Astracan, Province

1682. Cosmography and geography in two parts by Richard Blome.

ASTRACAN lieth on the Volga, whose chief place is so called, enjoyeth a good Trade, especially by the Armenians, by reason of its commodious scituation, on the branches of the Volga, about 20 Italian miles from the Caspian Sea.

1691. A most compleat compendium of geography by Laurence Echard.

Kingdom of Astracan, on the S. of Bulgar, 540 m. l. & 320 br. also taken out of Tartary; ch. T. Astracan.

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

Astracan, now a Province subject to the great Duke of Muscovia, though formerly a Kingdom under a King of Tartary: Upon the Frontiers of the Tartarian Desert, toward the mouth of the River Volga. It was taken from the Tartars by John Basilovitz, Grand Duke of Muscovy, in 1554. 'Tis as hot there in September and October, as 'tis in France in the middle of Summer; yet in the deep of Winter (which is not above two months) the Weather is so severe, that the Ice on the River bears laden Waggons. The Inhabitants drive a great Trade in Salt, which is of a Violet Flavour, and sold very cheap. This Salt they gather in the Isle Dulgoi, and in the Deserts, where there are abundance of Veins of Salt, it swims upon the Water an inch thick like Rock Crystal, and in such great quantity, that one may have as much as he pleases paying but a Half-penny Custom for a Poude, or 40 pound weight; and some say that there are Mountains 2 Leagues from Astracan, where 30000 Men may work incessantly without finding the bottom of some Salt Mines that are there. From Astracan to the Caspian Sea the River is so stock'd with Fish, that the greatest Carps are sold for the 6th part of a Peny. There are also great numbers of Tortoises, because the Tartars nor Moscovites never eat of 'em. In former Ages all Nagaya was inhabited by Tartars, who had their King, and liv'd in good intelligence with those of Crim and Cazan. But the great Duke John Basilovitz having reduc'd the Tartars of Cazan under his Obedience in 1552, attack'd those of Nagaye, two years after made himself Master of Astracan, whence he drove the ancient Inhabitants, and Peopled it with Moscovites, who also inhabit all the Wall'd Towns of the Country, keeping the Tartars in their Tents and Huts in the open Field lest they might rebel. In 1558 the Castle of Astracan was neither strong nor fair. but wall'd with Timber, the Czar had ordered that Wall to be pull'd down and rebuilt with Freestone, and they were then doing it. The Town was also Wall'd with Earth and Timber, but the Buildings within it left base and simple. The Air stunk by reason of the great quantity of Sturgeon taken here, on which the Inhabitants for the most part live. and there was then a Famine and a Plague in the Town, occasion'd by a vast number of Naked Tartars who died about the Town of Hunger, and were left unburied. This was then the furthest Fortress the Russians had towards the South East. In the year 1596 Selim sent an Army of 25000 Horse and 30000 Janizaries against this City, to which 80000 Crim-Tartars joined themselves, the far greatest part whereof perished without doing the Russians any considerable damage. In the year 1574 this Kingdom was invaded by an Army of 70000 Turks and Tartars, but Winter and the news of a great Army from Mosco forced them to retreat without any success, after they had besieged Astracan 6 weeks. But the Crim-Tartars made themselves Masters of it in the year 1661; and it was recovered by the Russians in 1662. In 1669 it was environed with a strong thick Stone Wall, (not usual in Russia) and mounted with 500 Brass Cannon, and had a strong Garison, and Ammunition proportionable. It affords a noble prospect without, having many Towers and lofty Piles of Buildings. It is much frequented by the Tartar Nations, Persians, Armenians, and Indians, who bring their Goods over the Caspian Sea in small Vessels, the chief Trade here being Silks. In 1669, June 23, the strong City of Astracan was betray'd by its own Garison into the hands of Stenco (Stephen) Radzin, a Rebellious Cossac, who with intolerable Cruelty Massacred all the great Men, and Officers that fell into his hands, and many of the Citizens that betrayed the City. It was retaken by the Czar in 1671. The Islands below it swarm with Wild Fowl, which they catch with Hawks. It abounds with large Melons, and excellent Grapes. The City of this name is very beautiful to see to, having abundance of Towers and Steeples, but the Houses within are only of Wood, and ill built, being upon the borders of Europe and Asia; it's much frequented by Tartars, Muscovites, Persians, Armenians, and Indians, which makes it a Town of good Trade. Olcarius Voyage de Moscovie, &c.