ii4 .A Dejcripion of the Countreys which border 



divers other Fifti, doth fo wonderfully abound with Sturgeon, that a man may flan 1 

 upon the Bank tide with a Pole in hand arm'd at the end with an Iron Crook, make 

 choice of what Sturgeon bell pleafeth him, which he (hall rarely fail of taking though 

 never fo inexpe'rt in Fifhing, if he have but ttrength or help to draw it on Land. Not 

 far from the Mouth of the Jaick^ in the Cajpian Sea near the Shore, are many Coves 

 and Corners which they call Lapatcens and Cultukes, which are alwayes full of Swans 

 ufually fwimming on the. Sea, which are fo numerous, that it is impoilible to make 

 any rcafonable Computation thereof. Thcfe Swans after Midfummer every Year call 

 their Feathers, a little before which time there parts from Ajiracan many Boats which 

 are manned by Ruffes, and moll of them are their Youth -, after a palfage of 500 miles 

 they arrive at thefè places which the Swans moftly haunt, and having idled their Boats 

 with Swans Skins and Feathers, they return unto Mracan, where a great Trade is 

 driven with thcPerfians who give ordinarily a Dollar apiece for tbefe Skins. 



The next Country unto the Great Nagoy towards the Eaft is Cajfacby Horda, which 

 hath, as 1 faid, on the Welt the Jaick^, by which it is divided from the Great Nagoy. 

 On the North the Kalmu^es, North Ealt the Turgeacb, or Jurgench. Tartars, and to 

 the South the Cajpian Sea and Caragans, who inhabit on the North Ealt fide of the 

 Cajpian Sea. Thefe Cajfacby Tartars march up and down the Country much after the 

 manner of the Nagoys. They have frequent Wars with the Kalmukgs and Yurgea- 

 cmdris ; but feldome with either Nagoys or Caragans. Only after the manner of molt 

 other Tartars they will clandeftinely Heal even from thofe Neighbours with whom 

 they have the molt uninterrupted and profound Peace. 



Cajfacby Horda is altogether Defart, excepting fome Woods Northward, bordering 

 upon the Kalmuck^, where there are clivers (mall Rivers which empty themfelves into 

 the Jaickj> which River is alfo in mod places bordered with Woods unto its En- 

 trance into the Cajpian Sea. And therefore the Inhabitants may well be named Caffa- 

 chy Horda, or Wild people, as the name imports : They (owe no fort of Corn, their 

 chief Food being Horft-flefti and Mares milk i which is alfo common to divers other 

 Nations of the Tartars. 



On the North of Cajfacby Horda dwell the Kalmukg Tartars, if fuch a life as they 

 lead may be called dwelling. The Country they inhabit deferves a better People, the 

 Land abounding with all things neceffary for a Comfortable fubliitence. This Coun- 

 try hath (tore of Sables, Marterns, Black Foxes, Squerrjls, and feveral other forts of 

 Furs, which they Exchange with the Ruffes for Aqua-vita, Mead, Tobacco, and other 

 Commodities. This Country hath fome Towns, as Siberia, the Head of a Province 

 of the fame name, and Tumen, both which the Ruffes have gained from them : Oujfha } 

 Wadle, Selld) a, Lucomoria^ which latter place, they fay, is tituated upon a Cold Sea.. 

 But Ouffloa is a midland Town, 500 miles from Caff an which is near the Volga. The 

 Kahnukçs are accounted good Souldiers, being kept in continual Exercife by the Muf- 

 coi'ites on the one fide, the Nagoyans and Cajjacby-Hcrda on the other. Their un- . 

 married Women do not only accompany the Men unto the Wars, but are (aid to be 

 little inferiour unto the Men in Skill and Valour, (hooting almoft as llrongly and dex- 

 teroufly as the men, from whom they cannot be dillinguilhed by their Garb, being ap- 

 parelled and riding much after the fame manner : Both Men and Women in all their 

 Expeditions feldom carry along with them fewer than 5 or 6 Horfes apiece. I can- 

 not preciftly determine what their Religion is, but I do perceive by Converie with 

 them, that they have a more favourable opinion of the Chrillians than of the Mahume- 

 tans, or of fome of their fellow Etbnickjh for if I miltake not, they are Heathens, I not 

 being able to difcern among them any Religious Worfliip, excepting fome kind of 

 Adoration which they pay unto the Sun and Moon. They have a very peculiar kind 

 of Diet i for betides Horfe-rklh, which is a great Dainty, they fcruple not to eat 

 Snakes, Adders, Foxes, and indeed even Carrion of divers forts of Creatures, luch 

 Food as to Europeans would be intollerable, even in the greateft Famine. They wear 

 a kind of Caps or Hatts which are called by the Mufcovites, Coulpackgs, open before 

 and behind, with broad Brims on each fide. And thereupon they are called by the 

 other Tartars, Calmukçs. 



Eaftward 



