ufon the Euxine and Calpian Seas. 109 



*es, which Field goeth to the (hallow Waters, where I ran away from the Tartars. I 

 ihall here take my leave of Cn'w, and pafs unto the Little Nagoy, to Ajfijowa, on the 

 River Do;;, which runs down from Bealla OJJharra, through the Country of Rujfta, 

 between Ruffia and Lithuania^ until it comes to Peilesboy, not far from the Wolga > for 

 from Pcilesboy to the River Camujjhanfa is not above 20 miles all level, which is cal- 

 led Percxvolog, where the Cojfackj do draw their Strukes or Boats upon Wheels, to the 

 River of Camuflhapfy, by which they pafs into the Volga ■■> whereupon this Place is cal- 

 led Pcrcrvolog. The Don runs down between the Little Nagoy and the Defarts of Ingfl 

 and V/tgule, fo to Aflborva, right under the Town, and there falls into the Tein Sea\ . 

 This River is full of Fifh, efpecially Sturgeons i well inhabited by Coffacks, for there 

 are fclclom lefs than 10000 upon it, befides thofe that go on Freebooting. There are 

 alfo 1 6 Gorodkees, or* flrong Skon.ces, well manned, and with ftore of great Guns, 

 they being in continual fear of the Turks and Tartars^ and fometimes alfo of the Mus- 

 covites. The Little Nagoy lies between the Tein and Cajpian Seas, the former on the 

 Welt, the latter on the Ealt, Sbercajfen to South, and the Volga on the North y and 

 there is never a Town in all this CoUntrey excepting AJjborpa. It is inhabited 

 by Tartars , who go altogether in Hords i their Prince in my Time was Caf- 

 jay Myrfj, whom the Tartars call alfo Sultan Vlu^b, or the Great Prince. They fowe 

 no Com but Profl, which they fowe upon the Sea-fide up unto A£hon?a\ and after 

 fowing they depart with their Hords, and graze up and down the Defarts to the Von, 

 to Capbane, Slmrpoba, Tcdecul, Comma and Curray, to Mafjhargorodokg, and to Sbercajfen 

 Land, under the Rivers Terigkg, and Balks-, and almoft to Pettjgor, and by the River of 

 Gupba, and back again unto the Blacky Sea. Thus they ramble all the Summer, until 

 their Harvett be ripe, and their Profs gathered, and put into Yams under ground ■■> af- 

 ter which they fettle from Ajlhorva, all along the Sea-fide, amongft the Reeds, and 

 leave their Horfes to winter in the Defarts. So I (hail leave the Little Nagoy, and pafs 

 unto Temcrojfa,'m Sbercajfen Land, which is 500 miles from AJJbojva. 



Now in all Circaffia are but two Towns, Temerojfa on the Blacky Sea, upon the 

 Gulf that goeth from the B/^Sea into the Tein Sea, right over againft Arbothg. The 

 other is Tumein, upon the Caftian Sea, the diftance between them* being 1 1 00 miles i 

 and all the reft of the inhabited Places are only Cubbacks made in the Woods, piled 

 round with Timb*r. Their Houfes are very high, in the midlt whereof they make 

 the Fire. Their Men arc proper Men, very like the Irijh both for perfon and garb •, 

 for they go in Trowfes, with lhort Mantles, wear long Hair on both fides of their 

 Heads, with a (horn Crown beseem* Their Women arc very beautiful, and loving 

 to Strangers > for if a Stranger come uma^aeir Houfes, their young Women and 

 Maidens will look Lice in their Shirts, and all about them, the molt private parts not 

 excepted, and will allow them the liberty to examine and handle all parts of their 

 Bodies bclides their Brealts. The Circaftans are excellent Hcrffemen, and very ceuragi- 

 ous, but withal exceedingly ignorant and fuperftitious i for when they kill a Goat <or 

 Kid, they cut off the privy parts, and cafi it againft a Wall, if it (tick, they pray to it i 

 if other wife, they call it away, and fpread the Skin upon Stakes, place it in their, 

 Carp-fields, and worfhip it. They have no Writing among them, yet pretend to be 

 goodChrittians. Do ftrangely bewail the Dead a making great Cryes, fcratch their 

 Hands and Faces, until they, draw much Blood, Hnoek their Foreheads againft the 

 ground, until Knobs arife bigger than Plums* The Men are notorious Thieves, deal- 

 ing from each other, and he that fteals mod is accounted the braveft Fellow. Their 

 Countr'ey is very fruitful, abounding with molt forts of Grain =, and they have ftore of 

 excellent Grafs. They have alfo much Fruit growing wild y many forts of Beans, 

 as Harts, Hinds, Kine, EuTubrafs, Hogs and great Adders., 



The.confiderable Rivers which I know are Cnkba, which runs from Peftigor, be- 

 tween SbercaJJen Land and the Little Nagoy, betwixt T&rmeroffa and* AJJbmai 2 ° m ^s 

 from Temerojfa it falls into the.Je/n Sea, and hath a, Coutfs of 500 miles. The next 

 is the River of Balkg, which comes out from Cabardy, and falls into the River of Te- 

 rigkg, 200 miles from its Source y which J^ivier pf Terigfo j&efterids from the Mountains 

 between Shollohofe Knajfe and Mwdaraxpa. Jtyiajfe x runs, through- the Countrey almoft 

 dite-Eaft, panes by Goracbo Colloda y thence, to., $\e SfatfJi and the Sbunjj> fo on to 

 the Wejfira \ and 6 miles frQm Tumu% between fumein and the Commod^ Gottnfrey* 



