io8 A Definition of the Countrey y which border 



lus Meotis ) and then it amounts unto at -the leaft 1500 miles. Were it not for the 

 forementioned great Rivers of the Vanarp ( Vanubiw ) and the Nepper ( Borijlbenes) 

 there would be almoft - continual Wars between the Turks and Tartars , and the 

 Foies, Lithuanians and Mufcovites ; for the Vanarp is one of the greatcft Rivers in the 

 World aïifitrg in Vutcbland, whence it partes through Hungary, Wallachy, and at the 

 Town of Kelley falls into the Black, Sea. It hath four Mouths or Entrances into the 

 faidSea, which the turfe call Bokaffes, BoUegen Bohaffe, Edreleijfe Bohajfe , S aliéna Bo- 

 bajfe', and Kelley Bohajfe. It abounds with Fifh, as Sturgeon, Morone, and Sbeverck l e ) 

 befides divers forts of "dialler Fifh. The Neiftre is a River that comes from Lithuania, 

 and runs into the Blacky Sea under Bealoborda. The Nepper comes from Lithuania and 

 Rutland, runs by Smolensky and Kiovia to the Porrocl^ or Falls, thence to Ajlawgorode, 

 and falls into the Blacky Sea at Ofjhakorva. It abounds with many forts of good Fifh, 

 and all along its Banks feed innumerable wild Beafts of divers kinds. The Town of 

 Aflamgorod itands upon the Nefper ; and in former times there dwelt in it two Bro- 

 thers, Ingul and Vngul, who fell firft at variance, which ended in cruel Wars, by rea- 

 fon whereof the adjacent Countrey became, though otherwife pleafant and fruitful, a 

 very Wildernefs. And befides, the Coffackf increafing on both fides the Nepper and 

 upon the Don, would never fince naffer that Countrey to be quietly poffefTed by thefë, 

 or any other Hords of Tartars ; fo that now it lieth wafte, being a vaft Dcfart 500 

 miles over, and 1 000 miles long, from the (hallow Waters near Precop, unto the 

 Countrey of Mufcovy. About 1625 the Grand Seignior fent an Army from Conjiantino- 

 pleîo rebuild Aflamgotod, with Orders to inhabit the Countrey, and invite fuch there- 

 unto as would become fubjedt unto the Turfyfh Government. But they who arrived, 

 finding the Town of great Compafs, built only a Caftle on the Bank of the Nepper, 

 and left 300 Men in Garrifbn. At the fame time Sbaugary Prince of Crim, being beat 

 out of his Countrey by his General Chan Timnr Myrja, retired unto the Geffatfy upon 

 the Nepper, and having contracted a Friendfhip with them and the bordering Ruffes, 

 by their afiiftance he gathered an Army of 40000 Men, and marched towards Crim y 

 leaving behind him a revolted Ottoman, with a Brigade of 3 or 4000 Men, who im- 

 mediately after the. departure of Sultan Sbaugary, marched directly towards Aflamgù- 

 rod, and early in a Morning furpr'ned the Caftle, then in the polfeiTion of the Ttttks, 

 put every Man in Garrifon to the Sword, flighted the Walls and other. Fortifications, 

 retired with the Spoyl, and marched to joyn Sultan Sbaugary, who in the interim 

 arrived near Precop, where he was met by Chan Timur^ and totally defeated, but by 

 good fortune efcaped, and by the way of Ajlracan got to Perfta. 



From the Nepper we will pafs unto Crim, with which Countrey I am well acquaint- 

 ed, having againft my will refided there fome years. Crim is a fmall Land, fo near 

 as I can conjecture 200 miles long, and 50 miles broad, but is wonderfully populous, 

 and exceedingly fruitful, abounding with Corn and Grafs ; the only fcarcity they have 

 is Wood} which grows no where but upon the Sea-Coaft, from Bakeffey Seray unto 

 the Town of Crim, which in former times was the chief City : All the reft of the Land 

 is a Plain, where they have no Wood to burn, not any fort of Fewel, but Fifiheke,Fnji- 

 bane, Curay, and Stroa. The Land is inclofed with the Sea, excepting at two places, 

 Precop, and Arbotlxg, 'By Precop there is a narrow paffage, through which you may go 

 to the Nepper, Lithuania, ox Mufcovy, through the Defarts of Ingul and Vngul i and 

 there is a Water comes from the Teine Sea, called the (hallow Water, and goeth along 

 the Dcfart, until if comes to Precop, upon Weft-fide of Crimmd by North, where it 

 turns back on the North-fide of Crim, and falls into Guellae Mare, commonly called 

 the Ratten Sea. So that Crim is almoft furrounded with Water •> for the Blacky Sea is 

 on the one fide, and the Ratten Sea on the other, which latter produces nothing but 

 Salt, for it is fo fait, that no Fi(h can live therein ; I have reafori to know it, becaufe 

 I lived in a Village which was called Seekely Otta Mamutacby. The Towns round 

 about Crim on the Sea-fide are thefe, Precop, Cvflovea, Crim, Caffa, Kerft and Arbotka ; 

 and within the Land, Carafu, Ackçnejh, Mefbeite, and Bakefy Seray. The Town of 

 Arbotka lieth on the North-Eaft fide oïCrim, between' the Blackjand Ratten Seas, which 

 there come fo near together, that there is no more Land between them, than that 

 whereon the Town of Arbotka ftands, and without Arbotka is a great Field 50 miles 

 long inclofed with Water 3 where the Tartars in Winter do keep their Hergels or Hor- 



