îiô A Defcriftïon of the Countrey s which border 



alfo told, That the Chinefes do fometimes trade with them. I am perfwaded, that 

 this is the famed Kingdom of Cataye i for the Caiayans are a fort of Tartars, and I 

 know no other Tartars between this Countrey and China. Caragan lieth from them 

 to the North-Weft -, Vrgenjhe due North \ China to the Eaft -, the Tartars of Ball^ to 

 the South -, and the Pcrfians South and by Weft ■■, and the Cafyian Sea duel y Weft. 

 They are almoft continually in Wars with the Persians. 



The next Countrey I am to defcribe is Perfia, in which Land I was never,excepting 

 once, in that part thereof which borders upon the Comukgs ■■> but I have converfed 

 with feveral Perfun Merchants at Afiracan, who came by Shipping from Gilan, which 

 when the Wind is very fair and good, they fail in 2 or 3 days and nights. They 

 wear Turbants like the Turlq, and fo do the Bouchars. Therefore not having feen 

 much of Perfia, nor having fufficiently informed my felf concerning it, I (hall pals 

 through it unto the Cornues Land, of which Ï have obtained more perfeét knowledge 

 both by War and Traffick. This Countrey is bounded on the South by Perfa ; on 

 the Eaft by the Cajfian Sea i Weftward by Circajjia ; and on the North by the River 

 oîTiimeine -, on which ftands a Town of the fame Name, from which unto Chabamate^ 

 the moft Northerly Habitation of Perfa, is <5co miles. A great part of this Countrey, 

 efpecially Weftward, is very mountainous - , I could never learn where it doth exactly 

 terminate. 1 have been in four of their Towns : The firfl is Tarife, where Gildar^ 

 whom they own for their Prince, doth ordinarily refide. The fécond is Verbeine^ iri 

 the Mountains. The third Verevena-, in the fame mountainous Traclr. The fourth 

 Knjfa, upon a River of the fame Name, not far from the place where it empties it 

 ' felf into the Caftian Sea. Thefe Comubgs are proper Men and very couragious \ and 

 that which makes them more daring and adventurous than moft Tartars^, is the good- 

 nefs of their Horfes, and the advantage of their Arms, both oftenrive and defensive j 

 for they feldom engage in Wars without Helmets, Jacks of Steel, Shirts of Mail, and 

 Targets, which excepting thofe times wherein they tight, hang behind their backs, 

 being very light, and not very large, and therefore not cumberfome. They have, 

 as other Tartars, both Eows and Cymetars , and withal never go without Lances^ 

 which they ufe with great ftrength and dexterity. In their Apparel they differ little 

 from the Circajfians \ but as for Religion, they are generally Mahumetans> and their 

 Language is in fubftance the fame with other Tartars, their vicinity unto the Perfa-ns, 

 Mnfcovites and Sbeercaff'es, having fomewhat difguifed it. The Countrey they inhabit 

 abounds with Wood -, part of it is hilly, with fmall pleafant Valleys between the Hil- 

 locks i and in fome places, efpecially towards Perfia, and thence into the Land, it hath 

 many great and almoft inacceifible Mountains, by reafon of their heighth and fteep- 

 nefs. This Land was reduced under the Government of the Ruffes many years ago, 

 after the enfuing manner : Evan Vaff&ywicb being Czar or Emperour of Rujfia, after 

 he had taken CaJJan and dftracan, fent part of his Army into Circafta^ where they 

 took in Tumeine. Another Body entred the Conntkes Countrey, and poflelfed them- 

 felves dtVerevena-, Verbeine, Tarkce and Kojfa. The Ruffe Emperour conftituted a Voy- 

 rod y whom he ordred to refide in Tarkge, and left with him 10000 Men -, he ordered 

 alfaât the fame time another confiderable Brigade to ftay at Coif a> where he left a 

 great number of Boats and other Veflels, who had brought fupplies of Men and Pro- 

 visions from Mofio, and other Parts of his Dominions. And having, as he appre- 

 hended, fecured his new Conquefts, he returned unto Mofio : Immediately after his 

 retreat, the Comtes gathered their whole Force, and let down before the Town of 

 Tardée, which after a vigorous' refinance they took, and in it with, the Voyvod, feveral 

 Officers of divers Nations, whom with the common Souldiers they fold unto the Cir- 

 cajfrans, Tartars, and 3 other neighb'ring Nations, fo that few were ever afterwards re- 

 covered. From 7>r%c they marched unto Koifa^ which by the inftru&ion of Cap- 

 tives, they did pretty regularly befiege and affault, and after fome repulfes took it % 

 ftorm, killing all the Rujjés, excepting fuch as efcaped in the Ships and Boats which 

 lay before the Town. The Ruffe Emperour being fpeedily informed of thefe Suo6e£ 

 fês, immediately raifeda great Army,' with which he. ordred all the Coffackf between 

 the Don and Volga; unto the River of Tumeine, to joyn his Forces, and aftift them, in 

 order unto the recovery of what he had loft, and utter extirpation of the Camukes : 

 Who hearing how highly the Czar was exafperated, and how great a Force was ready 

 to mvade them, (hey began to be felicitous about the Event ■■> and having- confulted 



