Cazan

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

Casan, Casana, a very considerable City in Muscovy, upon the River Casanka; in a pleasant Plain, about 10▪ German Miles from the Northern Shoar of the Wolga in Long. 99. 00. Lat. 55. 38. //Paris Meridian was used in the book Of a considerable bigness, but the Houses are all of Wood, as also the Towers and Ramparts; only the Castle and its Fortifications are all of Stone, which are well furnished with Cannon, and a good Garrison. The River Casanka serves it instead of a Ditch, by all which it is made a very considerable Fortress▪ The Town is inhabited by Muscovites and Tartars, but the latter are forbidden entring the Castle upon pain of Death. This City, as Olearius acquaints us, was taken by John Basilovits, Duke of Muscovy, from Sapgery a Tartarian Prince, July 9. 1552. There is a Province belonging to it of the same Name, which of itself is very fertile and good, but in a manner desolate, by reason of the Incursions of the Cossacks. This was the State of things here in 1636.