1 1 8 A Description of the Countries which border 



thence unto Afiracan as much > in all, 3 100 miles. But if any perfon (hould endeavour 

 by Land to Travel round this Sea, or in a Voyage by Sea follow the Coalt, he would 

 make at leaft a Thoufand miles more : for this Sea is full of great Gulphs, Bays, and 

 broken ground j fo that the Calculation I make, is upon a direct paflage by Sea, fup- 

 pofe from Aftracan to GilanfrcHh thence to the Oxusfxom the Oxus to the great North- 

 Eaft Bay, into which the River Jem falls, which is full of Iflands and broken Grounds, 

 Shelves, Sand and Shallow Water > and from thence back to Aftracan. 



Having prefcnted your Lordftup with a fhort but true Account of thofe Countries 

 encompafling and lying between the two forementioned Mediterranean Seas, I lhall no 

 lefs briefly and faithfully . declare by what Accidents I came unto this Knowledge : 

 which coit me fo dear, that I fuppofe the moft inquilitive perfon would not purchafe 

 the gratification of his Curioiity at a far lefs Expence of time and trouble, than 1 have 

 imployed (though often againft my will) in my Travels and Enquiries. 



I was born in Ireland, yet oCEnglifh Extract: My Family Noble, but my Eftate not 

 correfponding with my Quality, being ambitious, and withal naturally inclined to fee. 

 Forraign Countries, I hoped to Raife my Fortune by my Sword. After I left Ireland^ 

 before I had been long in England, an opportunity preferring it felf, I engaged in dNT 

 Service of the King of Sweden, wno had then Wars with the Mufcovite-, having given 

 fome Coniiderable proofs of my Courage, 1 was gradually raifed unto a Conliderablc 

 Command •■> but being engaged too far in a Body of the Enemies, I was unhappily taken 

 Prifoncr by the Ruffes, and carried Prifoncr unto Thfcow^ then in their poflelfion, ha- 

 ving at the fame time Arrears due unto me from the Swede above 5000 Dollars. The 

 Swedes taking no care for my Enlargement, being willing, I fuppofe, to fave fo great 

 a Summe of Money, as at my Return I (hould have challenged : after Three years dole 

 Imprifonment, I was proffered Liberty by the Mufcovite, upon condition I would faith- 

 fully ferve him againft all his Enemies v whercunto afTenting, I was fent unto Mofcov> y 

 and there before the Chancellor fworn a Tolmack^ and preferred unto a Command lit- 

 tle inferiour unto what I enjoyed before. And the Poles advancing towards Mofcow 

 with a great Army, fearing left I (hould go over unto them, I was Tent unto Ajhacan 9 

 where 1 remained 10 years, being continually Employed againft the Tartars and Circafi 

 fians. By which means I came to know Fettigor, Sneefnagor, Sbadgore, CabarA&e, and 

 the Great and Little Nagoy, the Comuk$s, the 7 art or s of Caff an, the Kalmukgs, Qaffacby 

 Horda, Caragans, Vngenjh and Vsbeg, Tartars. During which Wars, I conrlidci with 

 great difficulties and hardlhip s In making long Journies, faring hardly : Nor was it 

 a fmall labour to make floates in order unto our palling over the great Rivers I have 

 mentioned, to fay nothing of the Danger. Belides, we run great hazards in our Jour- 

 neying over thofe wafte wide howling Defarts,which on every fide furrounded usi fre- 

 quently wanting provifions , and fometimes Guides j fo that had we failed never (b 

 little in our Conjectures, we had all perifhed. After Ten years hard Service, in my 

 Return frrom Convoying Sholloboje Knez into Sbercajjen Land, I was taken PriToner 

 by the Tartars of the Little Nagoy, and by them carried unto Ajfoiva upon the Mouth 

 of the Tana or Von, There I was fould unto a Precopenfian Tartar, who carried me 

 along with him towards Crim: But upon the (hallow Waters I very happily made my 

 Efcape. I had little Knowledge of the Country, but having formerly underftood by 

 eur Coflackj at Aftracan, that great Bodies of the fame name, mortal Enemies unto the 

 Tartars, dwelt upon the Nepper not far beyond Crims by the help of the Sun and Stars, 

 I journeyed due Weft many days without any difaftrous Adventure,uutil I found them *, 

 who gave me a very kind reception : In this efcape I traveried almoft the whole Defart 

 of Ingile and Vnguk, Vorofenskg who then Commanded all the Cojfackj upon the Nep- 

 per, immediately made me a Posktfhekg, from which time for the fpace of almoft two 

 years, I did accompany them in divers Expeditions, in which we vifitcd -moft of thofe 

 Countries which lye upon the Black Sea, to the no fmall vexation and lofs of the In- 

 habitants. We kept a Correfpondence with the CoJJacks upon the Von, and frequently 

 aflifted each other. And being all Foot,and the Country exadly level, we travelled 

 furrounded with Wagons (which they call a Tabor) for fear of the Tartars who 

 often fet upon us, but were as often repulfed, we being well accommodated with 

 Fire-Arms and fmall Field-pieces, which theTartars do exceedingly fear, and will not 

 ordinarily attempt clofcly,un!efs they have greatly the Odds in Number. xBut at length 



it 



