Podolia

1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.

Podolia, Bodeni, Budini, Patzinacae Populi, a Province of the Kingdom of Poland; comprehended under the Red Russia, of which it is a part; and subject to a Palatine of its own. Bounded on the North by Volhinia, on the East by the Palatinate of Braslaw, on the South by Wallachia, and on the West by Russia (properly so called), or the Black Russia. This Country extends Eastward through vast uninhabited Countries, as far as the Euxine Sea. They divide it ordinarily into the Ʋpper Podolia to the West, and the Lower to the East. The people are Russians by their Original; conquered by the Poles, and in the year 1434. admitted to the same Privileges with the rest of Poland, by Ʋladislaus then King of Poland. It is fruitful to a wonder; yet more accommodated to the life of Beasts, than Men. Could it enjoy a steady Peace, it should not need to envy the Fertility of Italy, or any other Country: but being a Frontier against the Turks and Tartars, and always exposed to their devouring Incursions, it is but meanly inhabited, and not much improved. In the year 1672. it was yielded to the Turks; a part of it has been retrieved since. The principal place is Caminieck, in the Ʋpper Podolia; the rest are Tzudnow, Bratzlaw (in the Lower,) and Orczakow, which last is in the hands of the Tartars.