Hyrcania

1638. Some yeares travels into divers parts of Asia and Afrique by Thomas Herbert.

HYRCANIA (whether denominated from her fruitfulnesse in Goats, or from Harcoon in the Scythic tongue importing solitarinesse, or from Hadora as Montanus call'd her, I dare not determine;) is now call'd Mozendram (a derivative I think from Mandagarsis in Ptolomy) and Kabonkara: by some (whose fancies I approve not of) this Province is call'd Karizath, Corca, Girgia, Caspia, Steana, Casson, and Diurgument, relatives meerly, of invention; the North is limited by the Caspian sea, the East with Sagathy or Bactria, the South with Mount Taurus, the West with Medya and Armenia. Hyrcania is most part (a great part wee travelled) woody and champaign; watered with many sweet and spatious (but not navigable) rivers; such be Araxis, (descending sayes Ptolomy from Sacapen or Saducen) Cyrus, Obsel, Connack, Mazaeras, Bundama, Hydero, (from the Desarts of Lop) Aragus, (falsly said to descend from the Molossians) and others, which from the Taurisian Mountains stream violently, and after they have mellowed the humyd earth in many divided branches, wander into the Mare Caspium: at this day it abounds with many sorts of beasts, birds, fruits, fish, and villages: Sheep, Buffoloes, Camells, Asses, Goats, Horses, Cowes, Antilopes, red and fallow Deer; with Silkwormes also, and Phesants, Partrich, Quaile, Woodcock, Pellican, Heron, Pouts, Thrush, Hens, Philomels; and in fruits of most sorts; with fishes also, as Trowt, Pike, Carp, Sturgeon, Conger, Lamprey, Tuneys, Gudgeon, Thornback, Cockles, Oysters, Mussells, Crabs, Limpits, Dog-fish, and Cackrell; most of these the Caspian sea affoorded us: and (which we will sequestere from others) with Lyons, Wolves, Wild-catts, Bores, Scorpions, and Tygers, supposed to nurse the people, as sung the Poet Them with their duggs the Hyrcan Tygres fed. Hyrcanaeque admorunt ubera Tygres, Gnatts, Flyes, and Snakes (to our sad remembrances) in insufficient numbers. Townes of old were, Talebrota, Sarramanna, Adrapsa, Sorba, Asmurna, Tapen, Carta, and Mauzoca; lost by protract of consuming time, or from new names as new Inhabitants have succeeded here; at this day are these, Farrabaut, Asharaff, Periscow, Omoall, Barfrushdea Chacoporo, Caban, Baezd, Darabgier, Gengee, Shamaky, Erez, Bachu, Byldith, and Derbent; flourishing with people, famoused by trade, and admired in her plenty. The Hircanians are but lately civilized, no longer than since Shaw-Abbas in despight of their resistance came amongst them: but how may we credit the Persians (for 'twas they that told it us) in that at this day, they excell the Persians, for husbandry, trade in raw silks, and other imployments; such as has made them rich, and famous; yea happy, till the Persian Souldiers intermingled & suckt their hony from them: The Hyrcan language is understood by every Persian. Their habit resembles the Irish troozes: upon their heads they weare Piramidall caps of cloth lined with delicate sheeps wooll: the vulgar Hyrcanian take thus represented. description PAGE 178 [illustration] An Hyrcanyan. They are generally affable, merry, curious in rarities, and nothing jealous aftet the manner of other Mahomitans: we must not beleeve the merry reports the Persians told us of their virgin curtesies: of old, they thought to have forbad the valiant Greek desired entrance, by twisting one tree to another, (as did our Abbat of St. Albons against the Normans) but hee that had diffected Gordions knot (though mysticall,) with equall pollicie subjugated these Hyrcanians. Upon Whitson-monday wee left Asharaff; the King at that same time journeyed into Medya to Casbyn: our Travells were different, hee went by Periscow, but sent us by Larry-Ioon, that we might have the better view of those his richest Provinces: this night we lay in Farrabaut, a Citie five miles distant from Asharaff, late spoken of. Hyrcania is a continued Forrest, and of all the trees I saw, none exceeded the Mulberies, for numberlesse numbers, none more notable for use; ten, yea thirty miles spreading in them: the berries if white, refresht our bellies, the colour our eyes, the leaves our observation. In every Village and Cottage wee might behold sheds fild with industrious people, and inriching silk-worms, seaming the seminary of that valuable Fly, so accounted of through all the world, so advantageous to the Persian Emperour; who from hence (besides those many rich Carpets of silk and gold, silk, silk and silver yeerely woven for their owne uses) extracts an annuall quantity of raw silke, seven thousand six hundred Batmans (or bales I think) exported through Turkie into Europe, to his great benefit. The silk-worme (as in quality, so in diversity of shape) varies from other wormes: her first generation arising from a small round black sperme (like Gunpowder or Musturd-seed) which by moderate heat increases to an inch, assuming (at first) the shape of a palmer worme, from which resemblance in six months she two times changes: her common food are leaves and boughs of trees; but of all other, the white Mulbery most delights her, strewed dayly all over thier sheds, kept sweet, and warme, and cleanly. Having satiated their usefull appetites, they forthwith become enemy to idlenesse, surcease their creeping, and with their excretiated vertue intwine themselves, in some sort making their lawne both winding-sheet and Sepulcher. The silke co-operates with such colours as be laid afore them, white, yellow, greene, and sandy. And albeit they be involved, yet are they visible to the eye, such is the transparency of their excrement. Their exterior part, is a pale gold commixt with lemon, rough and hayry. The interior more hard and form ovated, the better to inhume th'included Fly. Whose task being ended, the silken cods or balls are straightway spread afore Apolloes corruscant rayes, by whose radiant candor the distressed worme is broyld to death; not unlike a glorious miser faelicitating his death, so it be in contemplation of his rich idolatry. And by this expansion the silk becomes much finer and purer, than if shee were suffered from her owne notion to issue forth and break her habitacle: After this the silke cods are thrown into a large caldron, fild with water, and made meanly hot; then, with a penetrated cane the people stir thē about, at once drawing the slimy silke from as many as his instrument can lay hold upon, or convene in advantage; lastly with a wheele they are turned round; it attracts the silk, and leaves (nothing worth the getting) indivellicated. But that they affoord hony, yeeld wax, build nests, and are a sort of spyder, Aristotle, and Pliny may conjecture so, but experience derides their supposition. By this time we are got to Omoall a City as well known as any other in Mozendram.

Our journey lay sometimes through inhospitable straits, other times over most stupendious hills; the bredth from one side to another about fifty English miles, from Omoall to Damoan; the length fifteene hundred: towring in a hedge of hills from Armenia to the furthest part of Indya: and after two dayes painfull climbing got so high, that wee might see the middle region under us, and we involved in chill exhalations. Taurus, Mons omnium maximus, sayes Aristotle; yet the sublime height did not disaminate us, as did the danger of descending, the path was so uneven and craggy; yea, the rocks so unskilfully cut out for a passage; that great heed must be taken in the treading or a terrible precipice into a bottomlesse lake indangers us; in one hill for three miles together the way was carved (by some unskilfull workman) in the mid-part of a most horrible aspiring perpendicular Mountaine, the lane in some places a yard, in some but halfe a yard in breadth, so as if by accident two horsemen meet, I could not see how both could have safe passage, nor is it higher than ones head if mounted; a wretched passage! for whiles I was sometimes looking at the wonderfull height above us, and anon casting my sight downwards into that dark Abisse, a rock bending ill-favoredly into the narrow way struck me such a blow, as for a great while I was astonied, and happily delivered from a downfall; a rock, demanding an uncivell tribute from all carelesse passengers. At length wee got safe out of that formidable path of death into the broad and lofty Mountaines, from whence the lying Greekes beheld Prometheus (sonne of Iapeth by Asia his wife and brother to Atlas) cheyned to these rocks, his heart gnawed by a Vultur, for daring (though Pallas helpt him up) to steale celestiall flames from Apollo's Chariot wheeles, to inspire life into his Images. The mythology is this, from these high Mountaines Prometheus first studied and observed the firmamentall motion, the acronicall rising and setting of the Stars and other bodies celestiall, the causes of Meteors, eclipses, and other hidden rarities of nature.

1652. Cosmographie in four bookes by Peter Heylyn.

HYRCANIA is bounded on the South with Parthia; on the North, with the Hyrcanian or Caspian Sea; on the East, with Margiana; and on the West, with Atropatia, or Atropatene (as Ammianns calleth it) the North part of Media. Divided from Parthia by the interposition of Coronus, part of the main body of mount Taurus. The way thorow which, said by the Persians to be cut out at one blow by the Scymitar of Mortis Haly, their second Mahomet, as not above fourty yards in breadth, in the broadest parts of it, the hills on both sides to wring to the very clouds. With small strength easily defended against mighty Armies, and possibly may be the same which the Antients called Portae Caspiae, before described.

It took the name of Hyrcania, from Hyrcana, a large and spacious forest betwixt it and Scythia; sometimes called Caspia also, from the Caspii, a chief People of it; of whom it is reported, that when their Parents came to the age of 70 years, they used to shut them up, and starve them, as being then no longer usefull to the Common-wealth. But both those names growing out of use, it is by Mercator called Diargument; by some late Travells Mezendram; by some others Corcam.

Those parts hereof which lie towards the South are said to yield abundance of wheat, wines, figges, and fruit: those towards the Caspian Sea, as plentifull of Grass and pasture. But betwixt both, nothing in a manner but continual forests, and those so intricate and thick, that it is a matter of no small difficulty to find passage thorow them. Full, as most other Forests are in those Eastern parts, of Panthers, Leopards, Lions, Tigers: these last of such an horrible fierceness, that it grew into a common Proverb used of cruel men, that they had sucked an Hyrcanian Tiger; Hyrcanaeg, admorunt ubera Tigres, as it is in Virgil.

Principall Rivers of this Countrey, 1. Zioberis, spoken of before. 2. Maxera, or Mazeras, mentioned by Pliny, Ptolomy, and Ammianus; and 3. Secanda; all falling into the Caspian or Hircanian Sea. A Sea which had the names of Caspian, and Hyrcanian, from the Caspit and Hyrcani, bordering text unto it; now from the Town of Bochu, in Atropatia, called Mare di Bochu. Fashioned in an Ovall form, the length thereof from North to South 700 miles, and 600 miles from East to West. Stormy, and troublesome, by reason of those many great Rivers which fall into it from all the Provinces adjoyning; which notwithstanding it hath no visible commerce with the Ocean; nor doth it at any time overflow its banks: finding some passage under ground to discharge it self of those vast streams of water which are powred into it. Well traded by the Moscovite Merchants, who having the command of the River Volge (which with 70 mouths doth open into this Sea) sail over it, and land at Farabant, or some other of the Port-Towns, where they trade for silks. Some Ilands here are in it, but not many, or of any great fame but onely that they served the Nations which lay neer it for a place of retreat, in time of the Tartarian tempest under Tamerlane; as the Isles of Venice did to the Italians at the comming of Attila.

Places of most consideration, 1. Hyrcania, once the Metropolis of the Province, and so called by Ptolomy; still extant, but of less esteem, and still called Hyrcan. 2. Tambrace, in old times of the greatest strength, and most defensible, but taken by Antiochus Magnus in the warre against Arsaces the Parthian for the recovery of those Countries then revolted from him. 3. Adrapsa, 4. Masaca, 5. Anarosa; of which we find the names, amongst others, in the antient Writers. 6. Asharaffe, two miles from the Sea, in a spacious Plain, containing about 2000 houses; and now of most reputation of all this Province, by the long Residence therein of Abas, the late Persian Sultan; who built there a magnficent Palace, & another two miles off at a place called Abassebaut. The furniture whereof, besides costly Carpets, in Plate and Jewels, at such time as Sir Dodmore Cotton was there Ambassadour, is said to have been valued by a knowing Merchant, at 20 millions of Pounds. But I fear the Merchant had more skill in silks than Jewels; such a vast summe to be expended on the furniture of one Palace onely, being beyond the possibility of the Revenue of the Persian Sophies; hardly amounting towards all charges to five millions of Crowns. 7. Farabant, on a navigable Arm of the Caspian Sea; for beauty, wealth, and greatness, of most note in this Countrey. Well traded from all parts of this Inland Sea, especially by the Russian Merchant, as before is said; whose ships come hither in March, and return in July; it being from hence to Astrachan but ten dates sail. Beautified with goodly Gardens, a Royal mansion of the kings, and aspacious Market-place. 8. Chiacoporo, neer the Sea also, but on the banks of a River; the water whereof is said for eleven moneths to be fresh and sweet, and for the twelf month very salt. 9. Barfrushdee, twelve miles from the Sea, well furnished with wood and water. 10. Omoall, a Town of about 3000 houses, seated on the North side of the Taurus, in a pleasant and fruitfull soyl; resorted to by the people of so many Nations, that seven languages are there commonly spoken. Once larger, as appeareth by some ruins, than it is at the present; by some conceived to be the Nabarca of the Antients, honoured in those times with an Oracle. 11. Strava, a town of great trafick, for raw silks especially. 12. Mesandre, whence the whole Province (or rather the parts adjoyning to it) hath the name of Mezendrum.

The old Inhabitants hereof, besides the Caspii, were the Maxerae, Astabeni, Chrindi, and the Arsitenses; united in the name of Hyrcans in the time of the Persians, and by that name well known at the comming of Alexander. Against whom they so defended themselves by tying the boughs and twigs of their Trees together, that it was impossible for him to come at them till with incredible pains and labour he had caused their woods to be cut down: at sight whereof the People, who supposed the King had too much other business, and of more importance, than to put himself unto that trouble, did submit unto him. Falling to the share of Scleucus, they were the first people that were gained by Arsaces, and joined with him in recovering their former liberty, though they got nothing by the bargain but the change of their Master. In all times since, they have been looked upon as Members of the Persian Empire, till the conquest of it by the Tartars; in the distractions of whose great Empire after Tamerlanes death, it fell to some Princes of his house; who governed here under the vassallage and protection of the Tartars of Zagathay. Recovered not long since to their old obedience by Sultan Abas: who for the better setling the affairs hereof, removed the Seat Royall from Spawhawn, to which before he had transferred it from the City of Casbin, to Ashtrasse, then a small town, now the chief of this Countrey.

1676. A most exact and accurate map of the whole world by Donald Lupton.

11. In Hircania, S. Parthia. N. Caspian Sea, E. Mergeana; the people of which place starve their Parents at seventy years of age; fruitful in pasture, wheat, wines, figs and other fruits; full of Forrests, and those Forrests full of Panthers, Leopards, Lyons, Tygers, &c. Is

1. Hyrcania Hyrcan.
2. Ashoraffe two miles from the Sea in a spacious plain, containing two thousand houses, adorned with two great Pallaces, the Furniture of one of which was valued by a Merchant at twenty millions.
3. Farabont, on a navigable branch of the Caspian Sea, well traded, especially by Muscovy Merchants, for Silks, whose ships come from the Volge, which dischargeth it self into the Caspian Sea by seventy mouths in March, and return in July; it being from thence to Astracan but ten dayes sail; famous for its Gardens, a Pallace, and a Market-place.
4. Chiachoporo on a River, the water whereof is for eleven months sweet, and for the twelfth salt.
5. The well-watered and wooded Barfrushder and Omoal resorted to by People of seven Tongues.
6. Stava, a Town of great Traffique for raw silk.
7. Mesander, whence the Province Mesandrum.

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

Hyrach, Hyrcania, a Province of the Kingdom of Persia; heretofore bounded on the North by the Hyrcanian Sea, on the East by Margiana, on the West by Media, and on the South by Parthia, properly so called: Now divided into two Provinces, called Taberistan, Mazenderan.

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Hyrcania, formerly a Province of Persia, 600 Miles long, and 300 broad, where Tarabestan, Gilan and Georgian are now, was properly part of the Parthians Country, which had Parthia on the South, Margiana on the East, Media on the West, and the Caspian Sea on the North. The chief Town was, Hyrcania, afterwards Amaruse. The neighbouring Sea has now different names, viz. Bachu Sea, Sala Sea, Tabarestan Sea, &c. Strabo. Pliny. Cluvier. Olearius. This Province is so fruitful, that one Vine is said to produce above 11 Gallons of Wine, and one Fig-tree, 60 Bushels of Figs. Their Corn is bred by a Seed which falls out of the Stalk, and Honey flows out of their Olive-trees. Hoffman. The Hyrcanian, called also the Caspian-Sea, and otherwise according to the Countries, which lie upon it, hath no Communication with any other Sea. Its extent from the Kingdom of Astracan in Muscovy on the North, to Ferabath on the South, is 480 English Miles. Its breadth from the Province of Chuaresm, to the Mountains of Circassia or Shirwar, is 360 English Miles. In the middle, the Waters are Salt, as those of other Seas, but it neither Ebbs nor Flows. It hath no good Harbour upon it, but the best is Minkischlack or Manguslave on the Coast of Tartary the Greater. 'Tis of the same colour with other Seas. Has only one Island on the Persian Coast, and that uninhabited. 'Tis generally shallow, and therefore dangerous in Tempests; on which account, the Persians never venture from sight of Land. On the West side of it from Georgia, it receives there above 100 Rivers, many of them very great. Olearius gives a large Description of this Sea, having sailed all over it, and says, That in 20 days Travel, betwixt Reschal and Schamakap, he crossed above 80 Rivers, which fall into it.