moscovia 135. Whirlpools in the Caspian Sea 222. Whore-market at Caswin in Persia 305. Wildgeese and Pelicans in great abundance about the Caspian Sea 201. Wolf baiting at Moscou 129. Great multitudes of those Beasts near Colomna in Moscovia 161. Wolmar oppid described 118 119. Wolodomir a fertile countrey in Russia 136. Wood A Wood in Syberia whose end cannot be found out 137. X. XAnte an Island affoarding great plenty of wine 74. Many Earth-quakes on that Island 99. Great scarcity of Water ibid. Z. ZAntorini an Island subject to Earthquakes and Meteors 107. Wine very cheap on this Island 107. The Author left ashoar and in great peril of being taken ibid. Zelandia a Fort in East-India 63. Zemschi Precaus a Place in Russia where any person that is found Dead is brought and exposed to public view 150. Zide Tzaybrail taken up and canonised after he had bin dead 100. years 215. His Sepulchre described 290. The Revenues of the same 296. Zierlan or Tzierlan an Island on the Caspian Sea 203. Zouaschi a Nest of Turkish Pyrats 107. Taken by Lazaro Mocenigo ibid. ERRATA PAg. 117. l. 3. read and shave all their Hair except p. 52. l. 12. before ibid. l. 20. steel p. 3. l. 27. about ibid. valleys 45.18 with p. 71. l. 20. Gratitude left p. 153. l. 30. for than read thou If any thing else occurr that may obscure the sence which by reason of my absence from the Press happens in some places the Reader I hope will either be pleased to pardon or amend with the Pen as also the Literal Errors which my leisure at this time will not permit me to rectify NB. The Book-binder may also please to take notice that the Print of the Massacre of Astrachan may be more fittly placed at pag. 373. than before the Narrativs according to the Directions given after the Elenchus in the fore part of the Book * Blancan in Chronol Mathem * Erasm de Utilit Colloqu * Martial in his 10th Book of Epigrams DEC 1647. Set sail from Texel January 1648. FEBR. 1648. Storm at Sea Arrival de Genua Description of Genua Genua Velez Malaga JUNE 164● Arrival at Boa Vista Description of the Sale Islands The Island Majo JULY 1648. The Island Majo * A kind of Sea-bream St. Jago Ilha del Fuogo JULY 1670. JULY 1648. JUNE 1648. The King of Sierra Liones fettered and threatned to be hanged The houses of the Caffers pillaged and their Orchards Spoil'd Description of Sierra Liones * A kind of plant called also Milium and Hyrsi bearing a multitude of small grains from whence it hath that name SEPT 164● Arrival at Madagascar or sas it is by some called S. Laurence OCTO● 1648. The Death of Mr. John Benning Captain of the St. Bernard Tumults thereupon Both the Ships rea-ady to sight Voogt yields and goes aboard is clapt into Fetters Result of the Council of War concerning the Officers and Ships-folk * Perhaps Porcupines which are of late grown common in Europe Why an Apt Commit a Rape The Inhabitants their Nature Garb and Posture Their Houses Their Habit and Attire Their Marriages Their Funerals Impious cruelty over their Children Their Religion Their Circumcision * An Assagay as themselvs call it is a kind of dart about 5 or 6 foot long Their Government and Policy The manner of their Treating about Peace MAR. 1649. JAN 1650. The Ships surrendred to the Dutch Arrival at Siam The Kingdom of Siam described Judia Custome-Houses * Fifteen making a degree it follows that 3 Dutch miles must be 12 English land miles or four Leagues at Sea Soil and Fertility of Siam Fish The great value of Scate Skins Crocodiles used for Medicine Malefactors severely punished Stately Throne of the King Great plenty of Gold The Elephants served in Gold and Silver Of their Wars Quicquid delirant reges plectuntur Achivi Revenues of the King of Siam The devour zeal of the Kings of Siam in erecting of Pagods Religious Houses-and Temples Soldiers without Pay and used as Slaves The Condition of the Citizens * Dutch Tuns without dispute * Which are their Ghostly Languages as Arabic in the Al●oran and Latin att Mass * For that were not consistent with Money catching in

they rarely rince As for rubbing and scouring they are meer strangers to it as also to ornaments and Toys unless it be a Figure which they call St. Nicholas or perhaps some other Saint for whom they have some particular or extraordinary veneration Slaves they are by nature and born to servitude and Bondage seldom ever aspiring so high as to indeavour to make themselves franc and yet will be excited to nothing by fair means or use diligence about any affair save what they are driven to by constraint and blows and yet so sweet this Slavery seems to be to them that rather than to become free upon the Decease of their Lords to whom they ow allegiance by nature or otherwise that they will immediatly sell themselves durante vitâ to some other Patron They are very prone to Theft yea and to Murther when they think that they can do it clandestinly or to any advantage how poor soever it be which seems to be primordially occasioned from the Penury of their Lords who hardly allow them what is requisit to support and sustain human Bodies as for Brandy and Tobacco they hold it but a venial Transgression to filch when they can come at it notwithstanding the strict and severe Laws against Theft in the lowest nature and lest importance This only is to be applied to the Vulgar sort as for those of greater Ability and Rank they spare not for what tends to a voluptuous Life and indulge their sences as much or more than is tolerable Free they are and indeed generous enough at their Table especially when they treat or welcom Strangers who are very welcom and received with all imaginable Urbanity on Condition that they observe the Countrey fashion which is to bring a Present with them that may countervail more than thrice the value of what is set before them and this if you forget to bring you may take my word they 'l forget to make you welcom The Slaves in Moscou are very hardly dealt withall and poorly fed but much harder those that are in the open Countrey where their Lords are sparing of their Allowance and therefore connive at their Filching thinking it falls out at last to their own profit especially if it be any thing of Food The Russes feed most of Roots Pulse and Fish use much Onions and Garlick in their Pottage and also for sauces Their Bread is mostly of Course Ry. As for Fish they eat it rather pickled than fresh which is plentifull in their Markets and by reason that washing and making clean the shambles is a kind of an Abomination to those people you cannot come within a hundred paces of the Market unless you stop your nose so nauseous and hatefull is the smell Those of the greatest Rank and ability do in general hold good Tables but eat most Spoon-meat although it were but bread out of Water that Fish has been boil'd in Cavear is a great Dainty amongst them but not so high in esteem there as abroad When they have drunk more than well agrees with them so that their stomach be surcharged they prepare a certain Dish which they call Pochmelie made up of cold Beef or Mutton sliced very thin and Quas Quas is a Liquor which they use as Beer of which it is made with a Composition of Water Beer-Vinegar Garlick and Pepper this Quas being so prepared they put their meat into it and seeth it a litle which afterwards they eat with Spoons The poorer sort have a certain Liquor much in use among them which they also call Quas this is made of Water with a litle Bran and Barley-meal which according to their ability they temper thicker or thinner The Gentry drink Beer that there is very strong and heady but more commonly Metheglin which they make of the best Honey adding Cloves Cinnamon Pepper Galangal Cardamom and other Spices This is a very strong and stealing Liquor of it self yet they think good to mix it with Brandy to make it more effectual Brandy which they call Wina they covet above all other Liquors which without any discretion or noted difference is drunk both by Spiritual and Temporal Nobles and Plebeïans Men and Women Young and Old and that at all times of the Day before and after Meals Sometimes to add a medicinal vertue they put a litle Pepper amongst it Nay so besotted are the Vulgar with Brandy that in the sharpest Weather they will not only part with their Caps or Coats for the Reckoning but likewise with their Boots Shirts and Stockings so that I have seen some of them come mother-naked out of the Kaback or Tipling-House The Common people were formerly so irregular and void of Order that they would drink themselves full and afterwards the men and Women setting aside all Reputation and Modesty commit sensual and beastly Actions together This great Disorder was lately remedied by the care of the Czar who by the advice of the Patriarch put down all the small Tap-houses throughout the whole Empire appointing in every Town and Village one public House or Kaback which they are to farm of the Emperour himself They are very covetous of Tobacco as has been elsewhere said notwithstanding the Tenure of a Decree or Mandate promulgated about the year 1634 which strictly forbids every person of what degree or quality he may be to smoke it which nevertheless is done privately The Russians are generally gross of Body yet subtile enough in affairs of Merchandise which they can manage very well Their Women are much inclined to Gossiping and busie Tatlers often beat by their Husbands who sometimes use them unkindly upon which they sometimes address themselves to Court where the men once convicted over such Crimes are sent to Syberia The Emperour considering the multitude of Complaints of this nature has ordained that if any Woman makes complaint without sufficient Evidence that the Man is to be tortured on the Rack which if he stands out the Wife is condemned to exile her self before which Law the Court was dayly troubled with such like Differences Few people there are in the World that are more accustomed to scolding railing and calumny than these although 't is very rare to see them come to blows yet much more rarely do they make use of their Weapons This evil custome of abusing one another oftentimes is the occasion of Quarrels with Strangers to whom it seems a Novelty The ordinary Habit of the Citizens is first an upper Coat of a dark green red brown or violet-colour'd Silk open before and on the sides and garnished with loops having behind great Capes almost like old-fashioned Cloaks in the Low-Countreys Under that they wear another coat of Say or Silk with a high and stiff Collar these have long sleeves which are tied up round with loops and stand Cooks in good stead to remove hot Pots and Cauldrons from the fire Those that have an intent or design to steel or murther usually have

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

his Mess-Mates hoping that it would go no further but it was not long before it came to the Captains Ear who without the lest warning came and commanded the Chest to be broken up where he found the Stones and gave the Ass half a Hundred Blows on the Ribbs for his pains and so was I bereaved of the last and best Tresure I had The only thing they left me was my Papers and Journal which was not without much Intreaty a poor Abstract for so many years Misery having inclusivly no more to thank nay much less the Christians than the Mahometans and Pagans save for my Slavery for which I may not blame any in particular it being a general Rule among them to convert such as they hold for Heteredox to Slaves Thus being newly delivered out of one misery I was immediatly involved in another and so far might this despair have wrought wit● me that had it not bin the Goodness of GOD to indue me with● more laudable and a more pious Principle I could have willingly thrown my self praecipitantly out of the World being weary of Life and as unwilling to embrace the greatest Solace that can be expected yea or enjoyed in this wearisom Pilgrimage to the Grave which puts an end to all corporal Afflictions and the Haven whither we are all a failing howsoever we be provided for that Spiritual Mart. Nor do I doubt but that those who shall have the Patience to read these Memorials will imagine my Misery to have bin great B● I farther praesume that they in the most earnest contemplation of thi● Schaeme of anxiferous and calamitous Events that from time to time have befallen me will never be such real Compatients as to surve the amaritude of my Sufferings by the Scale of their Thoughts and Censures Yet welcom most welcom be the Decrees of the most glorious LORD of Life and HE out of his immense Bounty grant me patience to suffer what he is pleased to inflict upon me how severe so ever it be Eight days before our Arrival there had the English taken in the Island being forced to put in there for want of Water not knowing any thing to the contrary but that it was still in possession of their own Nation and were sent out to convoy their East-India Ships howeward but coming into the Bay were not a little surprised that they were saluted with Balls in stead of loose Powder However the English were resolved to com ashoar som way or other for they were destitute of Water all the 7 Ships of War and the Merchant-men with the Fire Ship hardly able to make out 15 Hogsheads of Water and were besides that at a great loss for Refreshments having been long off at Sea to and again The Admiral therefore gave command to attempt an entrance at the South side of the Island where it was so narrow that they could not go abov 4 in a rank insomuch that if the Hollanders could have missed so many men out of the Fort might have knockt them all down with Stones with 50 or 60 Men so that the English invaded the Island unmolested The Governour seeing that they were surprised and he unable to defend himself against so great a Power surrendred upon Articles and Composition This was the Relation of the English On the 4 of June the English got two Ships more of the 5 that followed us with another coming from Ceylon who not knowing any thing to the contrary but that the Hollanders were still Masters of the Island came sailing without any dread directly thither from the Cape For the English had planted the Princes Flag aloft and a Red Flag on the High way which was a privat Token that the Hollanders had among themselves When I remarked what the meaning of all this was and how easily our Ships would be deceived I went to the Shore where I espied the Ships not abov half a Dutch league distant and immediatly pulled of my Shirt and set it upon a Stick that at lest they might begin if they should have the Fortune to see it to consider well with themselvs what such might import but it seemed that they took no notice of it or else did not see it otherwise it had bin time enough for them to have scap'd the Scouring 'T was not long before I was spied by two English Sentinels who came in all hast and beat me after a most lamentable manner which when they had don brought me before the Governour who asked me what I meant by that Token I told him with great liberty That I thought it my duty to warn my Nation from the Peril which they were ready to run in and that I supposed that if I had bin an Englishman and had known them under the like Circumstances I should have don no more than what I was bound to do To which the Governour smiling replied That I did honestly and deserved to be commended but withall charged me not to transgress any more and so let me go without any further Trouble Whence we may learn what difference there is between drinking at the Fountain and drinking at the Current Mean while the Ships came on undauntedly and were hardly sailed within the Bay but descryed a Lyon in an Asses Skin in stead of an Ass in a Lions Skin and discerned a Wolfs Body with a Sheeps Voice the Colours they saw spoke good Dutch but the Ships danced an English Jig wherefore they thought it best to tack about and make all the sail they could which the English perceiving out after them all in a Body and took the Admiral and Vice-Admiral but the Rere-Admiral and the other 2 made their Escape and could not be overtaken The Admiral behaved himself with good courage and had probably not bin taken if his Mizzin Peek had not bin brought by the board The Ship that engaged and took him was the West-Freezlandt being formerly a Dutch Ship and taken by the English in the year .1665 and was now mounted with 54 Guns Our Admiral would fain have boarded her but could not for the English poured incessantly upon them with small shot insomuch that he was fain to yield the Commander himself being wounded in the Leg. The next day we were ordered to go aboard directing our Course for Ascension Island which serv the English for a Rendezvous where we arrived on the 19 of Iune Here the Men went to take Tortoises which are there in very great abundance som of 200 and som 300 lb. weight These Creatures are Amphibious that is to say living as well by water as by land but by night com upon the Strand where they lay their Eggs which are by the heat of the Sun engendred in the sand The Island Ascension lies in 8 degr and 30 min. Southerly Latitude about 40 Leagues from Saint Helena It is altogether rocky and produces nothing of growth having in it high Hills yet not so high as those in Saint Helena The whole

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

Fishing trade and find great plenty of Cyprins Dorades and other Fish St. Iago is the greatest and chief of the Cabo Verdo Islands being about 12 leagues in length lying South-East and North-west The South-east Cape thereof hath the Road of the Island Majo on the West and W. and by N. about 5 leagues distant The high Land of St. Iago lies from the Road of Majo directly West but the middle thereof South-west from Boa Vista or rather more Westerly and from the Salt Island S. W. and by S. about 25 Leagues From the South-west Angle the coast stretches it self forth 2 leagues South-west where there is a small Hamlet called Praye situated in a commodious place between two Hills and environed with 2 Rivers which running into the Sea do make two handsom Bays one whereof is called Porto de Praye and has room enough to contain an hundred Ships which may safely ride at Anchor without damnifying each other having 14 fathom water and shot-free from Land as also the benefit of a small Island which breaks off the wind Sailing past Porto de Praye before you come at the Town is a Cape or small Promontory which the Portugeezes call Capo de Tubarao On the West whereof is another Bay called Porto de Ribeirra Corea which also is very fitly seated between two Hills and a River that runs through the midle rising from a fountain about 2 leagues from thence and disgorging it self into the Sea by a mouth about a Bow-shot in breadth In the North is also another Haven called St. Mary On the Island St. Iago are yet two Towns of note whereof the one is called St. Thomas very well seated the other St. Iago or St. Iames which is built upon a rising Ground This is the Metropolis of all the Towns of these Islands where is also the Residence and Palace of their Bishop Towards the West on an Angle of the Island is a Fortress two leagues from Porto de Praye where Ships come to anchor and North-west from this Angle another Haven known by the name of Porto de Canisos This Island is very fertile and abounds with fruit of several kinds as on each side the Rio de Corea grow great plenty of Cocos Oranges Citrons other Fruit-trees as also some Cedars Besides this it affoards good store of Rice Maïs and other grain as also Cattel both for work and slaughter Ilha del Fuogo or The Isle of Fire probably has that name from one of it's Mountains which continually sends forthflames by some intestin Fire It lies in 14 degr 20 min. Northerly Latitude and 12 leagues from the South-west point of St. Iago North-west on the West-side is a Bay and a small castle seated at the foot of a hill but the violent course of the stream renders the haven unapt to receive any Shipping Those that would enter the Bay must steer their course to the North of this Island and so about About 4 leagues South-west of Ilha del Fuogo lies Ilha del Brava that is VVild or Desert Island with two or three small Islands on the North thereof On the West-side is a Creek very convenient for such as have occasion to take in water but the best haven is on the South-east side where it is 15 fathom deep and a Ship of the greatest burthen may come to anchor close to the Kay Above this Harbour is a Hermitage and a Village very well peopled This Island is also fruitfull enough having good store of figs Mulberrys Water-Melons and Indian wheat but far inferiour to Mayo and St Iago for cattel The Air of these Islands is generally unwholsom so that the inhabitants are very subject to Feavers Aches and Fluxes These Islands lying between the Aequator and the Tropic of Cancer affoard the People two Summers every year the Sun passing twice directly over their heads When the sun enters into Cancer which is in the end of Iune the season is very intemperate with Storms Winds Thunder and Lightning continuing so till the midle of October the● the Portugueezes call the Rain moneths They have certain tokens whereby they know when this Season approaches as high Southe●ly Winds which blow along the Coast and the Salt which begin to dissolve with the Billows rolling out of the Sea On the 14 we left the Salt Islands and set sail for Sierra Liones and made land on the 2d of August hearing at a great distance the Wind roaring from the Mountains which by the reason of their Concavity do make a great buzzing when it blows hard that perhaps has given them the name of Sierra Liones or Lioness Mountai● A litle before the evening we came with our Boat close to the shore where we heard a most terrible Noise occasioned by an impetuou● and continual beating of the billows through the cleft of a Rock which was so loud that we could hardly hear one another spea● Sierra Liones takes it's beginning from Cabo de Virgin and stretches● self so far out as Cabo Tagrin or Lede which is also by some call● Cabo de Sierra Liones lying in 8 Degr. and 13 Min. Northerly Latitude and by reason of it's height is easily distinguished from that Continent which lies to the Northward of this Promontory the more because it reaches further Seaward The South and South and by E. part of this Land lies toward the Sea and is high and hilly but the land of the Cape towards the North for the most part level and marshy There are 13 Rivulets which coming from the Land run through these Mountains and so empty themselves in the Ocean and have on their banks plenty of Fruit-trees as Oranges Pome-Citrons and the like On the 3 of August we arrived in the Bay of Sierra Liones Immediately upon our arriving there the Commander sent the Shallop ashoar and such persons as he did think fit with Presents for the King which were 5 Barrs of Iron a Barrel of Brandy and another of Spanish Wine Those men that were nominated to deliver the Presents were courteously received by the King and his Court. We could not perceive any Mark of Superiority or Grandour in the Prince which might distinguish him from his Subjects no more than in Mr. Mayor of Stratford from his Worshipfull Brethren the Aldermen Yet found him much to vary from some other Soveraign Potentates who enrich themselves at the Cost and Penury of their Vassals The King and his Folk were equally insatiable and covetous for so soon as the King had received the Present he desired as much more which the Commander was content to send him that he might have the freedom to take in Water and Wood for Fewel as also to provide our selves with Oranges Lemmons and other Refreshments The Inhabitants which are called Caffers shew'd us no small Friendship for so long as our Penny lasted they never faild of a Pater noster bringing us every day good store of Fruit. When the

King had received the double Present he insisted upon twice as much more before he would admitt of our coming ashoar This great incivility so inraged the Commander that he resolved to be revenged upon him and pursuant thereto sent the Long-boat ashoar to entreat him to come aboard where he should receive what his King ship desired The credulous Barbarian made no long pause in the matter but presently with a certain number of his Gentry stept into the Boat and so were brought aboard But his Retinue being too numerous the Commander having regard to our safety would not permit above 5 or 6 to come aboard The King was no sooner got aboard but he ran in all hast to the Great Cabin in hopes of some ample Gift but much mistaken for the Commander gave order that he should be fetter'd which was accordingly done and 4 men appointed to attend him The King was hereat mainly altered but afterward much more when he saw the Commander intended to hang him at the Yards arm which had certainly been had not the Master of the Ship undertaken the Office of a Mediator upon him and made intercession for his Life The Commanders wrath thus pacified he gave order to throw him over board which was immediately obey'd and executed by 4 of the Ships Company who threw him out at the Fore-castle Port But he was so well disciplin'd in swimming that he presently got ashoar His Retinue seeing that with all the hast they could betook themselves immediatly to their Canoes and made as if they would do some prodigious Feat or other or at lest obstruct our coming ashoar to take in what was necessary The Commander whose temper was too couragious to be daunted for a swarm of Flies sent two Boats ashoar to fetch Water and Wood both well Man'd and Arm'd and in spite of all their Force hew'd as much Wood and brought as much Water as they thought might serve our turn The Commander notwithstanding all this was not yet content but remanded the men and Shallops to pillage their Houses and Orchards and set the Kings Neger-house on fire all which they did in a moment The King seeing this thought it high time to put himself in a posture of Defence and in order to that musters up all the Forces he could on a sudden the whole Countrey being Alarmed and appear'd with a number of a Thousand Canoes or more half of each being loaden with Faggots whether to set our Ships on fire or to use them for Shields we could not determine however having obtained our ends we held it best to weigh Anchor and proceed on our Voyage rather than to incurr a needless unprofitable Ingagement with a Company of such contemptible Schoundrels In which Resolution we set sail directing our Course for Madagascar Before we were got out of sight of Sierra Liones we met with a small Flyboat which Traded along that Coast whereof one Iohn Backer of Durgerdam was Master The Master came and proffered his Ship and service to our Commander and Vice-Admiral to conduct us over the Foords and shallow Places of the Red sea and to make use of his Vessel as an advice Yacht But our Ship-master disswaded them to accept of his Tender whereupon he declared that he was unwilling and so declined his Favour This Master had the like Rescontre with that Kings Majesty and for his Churlishness gave him a toss as he told us out of the Cabin-port so that it seem'd a Paradox to us that he would be so void of Prudence as to hazard himself a second time being once before in jeopardy of his Life Sierra Liones both in regard of its ' Copiousness of Fruit and Plenty of Good Water is a very proper place to put in at for Refreshment It abounds with Millets Oranges Lemmons Banans Cocos Wild Grapes and abundance of many other sorts of Fruits as also Sugar canes and a kind of Long pepper It affoards besides Fruit-trees good Timber and Ingredients very usefull in Dying but by reason of our short aboad and want of opportunity to make inspection into the Countrey we could not inform our selves what Product the Land affoarded as peculiar to it self nor to make any advantage of our Landing there except our Refreshment There is good store of Fish and Oysters which ly very thick in the clefts of the Rocks and are extraordinary large and good 'T is true if any be necessitated to put in there for fresh Water they need not be at a loss for there are all along the Coast many choice Rivers which are pure Rain-water that comes from the Mountains but in the Month of May the beginning of the Rain season it is very unwholsom and unapt for use as our Masters Mate told me who was well acquainted with those Parts and is frequently the Occasion of Feavers Fluxes and other perrillous distempers and not only so but is so venemous that where it falls upon the skin of one who is not used to that Climat will cause Tumors and Ulcers and breeds a kind of worm or moth in cloaths which may serve for a Caveat to such as shall be forced to make use of it about that time of the year although it be approved good when it is some days old as if the venemous property were vanished with keeping The Inhabitants are not altogether black but tawny and their bodies cauterized in many places with hot Irons The tips of their Ears and their noses are bored through and hung with Jewels which they hold for passing rare Ornaments Both Men and Women go naked and use no manner of Vesture save only a furcingle or towel made of the barks of Trees which it seems for modesty sake they wear about their Middle Those that inhabit those parts which lie further within Land are Cannibals or Men-eaters but such as dwell near the Sea more civiliz'd and flexible to commerce with Europeans and other Strangers The King with whom we were concern'd was an old ill visaged and homely Man in a Garb tolerably handsom after the Moorish fashion having also a kind of a hat of a grayish colour but neither he nor any of his Retinue had either shoes or stockings but such as they came into the World with CHAP. II. Arrival at Madagascar The remarkable Chance of the Commander meeting with the King The Death of the Vice Commander Benning and the disorders thence arising Both the Ships put in a Fighting Posture and ready to give each other Battel Voogt yields and is fetter'd The description of Madagascar it 's Fertility Store of Cattel Goodness of their Sheep Many kinds of Monkeys Nature of the Inhabitants Form Habit House-keeping Marriages and Funerals Their impious cruelty over their Children Their Religion Policy and Warrs ON the 13 of October we arrived at Madagascar and came to Anchor in the Bay of Anton Gill. So soon as we had cast Anchor we sent forth our Boat

well provided with all kinds of Ammonition and Cannon which they cast themselves There are besides these Sconces several other Fortifications and inferior Forts Seated on high Rocks and Walls proportionable to the other encompassed also with very deep Ditches which receive their Water from the Sea Corfu is also of it self very strong and divided into 3 several Wards as Spileo Urio nuovo and Spianato The high Fortifications have no Fountain Water that is good and are therefore fain to make use of Rain Water which they receive and keep in cisterns and pits like those of Amsterdam but without the Walls of Corfu is a certain fountain or Well which they call Cardacchio that affoards good Water and very clear Upon this Island stand 68 Villages and Hamlets all reasonably well peopl'd The Venetian Garrison as it then appeared by their Muster-roll consisted of 400 light Horse and 900 Infantry The Haven is very fair and covenient and comes to the middle of the Island on that side which faces the main Continent On the other side lies Butriato a noted place for Fishing On this Island is much Bottarge made which is a Dish prepared of the Roes of Sturgeon salted dried and for the longer and better preservation thereof dipt in Wax Here is also much Oil of Olives or Oleum omphacinum made and the Vine well cultivated It is also very fruitfull affoarding plenty of Oranges Lemmons Citrons c. besides Honey Wax and Salt for which Commodities this Island is very famous abroad From Corfu we set sail for Cephalonia where there is only one small City raised on a high ground at the South-end of the Island and well fortified but the Haven thereto belonging is large and convenient There appear the Ruins of three other Cities which are said to be dismantled upon the continual Jarrs of the Inhabitants amongst themselves and at length reduced to such a poor remnant Besides this City is a litle Fort in which they repose no small trust It is situated in the latitude of 38 degr and 29 min. and is almost of a triangular form The East-end faces the Cape of Ciarenzo a Promontory of Morea or Peleponessus The North-point Capo Guiscardo confronts with Staumara and the west-angle or Capo Sidro looks toward the main Continent of Affrica Between this angle and Ciarenza which lies to the South-west is a large Bay making a fit Harbour not far from the City Cephalonia called Argoftoli where a great number of Ships may very commodiously ride at anchor At the entrance of this Gulf is a small Island called Guardiana which is fortified with a little Moot or Castelet which they call Nasso They have great scarcity of fresh or spring Water in this Island which is nevertheless of a rich and fat Soil and good pasturage for Sheep which there abound It produceth also vast quantities of Grain Wine Oil Manna Wax Honey Flax and Silk besides the great plenty of Currans which is the Staple-Commoditie of the Land CHAP. VIII The Author's arrival at Sante or Xante It 's admirable Strength Villages and great Scarcity of fresh Water Their Dough for bread kneaded with Wine in stead of Water Arrival at Cerigo Situation of that Island Reliques of the Temple of Venus Arrival at Candia with it's Situation A Description of the Citie as to it's Strength Inhabitants the most eminent Buildings and Churches Climat Soil Vintage Fruits Vegetables Cattel Fowl Plenty of Silk and other Commodities as also the modern Habit and Attire of the Candians A Description of Standia The famous Fight between Lazaro Mocenigo and the Tributary Auxiliaries of Argiers Tripoli Theunis and Zoëli The Fort of Zouaschi taken in by the Proveditor Mocenigo The Turks attacque Tenedos but in vain The Turkish Armada come out of the Dardanelli The Beginning of the Ingagement The Turkish Emperour comes with an Army of 20000 Horse and 80000 Foot down to the shore where from a high Tent he sees ' the Ingagement The Turks loose their Posts and Sail off The incomparable valour of Mocenigo and Bembo who are unluckily killd by the fall of a Sail yard Their Galley blown up with 400 Men. The Loss and Gains on both sides THe Proveditor which we had aboard not willing to loose much time made but short delay at Cephalonia for he had not much time to spend according to his Order and Instructions to go to the Armade wherefore after a short aboad we set Sail and steer'd away for Xante Xante is an Island lying in the latitude of 38 degr about 13 English leagues from Cephalonia On this Island is a City conteining about 4000 Houses or rather Cottages without chimneys that they say is by reason of frequent Earthquakes of which they are in daily jeopardy but the Muniments as well in respect of Site as Strength are very considerable for the Cittadel is built upon a high Hill and what by Nature and what by Art seems to be almost inaccessible well provided also with Ordnance and Ammunition of War suitable On this Island are several Capes the most eminent whereof are Capo del Guardo on the South and Capo de Tiri on the East between which two Capes lies a Commodious Harbour called Porto de Chietto which has a good Road for Anchorage at 8 fathom Water Xante has 45 Villages and Hamlets whereof the most principal lie toward the Sea to wit St. Chietto Littachia Pigalachia Sculicado Saint Nicholo and Natte The last of these has a Harbour fit to receive 100 Galleys In the hilly part of the Island are several Convents Cloysters and Religious Houses of the Greek Church who have also a Bishop here as well as the Romanists but the Greeks exceed the Italians in number and consequently have their Religion in greater splendour You are no sooner come ashoar but you are met by a parcel of Iews who shall ask you if you have any money to change These deal in any contemptible Traffic but especially in Slaves when any Turkish Saiks or other Shipping is brought up by English French or Hollanders Xante is of a very fertile Soil and fruitfull in nothing inferiour to Cephalonia yet exceeds it in Quality and Plenty of Wine but yet scarcer of Water insomuch that the Inhabitants are sometimes constrained to knead their Dough with Wine whereof they make their Bread Here is also prepared the delicate Botarges especially in Iuly and August when the Sturgeon comes from the Archipelago The Land is very populous and all go armed so that when the Turkish Corsairs send some men ashoar to take Slaves do frequently change Fates with them and for that end the Venetians maintain 70 or 80 Horse day and night to ride about the Coast We also brought hither some new Infantry to relieve the old From Xante we sail'd to Cerigo which lies in 36 degr and 45 min. directly over against Capo Saint Angelo before the Gulf of Colochino on the other side it has

Every man is licens'd to fetch it that lists only allowing Two pence half-penny for 80 Pound for duty to the Emperour In this Heath or Wilderness called the Step is a strange kind of Fruit found named Baronez or Barnitsch from the Word Boran which is a Lamb in the Russian Tongue because of its form and similitude much resembling a sheep having Head Feet and Tail and what is more worthy of Note a skin of white shining Hair and soft as Silk This Skin is held in great esteem by the Tartars and Russes and sold for a good price as I have paid my self sometimes 5 or 6 Roebels and doubled my money when I sold it again One of those Skins is to be seen at the House of Mr. John Swammerdam in Amsterdam a Gentleman famous for collection of the Rarities of Nature from every place of the World but that of his he had from a Seaman that had been formerly a Slave in China where coming into a Wood found of this Fruit and brought away as many Skins as made him a Coat The Description he gave of them did very much agree with what the Inhabitants of Astrachan informed me of them It grows upon a low Stalk about 2 foot and a half high some higher and is supported just at the Navel the Head always hangs down as if it pastured or fed of the Grass and when the Grass decays it perishes but this I ever look'd upon as ridiculous altho the Inhabitants asseverated to me by many Oaths that they have often out of curiosity made experience of that by cutting away the Grass upon which it instantly fades away However what I might further add as to what they say of this Fruit and what I my self beleeve in the wonderfull Operations of a secret Sympathy in nature I shall rather keep to my self than aver or impose upon the Reader what I am sensible will be universally exploded for a Fable Certain it is there is nothing which is more coveted by Wolves than this and the Inward parts of it are more congruous with the Anatomy of that Animal than Mandrakes are with Men. The Nagayan and Crim-Tartars are thick and corpulent broad-fac'd and litle-eied The Eies of the Men are wrinkled like old Wives Their Beard grows very slovenly here and there a hair and shave their Heads bare on the Crown yet these are not altogether so ougly as the Calmucs Their Habit is altogether as gentile as their Persons are comely their upper vestment either of a very course stuff with every thred as fine as a Tobacco-pipe or else of Sheepskins with the Wool-side outward their Caps and Hose of the same colour where they wear any for they use as litle Rigging as they can The Women like the Calmuccers wear a course linnen Coat and round Caps bulging out like a Helmet Their Firstborn Children are generally dedicated to some Saint or other in token whereof if it be a male he wears a Ring in his right Ear but if a Girl in her right Nostril In the Summer season they have no fast place but pasture over all the face of the Countrey as we have said of the Calmucs When they march they carry their Tents upon high Wagons made on purpose and so take their Wives and Children with them and drive their Cattel before them their Moveables they set upon Camels Horses and sometimes upon Kine Thus they go up and down all the Summer and when the Winter approaches pitch together about Astrachan appearing like a great Army where they can assist each other in time of need against the Calmucks their perpetual Enemies who when the VVolga freezes sometimes assail them and to the end that they may the better oppose their said Enemies in such case the VVaywode or Governour of Astrachan provides them Arms which at the breaking up of the Camp they are to redeliver and for security send some of their chief Princes as a Pledge to Astrachan where they are committed to the Cittadel and upon their restoring of their Amunition are surrendred into their hands again The Nagayans follow the Fishing-trade as also Fowling Hunting and Pasturing of Cattel and are reputed the best Herds-men in the world Their Kine are generally great their Sheep very fair and fat having great Tails like the Rams in Palaestine some weighing 20 or 30 pound a piece their noses bending upwards and their Ears hanging like a Spanial Their Horses are but ugly shaped but very durable in running They have also some Camels but not many Their chief Diet is dried Fish which they use in stead of Bread They have also a way of making bread of Rice which they knead in Oil and Honey and so bake it in Cakes All kinds of Flesh they eat except Swine holding Horse-flesh for the best Their Drink is Water and Milk esteeming Mares-milk above all other They profess the Mahometan Religion and are of the Persian sect The Czaar allows them Laws and Judges of their own They are also Tribute-free but in stead of Tribute are to bring several Thousand men to field upon occasion CHAP. XIII Divisions and Limits of the Cosacks The Offspring of Stenko The Reason of his Revolting The first beginning of his Insolency His treacherous Cruelty The Governour of Astrachan makes preparation against him He betakes himself to flight and reconciles himself with the Czar The Incredible Riches and costly Attire of the Cosacks The Person of Stenko Radzin described The meeting and discourse of the Author with Stenko Radzin He keeps a Persian Princess for his Concubine which he throws with his own hand into the Wolga His Punishment for Adultery ON the 3 of September came several Dutch Officers aboard who bad us welcom and invited us respectivly to their Houses where we went and were kindly receiv'd and entertained Just upon our Arrival here the Russian Fleet was set out against the Cosaks But before I treat any thing about that Expedition I shall give you a praevious Narrative of an Uproar raised and headed by Stenko Radzin and then the rest in order There are two Nations of the Cosacks the Saporoksky and the Donsky The former of these were sometime subjects to the Polish Crown and keep themselvs about the Boristhenes and Kiof upon 50 Islands which are environed with that famous River They call those Islands in their own proper Tongue Porog which is as much as to fay Stairs and therefore are called Sa-porogsky Their work is to watch the Irruption of the Tartars or other Enemies upon the Polish Territories They are called Cosacks from the Slavonian word Cosa which is as much as to say a Spirit by reason of their admirable celerity of Motion being always ready at hand upon occasion The Donski or Don-Cosaks are those who live upon the famous River Tanats by the Natives called Don and are properly under the Jurisdiction of the Czar although more out of their free and voluntary disposition for they have

They fall down the Wolga and miss their Course Then touch at Oetzjoege The strange manner of fishing of the Bieloege The great plenty of Cavear They meet with great difficulty to gain the Caspian Sea which at last they get A description of the Island Satyry Boggere Tall Reeds grow all along the Coast A dreadfull Tempest The Golden Bay Their meeting with a Tartarian Bark A description of Terki The Beginning of the Circas-Tartars Their Persons and Complexions described Their Habit and Way of Living Of their Women their Habit Humours and Inclinations Their Idolatry Steur vangst inde Rivier de WOSGA A. Waght ●raysen aen weder sydts des Wolga B. Het Pael-were● C. De Caspische Zee When we were come to this Place The Tartars would not convoyes any further saying If you were but sensible of the difficult passage 〈◊〉 get the Sea you would keep you where you are but added they if you 〈◊〉 resolve to go when you are at Oetsjoege you may set your course directly forwa● till you come at the Sea This we were forced to take in good part an● pay them for their pains The money we conditioned for satisfie● them very well but at parting they told us that they were affraid 〈◊〉 would not easily get through whereas they knew no better but there was a stri● watch held on each side the Wolga This last startled us not a little however we resolved unanimously hap hazard to venture through let what would follow adjudging it equally safe to run that peri● or to suffer the Calamities we were liable to and had in some regar● deserved and in that resolution continued sailing till we found th● Stakes or Pale-work so close in the Mouth of the River that the● was only a narrow Passage to go through About the end of the sai● passage we saw a Redoubt which at a distance seemed to be ver● strongly fortified which mainly increased our fears but greatly t● our good luck we found no Watch but only a few Fishers who ha● no Authority or warrant to examin us insomuch that we steere● boldly through but considering our Bread was almost brought to a● end for we were brought to an Allowance of an ounce per diem w● therefore turned back and prayed the Fishermen to supply us for our Moneys but they told us they had hardly enough to suffice themselves which very much disheartned us however they supplied us with Fish as much as we had need of to serve us over the Caspian Meer On the 14 we set out and left the Wolga which there leaves it sel● divided into several streams or Heads like the Nile as before making so many several Islands which are low and full of Reeds except only the Island Satyri Boggore which is surrounded on every side with high Cliffs Upon this Island we saw some Watch-houses which Stenko Radzin even now remembred had caused to be built to view the approachment of his Enemies However it was not intent his intent or design in building of these Watch-houses only to be forewarned of any danger but to prey upon the Persian Merchant men who were bound for Astrachan From hence to the Circas-Mountains we often sounded and found it never more or seldom less than 12 foot Water All along the Coast we saw abundance of Wild-geese Pelicans and other Fowl which now and then we bestowed a litle powder upon The strand was all grown over with Reeds which grow to an incredible heighth and the Water there we found deeper than off at Sea in somuch that it were very commodious in a storm for any small vessel to shelter themselves dropping anchor a litle without for the Reeds break of the Winds and the impetuous beatings of the Water In the afternoon towards the Evening it began to thunder and rain very hard the Wind was very high at South and by East and our Course lay South and by West The Water all the time beat over the Gunhil and two men forced to heave out with their Backlers though hardly to any purpose for notwithstanding all the pains they took the Shallop was still full the Tempest continuing so till 5 in the next morning at what time it began to grow very calm and moderate yet not so but that we were driven with a fine fresh Gale The Water here is fresh and potable and affoards all manner of Fish that usually breed in fresh Rivers Pike Carps Breams c. Besides Sturgeons Seals and other creatures that will endure both On the 15 we lost the sight of Land and came about midday into the Bay Kieselarke which is otherwise called the Golden Bay the sand whereof shines as fire and is therefore by some called Kiselarsche Kolthoeh which is no other than Golden Bay My curiosity was often to tast the Water sometimes I found it last of Sulfur sometimes of Saltpeter and sometimes of an od bitter tast whence I collected that this came from the property of the Ground and bottom The River Kiselar is a Branch or an Arm of the Bustro rising about 8 Dutch Leagues above Terki and runs paralel with the VVolga about 65 leagues so disbanding its floods into the Caspian Sea But now we were in a more desperate Condition than ever partly for that our Shallop was so loaden that we were not a foot above Water and on the other hand wanted bread for we had not above 6 or 7 pound among all the Company The Wind began to grow high and boystrous and towards the Evening we had a very rough Sea every billow rising Mountains high insomuch that with continual pumping and laving we had much ado to keep the Shallop above Water working some times 4 or 5 together and by taking turns relieved those that were weary every hour with fresh men The next morning we could see no land but let all be left to the mercy of GOD. On the 16 we had a stiff gale and sailed before the Wind which furthered us so that by noon we descried Land and soon after got sight of a Dagestan-Tartar's Barque which we made up to but when we came near it it was run upon a Bank and deserted of the Men which upon our approaching them jump'd over board We perceiving that it was only for us that they left their Vessel called out to them and willed them freely to return and that we meant no harm upon which they came back and we pray'd them to furnish us with some bread for our Money but they told us that they had not enough for their own Voyage however they gave us 6 litle Loaves for which they would have no money as also dried Pears and Plumbs which we thank fully received This said Bark was laden with Bales of Silk and bound for Astrachan which when we understood we gave them a Caution and told them that we verily beleeved that by that time Astrachan was in hand of the Cosacks and consequently we could not judge it safe for

specious promises than before as That if I would become a Musulman or True Beleever he would advance me to the Dignity of a Commander in the Guards This perplexed me very much when I saw him so earnest thinking that if he could not get his will by fair means he would proceed to rigour and being absolute Lord and Soveraign as well of the Countrey as of my Person would force me to embrace the Mahometan Religion however I had already stood out so much Torture that being a litle hardned to it I feared it so much the less but gave him a short Answer to this Effect Sir All the fair promises you have already and that you may hereafter make shall not have that efficacy with me as to make me renounce my Faith for I had rather dispatch my self than to imbrace Mahometanism He hearing me say so did not for that time press me much more On the 9 th dito I continued still in Chains at what time the young Damosels that had been with me before were sent again who as they did the last time endeavoured to perswade me to turn Mahometan neither did they desist to use all manner of Allurements they could devise to entice me to ly with them for so they thought that if I had done that I must either become Turk or dy a miserable Death They further did what they could to put me in mind of my present misery and told me that I must never expect to enjoy any better than what I saw before my eies and in the conclusion of all told me that they wondred at the Folly and Vanity of the Christians who were so strictly tied to Monogamy or only to marry one Wife when as the Mahometans might have as many as they listed or thought themselves capable to maintain My Master altho he was a Prince yet thought it no dishonour to trade in Commerce but the chief thing he had which brought him up the most Revenues were the Baths which he kept having som almost in every City as well in his own Jurisdiction as in Persia and other Countreys whereof those were the most considerable at Derbent at Scamachy and at Ispahan which brought him in a vast sum of Money yearly The reason why the Baths are there in such esteem and so much frequented by persons of all Ranks and Degrees is not only their affected Cleanliness in which they surpass all others but as well thro Superstition for that after the use of their Wives they are to bath being till then reputed unclean and may not enter the Mosques and this both sexes are injoyned to upon such Cases by the Alcoran A man among them may not ly with his wife from Conception to her Delivery which is probably instituted as a Praecept in the Alchoran to make those Countreys more populous for so one Man is capable of generating many Children in one year The Baths are frequented from Break of day to the Setting of the Sun From morning till noon the Men bath and from noon till night the Women so taking it by Turns On the 10 th came my Patron to visit me and asked me how I did and if I had taken good Courage I answered him that I had no great occasion to thank him for my Welfare since he did all he could to make me miserable and contrary to that Honesty and Truth which the Turks boasted of he had shown me an odd example Withall telling him that he had little reason to chain me so fast and make my Slavery the greater when as he had promised me my Freedom upon the receipt of the Money which was paid him Upon this he seemed to be a little moved to compassion and commanded that the greater Chain should be taken off Now when I observed that my reasoning had a litle prevalency with him I pursued on in my Argument with these or the like Words Sir Is it not sufficient that I am your Slave why then must I be kept in Chains when as others have their liberty If it be so that you fear I should go from you Know this That you can not keep me longer than I list for I can at once part with my Life and take leav of this miserable Bondage which if you persist to use me so inhumanly I am resolved to do This I could perceiv wrought in him no small change for he was naturally very covetous and would have lost the price of a Slave Besides that it is a Maxim of their Law that if any person do any way murther himself the House is to be accursed and pulled down to the Ground My Patron considering what the Issue of this might be altho I had not the lest thoughts to lay violent hands upon my self he therefore to prevent the worst sold me to one Hadsy Mahomet Sala a Persian for 25 Abbas that was about 30 Shillings sterl which is but a small sum in comparison to the ordinary Market price of Argiers and other places in Barbary My new Patron spoke the Russian Tongue very well by which means we came to understand one another the better for he used me more kindly than the other and would often bid me have courage saying he would go with me to Ispahan where there were many English Dutch and other Europeans and probably those that would buy me off his hands and so set me at Liberty again which gave me no small encouragement to do my utmost to please him On the 12 dito I went with my new Master to Derbent and sailed with him several times over the Caspian Sea his principal dealing being in Crap which with several other Roots used in Dying grow there in great abundance He had also a small Bark of his own wherein he transported his own Commodities This said Vessel alwayes lay in a Bay about half a League from the City and thither his Slaves alwaies brought the Wares for about Derbent it is very rocky and unsafe for Vessels to lie at Anchor in case of Storm or tempestuous Weather But in the said Bay is very good anchorage at 6 7 and 8 Fathom Water and a clay ground with Shells The Coast from Baynak to Masanderan is altogether sandy and here and there low land where appear the Tops of the Dagestan Hills between those two Coasts it is all a long very good anchorage there being many fair Roads able to receive Ships of a greater burthen than are usually built for this Sea there are also many fair Towns built for the most part at the mouths of Rivers and have many Vessels and Shipping belonging to them as well for Traffic and Transportation of Merchandizes as for the Fishing trade for this Sea is very plentiful of Fish and brings up the King of Persia an incredible sum of Money yearly receiving from some as Toll and from others as Contribution In the Bay of Gilan are 2 great Whirl-pools for which the Persians are very fearfull in sailing from their

Merchants where they ordinarily find all things at an available price The Slaves being brought to Market the Buyer goes about and seeing one he likes the first thing he does is to look him in the mouth as we do Horses causes him to be stript and feels him all over but especially his Wrists and Muscles thence collecting what strength he is of and what service he is able to do him If the Buyer intend to imploy him about Messages he causes him to run out 10 or 12 Paces others make them to stand in all Postures and so value them according to their Age soundness of Body and strength If the Buyer chance to find any reasonable fault failing or blemish in his Slave within the space of 3 daies he may return him to the seller and receive the value again and this advantage has the Buyer also in most other things or if I am not mistaken in all save damageable Commodities On the 12 the Calenter who is next to the Chan in Power and Office came to our Ambassador with an Order from the Scach to bid him make preparation for his Journey and in all hast to depart But the Ambassador returned him his wonted reply That he was at present destitute of Money and not able to undertake the Journey unless the Chan would pay him what he was owing him upon the receipt of which he would immediatly go without more or further delay CHAP. XXVI A dreadfull Tempest Great Balls of Fire fall upon the Earth A most fearful Deluge whereby Houses Men and abundance of Cattel are carried away The Chan receivs another Robe of Favour The Offerings of the Banjans for the Fowl and Fish The Religious Exercise of the Persian Women The Author's Discourse with the Chan. The Author meets with one of the Tartars who had made him Slave He gets out of the service of the Polish Ambassador The great Bounty and Kindness of his Patron Hadzi Biram and of Altine his Patroness One of his Company made free ON the 13 was a violent storm with Thunder and Lightning which very much endamaged the Ambassadours House and took away the Roof of many other Houses round about The Air was as if it had been all Fire and a Sulphury flame and somtime were seen great balls like burning Brimstone falling down About 8 in the Evening I saw a great massy lump of Fire which made the Earth shake again when it fell and so burst all to pieces Formidable I thought were the great Ordnance in the Dardanelli when they were discharged being reputed the greatest in the World But there was as much difference between this and them as there is between a Mountain and a Mole-Hill About 2 hours after fell down 6 more which were as big as Hogs-heads these consumed and wasted a great part of the ground where they light This Tempest continued about 48 hours after which followed a very calm season On the 15 we had news from Ardebil how that Monsr Termund with P. Arentsz his servant were arrived there safe and well althô not without som difficulty by the way meeting with some Robbers but the Konjack telling them that he was sent to the Schach on an Express they let him go without further trouble The next day fell abundance of Rain that all the whole Face of the Countrey round about Scamachy lay under Water and the streams coming from the Mountains brought down huge Pieces of Rocks and Stones which came down into the Town and carried away several Houses with them as also many People who were on every side environed with the Floods that they could not help themselves This Tempest concluded with fearful Thunder-claps and Lightning as if the last day were com On the 17 the Chan had a Robe of Favour sent him from the King The Envoyé who brought it being arrived at the Kings House without the City sent notice and acquainted the Chan with his coming who according to the Custom set his House in order and took leav of his Friends fearing that this was upon a sharper Errand than the last the more I suppose because my Patrons Brother had been at Ispahan to acquaint the King that his Brother the Polish Ambassador had such a sum of Money due to him from the Chan and could not for the want thereof undertake his Journey for Warsaw The Chan makes preparation to go and know the Kings Pleasure being mounted on a stately Arabian Horse and followed with a great Retinu of Nobility and Courtiers all well mounted as before So soon as he was com there the Envoyé fulfills his Commission and delivers the Robe after the same manner with the same Ceremonies as were before mentioned and having taken his leave of the Courier returned into the City with variety of Wind-Music Kettle-drums and Trumpets On the 18 of August we had a great Earth-quake which raged a long time together in which many Dwelling Houses Stables and Barns without the Walls on the East-side of the Town were thrown down and abundance of Men crush'd to pieces When the Earthquake was past it began to rain very hard and blew extremely The same day I had occasion to go without the Walls where walking a litle towards the Fields I saw about 100 Benians performing Sacrifices to the Fowls and Fish They lay upon their knees and strowed Rice and Beans upon the Land and in the River These Indians will never kill any living Creature not so much as Lice which althô they take yet set them down in som place or other to pasture and let them shift for themselvs When they see any Person go out a Birding with a Fowling-piece Ginns or other Implements they will give him Money to go home again or if they perceiv any one about to shoot they will be sure to spoil his Game by chacing away the Fowl insomuch that if the Party be a Choleric man they are in danger of their Lives The like they doe with the Fish when they see any com to Angle and trouble the water When they are about to make water or ease themselvs they alwaies look about them if there be no Vermin or any thing that hath life upon the Ground which if there be they remove it away very carefully lest they should do it harm During the time of these Festival Days which happens 8 times a year they will burn no Candle Tapour or Torch lest Muskettos and other Insects that fly about the Flame should singe their Wings They have also offered the Chan a considerable sum of Money that no Beast should be slain during the time of these Feasts but the Chan would not listen to any such thing These people are also very superstitious in many other things and withall strict and zealous They will not use either Dish or any other Vessel belonging to such as are not of their own Sect yet will suffer others to make use of theirs They abstain

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