Caspian Sea
1578. A booke called the treasure for traueilers by William Bourne.
The Caspian Sea, the longitude of the midle thereof is 90. degrees, the latitude of the midle therof is 45. degrees 30. minutes, and is East and to the Southwards 2788. myles from the Citie of London, and the Moone chaungeth later then at London by 4. howres 40. minutes, and their longest daye is 15. howres 30. minutes.
Caspian Sea (centre) 90°00′ 45°30′ 2788 later 4h 40m 15h 30m
1638. Some yeares travels into divers parts of Asia and Afrique by Thomas Herbert.
The Caspian Sea (call'd by the Persians Deriob-Mozendram, by the Arabs as all other Ponds, Bobar corsun) is brackish, and very turbulent, yet landlock on every side; the Hyrcanian, Armenian Russ, and Tartar circumvolving her: nor has shee commerce with any other sea, except it be subterranean with the Euxine. They are three hundred miles asunder, yet may admit so vast an intercourse, if wee consider the like (though not so much) in other places: as in Zioberis, which springs from Taurus, and after thirty miles concealment under ground, againe discovers it selfe and commixing with Rhodago, in one streame, wander into the Caspian; great Alexander at Aristotles request made triall by two Oxen, who confirmed it: as also in Niger an Afrique river, and others in other places. Some vent or other it has questionlesse, otherwise it would overflow or putrifie; for it receives many great and navigable rivers, as Volga, Araxis, Cyrus, Connack, Obsel, Rhodago, Mazaeras, Hydero, Aragus, Phasis, Ilment, Sirto, Chesel , Oxus, Edel, Rha, (some call Volga so) Iehun, Habyn, &c. by many ostiums swelling her womb or concave channell. It has three thousand English miles compasse:and its environs from Farrabat to Astra-can or from N. to S. are six hundred miles: from East to West, above seven hundred; in some sort Ovall: made dangerous by many syrtes and rocks; made happy in abundance of watery Inhabiters: Porpice, Conger, Sturgeon, Caveare (the roe of Sturgeon cut and salted) Goodgion, Thornback, Turbut, Cackrell, Skate, Soles, and shell-fish innumerable. Nicanor the Syrian Anno Mundi 3666, made a vaine attempt to bring the Euxin and this Sea into one, to make it sociable and navigable; but had such issue joynd to his cost and paines, as Sesostris, Xerxes, Alexander, Nero, Lucyus, and other Monsters of the world had in that and other their impossibilities.
1662. A Geographical dictionary in which are described... London. by Henry Brome.
Caspian Sea, de Sala, or de Bachue, a Sea in forme of a Lake in Asia.
1673. Asia. The first part being an accurate description of Persia, and the several provinces thereof by John Ogilby.
THe Caspian Sea or Lake, hath several Denominations from the divers adjacent Villages and Countreys, viz. The Russians call the same Chualenca or Gualenscoi More; the Moors, Bohar Corsun, that is, Inclosed Sea, (which Name they also give to the Arabian Gulf;) the Persians, Culsum, a Name agreeing with the Red-sea; the Latines, both ancient and modern, following the Greeks, Mare Caspium and Hyrcanum, as others from the City Bacuje in Schirwan, Mare de Bacu; also Kilan, Giorgia, Terkestan, Corasum, and Cunsar.
The length of the Caspian Sea is by most Writers accounted fifteen days Voyage, and the breadth eight, in Boats with Oars, without the help of the Wind. The length from the Mouth or Entrance of the Sea from Astrachan to Ferabath, is accounted eight Degrees, or a hundred and twenty German Miles, and the breadth from the Province Churesin to the Circassian Mountain, six Degrees, or ninety Leagues. This Sea neither Ebbs nor Flows as others, though Curtius seem to affirm the contrary; for true it is, that the Water rises sometimes, not onely on the Shore, but also runs over the Countrey, especially on the West side, occasion'd byPaskeart vande the Wind, which blowing from the Sea, drives up the Water upon the contrary Coast: for it hath been observ'd, that in calm Weather it keeps at a certain heighth. In the middle it is so deep that it cannot be plumm'd with a fifty or sixty Fathom Line. Hundreds of Rivers discharge their Waters into the same; for between Rescht and Schamachie, being distant about twenty days Journey from each other, it receives of great and small Streams, above fourscore; the chiefest of them are the Volga, anciently call'd Rha; the Araxis or Aras, united with the Cyrus or Cur, Kisilosein, Bastro, Acsai, and Coisu; from the North comes the Jaik; from the South and East, the Jems, Nios, Oxus, and Orxantes, by Curtius call'd Tanais. It may seem a Wonder, that this Sea, which receives the Water of so many Rivers, should have no apparent place for Discharge of the same; and therefore some have affirm'd, that it percolates into the main Ocean through invisible Pipes or Channels, Olearius says he was inform'd by the Persians, that there is a great Mouth between Tabristan and Mazanderan, not far from Ferabath, into which this Sea falling, sinks away under the Mountains; but we insist not thereon. The Water near the Shore is sweet, by reason of the many fresh Streams, which (as we said) fall into it, but in the middle is very salt, and (according to Petreus) as black as Ink; but Olearius affirms the contrary to this last Point from ocular experience; neither is there any Island replete with Towns and Villages, onely Ensil near Ferabath, affording good Pasturage for Cattel, hath some few Huts for Herdsmen, Nor are any great Serpents caught in this Sea, as Curtius, nor red Fish, as Pedro Bizarro relates from Ambrosius Contarenus, being without a Head, yet an Ell long; out of whose boyl'd Fat the Inhabitants extrad Oyl, and make Salve for Camels; but the People hereabouts want not the foremention'd Oyl, for they have great plenty of Nefta, being another sort of liquid Matter, which they burn in Lamps, and make use of on other like occasions.
There is a great Fish call'd Naca taken in this Sea, having a short Head and Belly, wide Mouth, and round Tail, three or four Yards thick. This Fish doth great mischief to Fishermen, for it will hang with its Head under Water, and overset a Boat with its Tail, if not opportunely prevented.
No less dangerous is the White-Fish, of which so many breed here, that the Fishermen dare not go into above four Fathom Water; which Pomponius Mela seems to have observ'd, when he saith in his Geography, This Sea is more dangerous than any other, by reason of the many Monsters that breed therein. It hath been reported, that in Kilan, over against the Mountain Sahebelan, where they breed most, they are taken with Hooks, fastned to thick Lines, and Baited with Flesh.
Nor doth it onely breed Monsters, for (contrary to the Opinion of Contareno and Bizarro) it produces several sorts of excellent Fish, as Salmon, Sturgeon, Carps an Ell long, a sort of Herrings, great Breams call'd Chascham, Scwit or Schivit, and a sort of Barbels a Yard and a half long, but others less, which are tough, and not fit to be eaten. The Inhabitants there catch another sort of Salmon-Trouts, which they dry in the Smoak, and Dress after this manner, viz. They lay the smoak'd Fish, wrapt in a Linnen or Cotton Cloth, upon a hot Hearth, and then cover it with Ashes till it be enough, whereby it gaineth a most delicate taste. This abundance of Fish breeding in the Sea, causes the King of Persia to Farm out the Fishing thereof towards the Mouth of the fresh Rivers, which brings him yearly considerable Sums of Money. This Fishing Farm begins in September, and lasts to the end of March; during which time the Rivers are shut up, to prevent Intruders, that have no right to Fish there, but all the rest of the year not onely the Rivers, but the Sea it self lies free and open to all Persons. This Sea in the Summer the Persians, Tartars, and Russians Navigate in sleight and miserable Vessels, with which they dare not Sail but onely before the Wind, nor venture from the sight of the Shore. There are but few Harbors, and those neither good nor safe; the place between the Island Tzenzeni and the main Land, is counted one of the securest, and therefore the Persians always Anchor there in the Night: they also us'd to Ride with their Vessels near Bacu, Lenkeran, and Ferabath, according as the Wind favors them: But the best in all that Sea, is towards the East on the Tartars side, and is call'd Chuaresm and Minkischlack, but by some nam'd Manguslave. This Sea (according to Herodotus, Ptolomy, and Aristotle) is distinct: from all other, being wholly inclos'd within the Land, so that it may justly be call'd a Mediterranean; from whence appear the Errors of Dionysius the Alexandrian, Pomponius Mela, Strabo, Pliny, Solinus, Basilius Magnus, and others, who would make it to mix with the Scythian or Tartarick Sea; or else a Bay of the Northern Ocean, and not totally surrounded by the Land.
1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.
The Caspian Sea, was named at first the Sea of Chosar, from a great Granchild of Noah: Nubius in his Geography stiles it the Sea of Thavisthan. The Moors call it and the Gulph of Arabia, Bohar Corsuin; the Persians call both Kulsum; the Greek and Latin Writers, the Caspian and Hyrcanian Sea; the Muscovites, Gualenskoy-more. The Antients generally thought it a Bay of the Great Indian Ocean, or that it had some Communication with the Euxine Sea. Though a vast number of Rivers fall into this Sea, yet it is not perceived any way to increase. It is in length from North to South 120 Miles, in breadth 90. Some represent it 800 Miles long and 650 broad. In the Winter for the most part frozen. It is in effect no other than a great Lake. The Waters of it are as salt as any other; yet it neither Ebs nor flows, nor has any Islands. This Sea has the Kingdom of Astracan on the North, Persia on the South, Circassia on the West, and Caratansca on the East.
The. Hyrcanian Sea, Mare Hyrcanium, takes this ancient well known Name from this Province: but it is no less frequently called, both in Ancient and Modern Geographers and Historians, the Caspian Sea. This Sea is called by various Names according to the Countries which do border upon it. It was anciently called the Sea of Chosar, from the eldest Son of Th•garma, a Great Grand-child of Noah, by Japhet. Nubius, in his Geography, calls it the Sea of Tavisthan; the Arabians Baharcorsum; the Persians Kulsum; (as they do also the Persian Gulph.) The Greek and Latin Authors, Mare Hyrcanium, or Mare Caspium; the Persians call it also the Sea of Baku; the Muscovites, Gualenskoi-More. The Ancients generally thought it had a communication with the Indian Ocean; which is not true: for it has no communication with any other Sea in the World known; and therefore may most properly be called the Mediterranean Sea: this was known to Aristotle, and Herodotus of old. Its greatest extent is from North to South, (that is, from Astrachan, to Ferabath,) eight deg. of the Equator; or one hundred and twenty German Miles, or four hundred and eighty English Miles: its Breadth from the Province of Chuaresin, to the Mountains of Circassia (or Shirwan,) is six deg. or ninety German Miles, or three hundred and sixty English Miles. The Waters are in the middle as salt as those of any other Sea whatsoever; but it neither Ebbs nor Flows, as all the rest do, which have any Intercourse with the Ocean. It hath in a manner never a safe Harbor upon it: the best is Minkischlak, or Manguslave, on the side of the Grand Tartary. The Water is of the same colour with that of other Seas: it has but one Island in it, and that lies towards Persia, called Ensil, which has never an House in it. Thus far Olearius, who Travelled over it in 1636. It is generally very shallow, and flat; therefore in Tempests dangerous to those that Sail upon it: the Persians never trust to it, and rarely go out of sight of the Shoar. This Sea has on the North the Kingdom of Astrachan, and Negaia; on the East Chuaresm; on the South, the Kingdom of Persia; and on the West Georgia: it receives there above an hundred Rivers which fall into it, many of which are very great; as the Wolga, the Araxis or Cyrus, the Keisilosein, the Bustrow, the Aksay, and the Koisu: towards the North, are the Rivers of Jaika, and Jems; towards the South and East the Nios, Oxus, and the Oxentes, which Curtius calls Tanais: Olearius assures us, that in twenty days Travel between Roschot and Schamakap, he crossed above fourscore Rivers great and small.
The Caspii were an antient People amongst the Scythians upon the Borders of the same Sea.
Gualentzamore, the Caspian Sea.