Chap.XL of Monfieur Ta vernie r, i 



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

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

 Sow'd 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 Coyafou, 

 or The thickjwater , in regard it is continually muddy , the ftream btingfo flow, that 

 they can hardly difcern which way it runs. It falls gently into the Ctfpiaa Sea to 

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

 ber and November , all along the Shore of the fame Sea, you mayfeevaft fhoals of 

 fifh 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 pae'd when they come upon Land, 

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

 which is the greateft Trade they have. 



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

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

 Villages you fhall 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 realbn, 

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

 upon the fpoit 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 , ^Georgians , Mengrelians, Cirkaflians, Tartars, and Mufi 

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

 Countries. 



There are another fort of people which are call'd Kalmonchs r that inhabit upon 

 the Coaft of the Cajpian Sea between the Muscovites and the Tartars. The men 

 are ftrong , but the moft deformed under Heaven. Their faces are fo flat and broad, 

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

 finall, and that little Nofe they have is fo flat, that there is nothing to be feen 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 couragioutly as the mert 

 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 A fia. 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 

 friendlhip, 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 Cirkaffians , at which fport they are much more dexterous than the 

 lefler Tartars. Sometimes they advance intô Per fia , as far as the Province of the 

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

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

 the Mahumetans. 



As for the Comouchs or people of Comania , they are Mahumetans , and very pre- 

 cife ones too. They are under the protection of the King of Per fia , who makes 

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

 fide againft the Kalmouchs. They are habited both men and women like the Leffer 

 Tartars , fetching all the Silk and Calicut which they ufe out of lerfia^ foras for 

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

 very courfe. 



Circaffta is a pleafant good Country , and full of variety. There are Plains , For- 

 refts , Hills , and Mountains abounding in Springs , fome of which are lb 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 , efpecially fair Tulips. There is a 

 fort of Strawberry alfo with a fhort ftalk, of which five or fix grow in a bunch 5 

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

 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 are cover'd with 



Cherry- 



