A Defcription of the Countreys which border 



it falls into the Cajpian Sea, having a Courfe of 600 miles. There is another River 

 called Tumenkg, which is a branch of Terigke, runs through Tumeine Town, and 3 miles 

 beyond it enters the Cajpian Sea. There is alfo another River which they call Keejlar, 

 which falls out of Ier/g%,and 60 miles from Tumeine is received by the Cafiian Seai 



Having formerly mentioned Pettigor, I fhall give you fome Account thereof! Petti' 

 got being interpreted, is in Englifh 5 Hills. They are five very great and high Moun- 

 tains, diftànt about 500 miles from the Blacky Sea, and 700 from the Cajpian beyond 

 Cabardy. I came thus to know them : 



In the year 161%. I was Cent with Sbiedakg Myrfa, from AJiracan to the Little Na- 

 goy, to fèize upon Orrakg Myrfa, /who being informed of our coming, fled up to Petti- 

 gor yet he made not fuch halt but we overtook him, and having fought, overcame 

 him, and took away his Hords, by which means I became acquainted with Pettigor. 

 Neverthelefs there are higher Hills than Pettigor, as Sneefnagore in Cabardy, which is 

 incredibly high, which is in Engliih, the Hill of Snow -, for upon that and Shadgore, 

 which fignifies a wonderful high Hill, and overtops the former, and 10 along for 100 

 miles, from Cabardy to Shollobofe, prodigious quantities of Snow ar«e lodged, which 

 it's thought were never diffolved lince the Creation. I asked a CircaJJian, Whether 

 ever any Man arrived at the top of Shadgore, which to me feemed much elevated above 

 the reft ••> who anfwered me, They had a Tradition among them, that formerly a Bo- 

 hdtteere, whofe Name was Hroda, attempted to climb it, and after two or three days 

 hard labour,arrived not unto the middle but after a few days,being better accommo- 

 dated, he returned, with a refolution, if it were poffible, to fee the top, .but was ne- 

 ver afterwards heard of -, and added, That it was to that day cuftomary for the neigh- 

 bouring Circajfians, at a certain leafon of the year, with divers Ceremonies and great 

 Lamentations to bewail his lofs. 



The next Countrey to Sheer xajfen Land is Abaffa, which is fituated between Circajjia 

 and Mingrellia, and the Inhabitants are a kind of Circajjians. Mingrellia is under the 

 Dominion of the Turks, and lies on the B/^Sea. Of thele two Countreys I have no 

 great knowledge, having only coafted them three or four times in Boats, when I was 

 among the CofJ'acki, where alfo we landed divers times, taking ftore of Kine and Sheep, 

 but no Prifoners, becaufe they affirmed themfelves to be Chriftians. They are a pro- 

 per handfome People, but very poor, and notorious Thieves, for they fteal not only 

 Goods, but even Women and Children from each other, and fell them unto thelWy 

 and Tartars chiefly for Salt, which is there very fcarce. 



Next unto Mingrellia is Georgia, whefe Inhabitants are little better than the former, 

 only they have a kind of Scripture i for they worQvip Idols or Images, yet have Cloi- 

 fters, and a fort of Monks, with fome Priefts of the Greek Belief. I once landed in 

 Georgia with an Army of 5000 Men, we marched up into the Countrey, until We came 

 within a days journey of Veimur Capon, or the Iron Gate, which is a narrow paflage 

 between Georgia and Anatolia, with Rocks on each fide, and a ftrong Town built in 

 the midlt : We ftayed ten days ravaging the Countrey i they told us, this Town and 

 Caftle belonged to the King of Perfia, and there is no other palTage out of Georgia into 

 Pcrfia but through it. 



The next Countrey unto Georgia is Anatolia, where our Traveller refided fever al years, 

 having been fold by the Precopenfian Tartars, unto a Turkifli Spahi or Timariot ; of which 

 Countrey, and the Maimers of tbe Inhabitants, he gives a large Defcription : But we being 

 fufficiently informed thereof by divers intelligent Europeans, who dwelt long in thofe Parts, 

 fhall with our Traveller paji on to thofe Countreys which are leji tyown. But frji we will 

 taks Iw Account of the Periplus of the Euxine or Black Sea* 



From Fennara, which is at the head of the Strait or Gnlf that enters the B/^Sea 

 to frecop, is 700 miles i from thence to Caff a, a noted City and Port in Crim 300 

 miles -, to Afjhowa 500 miles -, to Temerojfa 500 miles j to Mingrellia 400 miles » to 

 Trebezond 400 miles -, and from thence unto Conjiantimp it 1000 miles i in all 3800 



miles* 



