Chap.XL of Monfieur T aver nie r. 127 



as between Paris and Lion , where it Rains very much j and yet the Country people 

 have cut feveral Channels from the Rivers to water the Grounds after they have 

 SowM them , which they learnt from the Perfians. Thole Rivers fall from the Sou- 

 thern Mountains , being not at all tak'n notice of in the Map. There is one among 

 the reft a very large River , which can be forded at no time. They call it Coyafdn , 

 or The thickjvater , in regard it is continually muddy , the ftream being fo flow, that 

 they can hardly diicem which way it runs. It falls gently into the Cafpian Sea to 

 the South of the mouth of Volga. Not far from this River , in the months of Ofto- 

 her and November , all along the Shore of the fame Sea, you mayfcevaft flioals of 

 fi(h about two foot long. Before, they, have two legs, like a Dog's legs , behind in- 

 ftead of legs they have only claws. Flefh they have none , but only fat with a bone 

 in the middle. Now in regard they are but flow pac'd when they come upon Land, 

 the Country people eafily knock them on the head , and make Oyl of them 5 

 which is the greateft Trade they have. 



The people of Comania , commonly call'd Comoucbs , dwell for the moft part at 

 foot of the Mountains,becaufe of the Springs fo plentiful in thofe places, that in fome 

 Villages you (hall have above twenty or thirty. Three of thefe Spings meeting to- 

 gether, make a ftream ftrong enough to drive a Mill. But this is not the fole reafon, 

 for there is Water enough in the plain. But in regard they are a people that only live 

 upon the fpoil and plunder of their Enemies , and of one another , as they are in 

 continual fear of being let upon, they love to dwell near the refuge of the Moun- 

 tains , whither they fly with their Cattle upon any occafion of clanger. For all 

 the people round about , as Georgians ^ Mengrelians, Cirkajfians, Tartars, and Mxf- 

 covites y live altogether by rapine , and continual In-roads into one anothers 

 Countries. 



There are another fort of people which dre call'd Kalmoitcfjs, that inhabit upon 

 the Coaft of the Cajfian Sea between the Mitfcovites and the Tartars. The men 

 are ftrong , but the raoft deformed under Heaven. Their faces are lb flat and broad, 

 that there is the bredth of five fingers between each Eye. Their Eyes are very 

 fmall , and that little Nofe they have is fo flat , that there is nothing to be ieen but 

 two little holes inftead of Noftrils. Their Knees alfo and their Feet turn inward. 

 When they go to the Wars, they carry their Wives and their Daughters , if they 

 be twelve years of age , along with them , who fight as couragioufly as the men 

 themfelves. Their Arms are Bows , Arrows , and Skains , with a great wooden 

 Mace at the Pummel of their Saddles •, their Horfes being the beft in all Afia. Their 

 Captain is of fome ancient Family, but they more particularly choofe him for his 

 valour. The Duke of Mufcovia fends them prefents every year, to preferve their 

 friendfhip, which prefents confift in Cloth. And he grants them free paffage 

 through his Territories, when ever they have a mind to invade the Mengrelians , 

 Georgians , or Cirkajjians , at which fport they are much more dexterous than the 

 lefTer Tartan. Sometimes they advance into Perfta , as far as the Province of the 

 Vjbekes , which is a part of Great Tartary , ranging up as far as Caboul and Canda- 

 bar. Their Religion is particular to themfelves , but they are great Enemies tor 

 the Mabumetans. 



As for the Comoucbs or people of Comania , they are Mabumetans , and very pre- 

 cife ones too. They arc under the protection of the King of Perfia, who makes 

 great account of them, in regard they defend the PafTesinto his Country on that 

 fide againft the Kalmoucbs. 1 hey are habited both men and women like the LefTer 

 Tartars , fetching all the Silk and Calicut which they ufe out of Perfia y for as for 

 Cloth , they are contented with what they make in their own Country , which is 

 very courfe. 



Circajfia is a plcafant good Country , and full of variety. There are Plains , For- 

 rcfts , Hills, and Mountains abounding in Springs, fome of which are fo large, 

 that fome of them will ferve feven or eight of the neighbouring Villages. But on the 

 other fide , in all the Rivers that proceed from thefe Springs, there is not a fifh 

 to be feen. Flowers they have in abundance, cfpecially fair Tulips. There is a 

 fort of Strawberry alfo with a fhort ftalk, of which five or fix grow in a bunchy 

 the leaft are as big as a fmall Nut , of a pale yellow Colour. The Soil is fo fertile , . 

 that it brings forth without any great trouble a vaft plenty of all forts of Fruits. 

 Nor do the people need any other Gardens than their Fields which arc cover'd with 



Cherry- 



