Tartaria Precopensis

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

TAVRICA CHERSONESVS. (Book Taurica)

THis CHERSONESVS was so called by Ptolemie from the Tauri a certaine people of Scythia in Europe. Strabo calls it the Scythian Chersonesus. Pliny in his 2 Booke and 96 chapter calleth it, after the Latines, the Peninsula of the Taurians. Appianus calleth it the Pontick Chersonesus, and Paulus Diaconus calleth it Chersenesa. At this day it is called Precopska, and Gesara by Antonius Pineti•. It is a large Peninsula, stretched out toward the East, betweene the Euxine Sea, and the Maeotick Lake, even to the Cimmerian Bosporus which divides Europe from Asia. It hath a gentle winter, and most temperate Aire. For at the end of December winter beginneth, and is at the sharpest or coldest in the middle of February, as having then most snow, which yet lyeth not above three daies vvhen the cold and frost is most constant. The Winter never lasteth longer than the beginning of March. All the whole Countrie is very fruitfull,* 1.4 and very fit for feeding flocks of cattell. Yet albeit the Inhabitants have a fertile soile: many of them do not till their fields nor Sow them. They have abundance of Horses, Camels, Oxen, Kine, and Sheep, on which they live. There are also great store of daintie fowle, which oftentimes the Christians, and Turkes, and sometimes the Polanders, that come thither as strangers, are wont to take. There is much hunting of Harts, Goates, Boares and Hares, both in the Tartarian and Turkish Dominions neare the Sea. This Chersonesus hath hard and rugged mountaines, that running through the middle of it do divide it into the Northerne and Southerne part; as the Apennine Mountaine doth divide Italie. Mahomet in the yeare 1475 did possesse the Southerne part, and made it tributarie to himselfe. But in the Northerne part the Tartars wandering in the broad fields betweene Borysthenes and Tanais, and continually changing their places of feeding their cattell, possessed the Towne called Crim as a royall Seat, and from thence they were called Crim Tartars. Afterward having cut through the Isthmus of the Taurick Chersonesus, when, neare unto the Ditch which they call Praecop, they built a Citie a royall Seat of the same name, they were from thence called Praecopenses. The King of these Tartars, when being joyned in league and societie with the Turkes, hee had at their request banisht his owne brother, who made warre against him, and had besieged Capha, at last both himselfe and his two yong sonnes were cut in pieces by his Counsellers, whom hee had with large gifts corrupted for the aforesaid purpose, and so gave an unhappie example of the Ottoman friendship. For hee being slaine, the Tartarians, who were hitherto free, untamed, and companions and brethren to Ottoman were now made servants, and after the manner of the other Turkish Provinces were compelled to receive and acknowledge not a King but a Beglerbeg, that is a Vice-Roy to governe them. But the Turkish Empire may be easily known by the Descriptions of Wallachia, Greece and the Turkish Empire, and therefore for brevities sake wee referre the Reader thither. Besides Cazan and Astrachan which are Kingdomes belonging to the Tartarians, who do till fields, dwell in houses, and at this day are subject to the Moscovite, and besides the aforesaid Praecopenses, there are other Field-Tartars, who live in the fields in great companies, obseruing no limits, and of these we will speake in their proper place, to wit, in the Tables of Asia. In the Southerne part of this Chersonesus is the Metropolis, Capha, heretofore called Theodosia, a famous Mart-towne, being the ancient Colonie of the Genois. It is situate neare the Sea. And hath a faire Haven. It seemes that in the time of the Genois it was very populous. But when the Turkes almost two hundred yeares since, in the time of Mahomet the Great tooke it from them, the Italians were reduced to such a strait, that there are few tokens remaining of their being there: for the Citie hath for the most part lost her former beautie. The Italian Churches are throwne downe, the houses decayed, and the walls and Towers on which the Genois colours and ensignes were placed, with Latine Inscriptions, are fallen to ruine. It is now inhabited by Turkes, Armenians, Iewes, Italians, and a few Grecian Christians; It is famous for traffique as being the chiefe Haven of the Chersonesus, and hath an infinite companie of Vine-yards, Orchards, and Gardens. Besides this towne there is Perecopia called by the ancient Greekes Eupatoria, Pompeiopolis, Sacer Lucus, Dromon Achillis, Graecida, Heraclium or Heraclia.▪ Also Cos•ovia a famous Mart-towne, and I•germenum, having a stone Castle, beneath which is a Church, and many Caves, that with great labour and paines are cut and hewed out of a rocke, for this towne is seated on a great high Mountaine, and taketh its name from those Turkish Caves. It was heretofore a faire Towne and full of wealth and riches. Here is Chersonesus Corsunum or Cherso, which is the ancientest citie of Taurica. This the Turkes called Saci Germenum, as it were, the Yellow Castle, for this Countrie hath a kinde of yellow soyle. The admirable and wondrous mines of this place do testifie that it was heretofore a proud, rich, delicate, and famous Colonie of the Grecians, and the most ancient citie of the whole Peninsula, being much frequented, magnificent, and having a faire Haven. Here is the Castle and Towne of Iamboli or Balachium, Mancopia or Mangutum (as the Turkes call it) and the Towne of Cercum with a Castle. Here is the citie and castle of Cremum, which the Tartars call Crim, having an ancient wall very strong & high, and in regard of its largenesse it is farre unlike the other cities of the Taurick Chersonesus. And in the utmost part of this Countrie is the citie Tanas neare the mouth of the River Tanais, the Russians call it Azac. It is a famous Mart-towne, unto which Merchants do come out of divers parts of the world, for that every one hath here free accesse, and free power to buy or sell. There are many great Rivers in this Countrie, running downe out of the Mountaines. The chiefest whereof is Borysthenes, commonly called Nieper a deepe and swift River which runneth from the North into the river Carcinites or Hypaciris, now called Desna, and so into the Euxine Sea neare the Towne Oczacow. Also Don or Tanais, Ariel, Samar that runneth into Don, with many others.

The Cimmerian Bosphorus, to which this Chersonesus (as we said before) is extended. It is a narrow Sea two miles broad, which divideth Europe from Asia, and by which the Maeoticke Lake doth •low into the Euxine Sea. It is called from the Cimmerians who dwell upon the coldest part thereof, or frō the towne Cimmerium as Volaterranus would have it. The Maeotick Lake is neare the mouth of Phasis (commonly called Fasso, and by the Scythians Phazzeth) receiving Tanais into it. The Scythians call it Temerenda, that is, the mother of the Sea, as Dionysius witnesseth, because much water floweth from thence through the Cimmerian Bosphorus into it, as also much from other places, which doth so replenish and fill the Lake, that the bankes thereof can hardly containe it. This Lake in regard it receiveth many rivers, aboundeth with fish. There is also the Euxine Sea, the upper part of whose water is sweete, and the nether part salt. This being heretofore called the Axine, and according to Sophocles the Apoxine Sea, because no Ships could arrive here, or in regard of the barbarous Scythian borderers who killed strangers, they afterward called the Euxine, by the figure which they call Euphemismus. But they called it Pontus as if it were another Ocean, for they supposed that those who sailed on it did performe some great and memorable act. And therefore saith Strabo, they called it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Pontus, as they called Homer the Poet. There are many rugged and steepe mountaines in this Chersonesus, especially those which runne through the middle thereof. The greatest and highest of them hath a great Lake on the toppe of it. But so much hitherto concerning these things. Now let us proceed to other matters. Justice is administred among the Tartarians by the Law of Mahomet in the Cities and Townes of the Chan, and the other Sultanes. They have their Priests, their Judges in their Townes, and their Begi or Praefects, who do heare and decide private injuries. But the Chan himselfe with his Counsellers doth judge of capitall matters, as murder, and theft. In declaring whereof they need no Lawyer, neither do they use the subtiltie thereof, nor excuses, or prolonging matters by delay. For the meanest of the Tartarians or strangers do frely declare their owne wrongs and grievances before the Judges, and the Chan himselfe, by whom they are quickly heard and dispatched. They instruct their sonnes when they are children in the Arabicke language, they do not keepe their daughters at home, but deliver them to some of their kindred to be brought up. When their sonnes come to ripenesse of yeares they serve the Chan or the Sultans, & when their daughters are marriageable, they marrie them to some of the chiefe Tartars or Turkes. The best of the Tartars in the Princes Court go civilly and decently in their apparell, not for ostentation or pride, but according as necessitie and decencie requireth. When the Chan goeth abroad in publike, the poorest men may have accesse unto him, who when he sees them doth examine them what their wants & necessities are, & whence they did arise. The Tartarians are very obedient to the Laws: and they adore & reverence their Princes like Gods. Their Judges according to Mahomets Law are accounted spirituall men, and of undoubted equitie, integritie, and faithfulnesse. They are not given to Controversies, Law-suits, private discord, envie, hatred, or to any wanton excesse either in diet or apparell. In the Princes Court, none weare Swords, Bowes, or other weapons, except it be Travellers, or strangers that are going on some journey, to whom they are very kinde and hospitable. The chiefe men eate bread and flesh, drinking also burnt Wine and Metheglin, but the Country people want bread, using instead thereof ground Millet tempered with milke and water, which they commonly call Cassa. They use cheese instead of meate, and their drinke is mares milke. They kill also for their food Camels, Horses and Oxen when they are ready to dye or are growne unserviceable, and they often feed on the flesh of sheepe. Few of them do use Mechanicke Arts in the Cities and Townes, few do use Merchandizing, and those Artificers or Merchants that are found there, are either slaves to the Christians, or else they are Turkes, Armenians, Iewes, Cercesians, Petigorians who are Christians, Philistines, or Cynganians, all men of the lowest ranke. But let this which hath been spoken suffice concerning the Taurick Chersonesus, and the Northerne Countries. Let us passe to the Description of Spaine, which we have placed next, and take a view thereof.

1638. The merchants mappe of commerce wherein by Lewes Roberts.

In Tartaria procopensis is found the ancient City of Crim the seat of the Tartarianrulers, whence this Nation had their originall and name: also Oksacou the residence of the present Princes; and lastly Caffa the onely Sea-port of consequence in these parts, of the trade whereof it wilbe needfull I should speake a word.

1652. Cosmographie in four bookes by Peter Heylyn.

TARTARIA PRECOPENSIS is bounded on the East, with the River Tanais, now Don; on the West, with the River Borysthenes, now called Nerper, by which last parted from P•dol••, a Province of Poland; on the North, with part of Russia; and on the South, with some part of the Euxine Sea: and by this accompt lying totally within Europe.

It had the name of Precopensis, from Precopia a chief Town thereof. By some called Tartaria Minor, to distinguish it from the greater body of that people: the Inhabitants hereof most commonly passing by the name of Crim-Tartars, from the Town of Crim, in which their Cham or Emperor doth reside most usually. The Countrey by them now possessed, part antiently of Sarmatia Europaea, was inhabieed by a warlike nation called the Tauri; from whom those parts hereof which lie betwixt the Empire of Russia, and the two Rivers Tanais and Borysthenes, were called Tauro Scythia; that which shooteth out into the Sea, encompassed with the Euxine on the one side, and Palus Maotis on the other, being called Taurica Chersonesus. In the description whereof at this place and time, as formerly I made bold with some part of Asia to lay together the estate of the Russian Empire: so now to satisfie for that trespass, I shall make bold with part of Europe, to lay together the discourse and affairs of Tartary,

The whole Countrey plentiful of fruits, and the soyl indifferently disposed to tillage and grazing, though more accustomed unto the last: the people more delighting in their heards of cattel, than in the fulness of their Garners. Camels, Horse, Oxen, Sheep, and Goats they have plenty of; great store of delicate fowl, and abundance of fish, bred in the large Fennes of Moeotis: and in their forrests plenty of all sorts of Venison. Which Character as it belongeth generally to all the Countrey, so most especially to the Chersonese or Demy-Iland. United to the main land with so narrow an Isthmus, that the Tartars once went about to dig it thorow: from whence some say they had the name of Precopenses, Precoph in the Sclavonian tongue signifying a deep trench, or a digging thorow. In length not above 24 German, or 96. Italian miles; in breadth but 60 of the one, or 15 of the other. Blest with a very temperate Air, and a gentle winter: which beginning with the last of December ends the first of March. Never extreme, and when the frosts are at the sharpest, but of short continuance. Divided in the middest with a chain of hills extended from the East to West, the boundary of the Dominions of the Turk and Tartar.

The people of the same complexion and composition, as the rest of the Tartars; and not much different in manners. Their diet, Roots, Cheese, Garlick, and of the poorer sort, for the most part horseflesh (none but the better sort presuming upon Beef or Venison, though of both abundance) which they eat without bread or any thing else: and therefore when they go to the wars every Souldier takes two horses with him, the one to serve upon, and the other to kill. And yet for all this havock which they make of horseflesh, there are few years in which they sell not 40 or 50 thousand in the fairs of Mosco. Towns they build none, scarce willing to maintain those which were built to their hands. Nor have they (except men of trades and manufactures) any standing houses, removing up and down with their Droves of Cattel, moving their houses with them, (which they build on wheels) from one place to another. Of money they make no esteem, preferring brass and steel before other metalls, because more usefull to them for Swords and Knives. Good Souldiers for the most part, especially at the Bow and A rows; to which so accustomed from their child-hood that they can shoot as readily backward as forward. Trained also of late times to the Harquebuse, well skilled in handling the Turkish Scymitars, and their horsemens Staves. Not to be vanquished but by death, as men that are resolved rather to die than be taken Prisoners: and if victorious, more intent upon taking Captives (especially young Boys and Girles, whom they sell to the Turks) than upon any other Booty or spoils of war.

The Religion most embtaced and countenanced is that of Mahomet, mingled with some of their old Principles of Christianity: for they confess that CHRIST shall be the Judge both of quick and dead in the day of judgement, and punish those that speak irreverently of him. In that regard more favourable to the Christians than other Mahometans, which makes great store of Grecian and Armenian Christians to dwell amongst them. The language which they speak is their own Tartarian, but intermixt with much of the Arabick, and Turkish Tongues, and when they write, they use either Chaldaean or Arabian Characters.

Rivers of most note in it, are 1. Borysthenes, & 2. Tanais, which though they have their spring-heads in the Empite of Russia (as was there declared) have their falls in this: the first in the Euxine Sea, in the 57th. the other into Palus Moeotis in the 67th. Degree of Longitude; by which we may conjecture somewhat of the length of the Countrey. 3. Hipanes, 4. Carcimitis, falling into the Euxine. 5. Agaris, and 6. Byces, which lose themselves in the Fennes of Moeotis; As do also 7. Pasiascus, 8. Gerus, 9. Lycus, from the mainland, and 10. Istrianus from the Taurican Chersonese. By the confluence of which waters, and many others falling from the Asian side, the lake or Fennes of Moeotis are of great extent, in compass at least a thousand miles, well stored with fish, and still retaining somewhat of the sweetness of those many Rivers which are emptyed into it. So called from the Moeotae who formerly inhabited on the banks hereof, and giving name to an excellent kind of fish which were called Moeotides by the Antients. At this day generally called Mar delle Zabahe, by the Italians commonly Mar della Tana, the sea of Tanais, and sometimes also Mer Bianco, or the White Sea, to difference it from the Euxine, which they call the Black, for the reasons formerly delivered. Passing directly towards the South, it is streightned by a narrow Channel not above four miles in breadth though about 24 in length, called antiently by the name of Bosphorus Cimmerius. Bosphorus, because Oxen did use to swim over it; Cimmerius from the Cimmerii who possessed the adjoining Countrey on the Asian side: but known at this day by the name of Stretto di Caffa; from the City Capha neer unto it; aud by the Inhabitants Vospero, more neer the originall. Out of this Streight that confluence of waters which do meet in the Maeotick Fennes do make their way into the Euxine. According to that of Lucan.

Qua{que} Fretum currens Maeotidas egeritundas.Where the Maeotick Pools at lastThorow a narrow Streight makes hast.

Chief Cities of it at the present, 1. Capha, or Caffa, in the Chersonese not far from the Streight called hence Stretto di Caffa; a flourishing Empory, and furnished with a large and capacious Haven. Heretofore possessed by the Genoese, who by the benefit of this Port, and the plantation which they had in Perah on the North side of Constantinople, engrossed into their own hands the whole trade of the Euxine. Taken by Mahomet the Great, Anno 1475. it became subject to the Turks, and drew into that thraldome all the Southern parts of the Chersonese which depended on it: deprived thereby of the greatest part of its former lustre, the Christian Churches being destroyed, the Towers and publique buildings razed, the houses of the Genoa Merchants which were fair and beautifull destroyed and ruined; yet still the principall of this biland, or Demy-Iland; and antiently better known by the name of Theodosia, and by that name remembred in Ammianus. 2. Precoph, in Latine called Precopia; a Town and Castle situate in or neer the place where stood the Eupateria of the Antients: called also Pompeiopolis, Heraclea, and A•hillis Cursus. 3. Corsunum, the Chersonesus of Ptolomy, antiently a Greek Colony; & then accompted for the chief of the whole Peninsula: ric•, populous, and well-traded, by reason of the Haven which was safe and large; and of great beauty and magnificence, as the ruins testifie. By the Turks at this day called Sari-Germanum, or the yellow Tower, the soyl about it being of a Saffron colour. 4. Cremam, or Crim, the antient Seat of the Chams or Princes of these Tartars; and at that time the fairest and greatest of this Bil•nd. Situate in the middest thereof, and fortified with a strong Castle, for the height of the walls, and depth of the ditch esteemed impregnable; supposed to be the Taphrae of Pliny, or the Taphros of Ptolomy. Mentioned by Florus, as then lately taken by some Roman Emperor, and so most likely to be Trajan, the first that ever extended the Roman Empire beyond Danubius and the Euxine. Situate in the very Isthmus, and so commanding both the Euxine and the Lakes of Moeotis; as Corinth betwixt the Aegean and Ionian Seas. 5. Panticapaeum, situate on the very Bosphorus, and now called Vospero by the natives: the antientest City of this Peninsula, and said by Ammianus to be the mother of all the Greek Colonies which were planted in i•. 6. Tanas, the Tanais of Ptolomy and other antients, because situate on the mouth of that River, or rather betwixt the two mouths of it, distant from one another a degree of Longitude. A town of great trade, and well frequented by the Merchants of all those Countries which border on the Euxine Sea: but subject to the Turks who hath there a Garrison, and by them called Azac. 7. Ingermenum, situate on a large and losty Mountain, and fortified with a Tower or Castle of stone, under which there is a Church, with great charge and Art cut out of the Rock: formerly of great wealth and fame, now decaied and ruinous. 8. Jamboli, by some called Balachium. 9. Mancopia, by the Turks called M•ngutum, 10. Circum; all boasting of their severall Castles. 11. Oczakow, or Ocz••covia, situate neer the influx of the great River Borysth•nes into the Bay of Carcimitis; and so most like to be built in the place of that which Ptolomy calleth Olbiah, Pliny, Olbiopolis. Honoured of late times (since the taking of Taurica by the Turks) with the residence of the great Cham: from whence these 〈◊〉 are by some called Olsanenses. 12. Metropolis as Ptolomy, or rather M•letopolis as Pl•ny calleth it; a Colony in old times of the Milesians, not farre from Olbia. Besides all which, and many others mentioned by the antient Writers of which there is nothing now remaining; the Court of the great 〈◊〉 in Summer time makes a moveable City; built upon Wheel-houses, and transported from one place to another, as occasion serveth: which houses at every station are orderly disposed of into Streets, and lanes, and by the Tartars are called Agara, or a Town of Carts.

The antient Inhabitants hereof were of Scythian race; for by that name some elder writers call not onely the true and proper Scythians lying on both sides of Imaus; but even the Sauromatae or Sarmatians also; and those not onely of Sa•matia Asiatica bordering next unto them, but even such Europaean nations, as lived on the Northern banks of Ister, and the Euxine Sea. And so they are affirmed to be by Ptolomy himslf, though otherwise more exact than any in distinguishing Sarmatia Europaea from Asiatica; and Asiatica from the Scythians For speaking of the Nations of Sarmatia Europaea, inhabiting on the Palus Moeotis, he ranks them thus. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. i. e. And all along the coasts of Moeotis, dwell the Iazyges (distinct from those called Metanastae) and the Rhoxolani; and more within the land, the Hamaxobii and Alani, Scythians. More towards the banks of the Euxine, and in the Chers•nese it self, dwell the antient Tauri, subdivided into the severall Nations of the Sin•hi, Napaei, and Arinchi, by the said Ptolomy included in the general name of •au•o Sovt•. To none but these of all the Europaean Sarmatians doth he give this name. And therefore I conceive them to have been those Scythians against whom Darius Kings of Persia made his fruitless warre. Picking a quarrell with this people, because their King had denied to give him one of his daughters to wife; or to revenge, as others more improbably say, the inrode which the Scythians formerly had made into Asia; he drew together an army of 700. thousand. Passing over the Thracian Bosphorus, he came at last to the banks of the Ister, where it parteth Moldavia and Bulgaria; and there for the passage of his men caused a bridge to be built; to the keepers whereof he left a Cord of 60. knots: commanding them every day to untie one knot, and if he came not back before all were united, to return to their houses. This done he marched towards his enemies, who still fled before him; leading him into the most desert and unhabitable parts of their Countrey: and when they had brought him into a streight, sent Ambassadours to him with a bird, a mouse, a •rog, and an handfull of Arrows; willing the Persians, if they could, to expound that Radle. Darius willing to hope the best of his design, conjectured that the Scythians did submit unto him, by delivering into his hands their Air, Earth, Water, and Arms, Hierog•yphicall signified in their present. But Gobrias, one of the seven Princes made this exposition, that if the Persians could not flie like a bird thorow the air, or like a mouse creep under the earth, or like a frog swim over the water, they could by no means scape the Persian Arrows. And to say truth this Commentary best agreed with the Text. For these Scythians following close upon him, or rather driving him before them, and vex••g him with continuall skirmishes, forced him to make such hast to get over the River, that he lost 80000 of his men in the sight and flight. This was the onely memorable Action of these Europaean Scythians in those elder ages: more memorable in the times succeeding for their horrid cruelty, than any argument of their valour. For it is said of these Tauri, or Tauro Scythae, that for the pleasing of their Gods, especially of 〈◊〉 whom they called Orsiloche, they used to sacrifise all such strangers as they could lay hands on, and with their heads most barbarously adorned the walls of her Temples. An inhumanity with which the Christian Advocates of the Primitive times, did much use to upbraid the Gentiles; taunting them with the sacrifices of Diana Taurica (so named from hence) as inconsistent with the nature of a God or goodness: most rightly giving them this brand or censure, that they were not sacra, but Sacrilegia. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Better it was to be of no Religion, than of one so cruel.

But to go forwards with the story, in the actions of the Greeks and Romans we hear nothing of them, unless it were that the Emperour Trajan (as Florus seems to intimate) took the City of Taphre. Which if he did, he added by that action somewhat to his own honour, but nothing to the Roman Empire: this people being never reckoned amongst their Provinces. Nor hear we any thing by name of their infesting the Roman territories (as the other barbarous Nations did) except they passed in the account of the 〈◊〉 Alani, Hunnes, Avares, or other of the Scythian or Sarmatian people, by which the majesty of that Empire was trod under foot. But what the Persians, Greeks, and Romans were not able to do, was with ease effected by the Tartars: who in the time of Joccatha, or Hoccata, the next to Cingis, under the conduct of Bathu, or Roydo, one of their most renowned Commanders, subdued all these parts, together with Russia, on the North Bulgaria, and Hungarie on the East. Subject at first to the command of the Great Cham of Cathaia, as the rest of the Tartarians were, they came at last to have a Prince of their own; one L•chtan Cham, descended from the aforesaid Bathu, and (as it was pretended) of the blood of Cingis. They grew at last of so great power by conquering the Asiatick Tartars which lay neerest to them, that Mahomet the Great thought fit to keep them down before grown too strong for him: and therefore under colour of taking in the City of Capha, then possessed by the Genoese, made himself master of the greatest part of the Taurican Chersonese, and the Port of Tanais; thereby commanding both Moeotis and the Enxine Sea. In the time of Selimus the first, who had maryed a daughter of this Crim-Tartar (for so they call him) and was aided by him with an Army of 15000 men against his Father; the Turks and these Tartarians grew into a League. The chief conditions of it were, that the Tartar should aid the Turk upon all occasions, with 60000 horse, if it were required; that they shall not make war with any of their neighbours, (except the Moscovite) without leave of the Turk; that they shall pay yearly to the Grand Signieur in the way of tribute 300 Christians; that the new Cham, upon the death or deposition of his Predecessor, shall receive from the Great Turk a Royall Banner in token of his Confirmation in that estate: that in reward of these services the Crim-Tartar shall have yearly from the Grand Signieur 5500 Ducates in the way of pension; and succeed finally in the Turkish Empire, if ever the male issue of the house of Ottoman should chance to fail. According unto this agreement the Tartars have been aiding to the Turks from time to time against the Persians, Polanders, Hungarians, Moldavians, and indeed whom not, and that with great and puissant Armies, the Great Cham sometimes arming 150000 of his own Subjects (leaving but one man in an house to attend their cattel) and sometimes adding 50000 Circassians, and others of the Asian Tartars. And for the Moscovite, whom he is left at liberty to assault by this Capitulation; he hath had so hard an hand upon him, that in the year 1571 they pierced as far as to the City of Mosco, and set fire on the Suburbs: which flaming into the City built most of wood, and then reckoned to be 30 miles in compass, within the space of four hours burnt the greatest part of it, and therein no fewer than 800000 of all sorts of people: A quarrel not to be composed, the Tartar not only laying claim to the Kingdomes of Casan and Astrachan, which the Russe possesseth; but even to Moscovie it self, as hath there been shewn. Nothing so punctuall is the Turk on his part, to perform the contract, who not content to have the Tartar for his friend, or at the worst his Homager, hath of late times attempted to make him his slave or Vassall. For Amurath the third, quarrelling Mahomet the Crim-Tartar for a design to intercept Osman Bassa in his way from Persia to Constantinople; authorised the said Osman to war upon him: by whom the poor Crim and his two sonnes, betrayed by some of his own Counsellers (corrupted with Turkish Gold) were strangled with a Bow-string; Islan a brother of the Crims, first sworn a Vassall to the Turk, put into the place; and over him a Turkish Beglerbeg or Bassa to command in chief. What hopes he hath of succeeding in the Turkish Empire, if the house of O•toman should fail, hath been already taken into consideration, in our discourse upon that subject.

What the Revenue of this Prince is, it is hard to say; his subjects having little money, and living most upon the bartery of their Cattel. But besides what he hath in Lands or customes, and the 5500 Ducats yearly which he receiveth from the Turk; he hath the tenth of all the spoils which are got in the warres, and a Checkine for every Captive, for some two or three (whosoever taketh them) according unto their estates.

As for his power, what he can do in horse we have seen already; And as for foot, and Ammunition, and other necessaries, he is supplied with them by the Turk, (who doth sometimes espouse his quarrels) by whose assistance they have brought the Moscovites to some extremities. And upon confidence of the favour and protection of the Grand Signieur, the Cham then being, upon the death of Stephen Bathori (whom Amurath the 3d. commended to the Crown of Poland) sent Ambassadours to negotiate his election to that Kingdome: and to induce them thereunto promised them in his letters amongst other things, that their Pope should be his Pope, their Luther his Luther; and that rather than put them unto any charge to find his Table, he could live with Horse-flesh. His Embassie entertained with Laughter, as it well deserved.

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

In Tartaria Precopensis or minor, abounding in Camels, Horses, Oxen, Sheep and Goats Venison in in their Forrests, and Fish and Fowl in the Fens of Maeotis, with a temperate ayre, about ninety nine Italian miles long, and sixty three broad: on the Rivers Boristenes and Tanais, arisng in Russia in Mosco, in the chief City, of which there are 50000 Tartar horses sold yearly; besides that these people with roots, cheese and garlick, eat horses flesh, each Bowman carrying two horses with him to the wars, one for service, and the other for meat.)

1. Caffa neer the Streights [Sterto de Caffa] a flourishing Empory, with a capacious haven, commanding the trade of the Euxine.
2. Preceph.
3. Weltraded and harboured Corsunum, now Sari Germanum, from the yellow earth thereabouts like Saffron.
4. Welfortified Crim (whence Crim Tartars commanding the Euxine, and Lake of Maeotis.
5. Panticapaeum, on the Vospero or Bosphorus.
6. Tanas on Tanais, frequented by the Merchants of all Nations on the Euxine under the Turks.
7. Ruinous, but high Ingirmenum.
8. Oizakow, the residence of the Cham, whose Court in Summer time makes a moveable City of Wheele-houses, called Agara, or the town of Carts neer Podolia in Poland, and part of Muscovy, under the protection of the Grand-Seignior, who recommanded one of the Chams to be King of Poland, in a letter to this effect, that their Pope should be his Pope, and their Luther his Luther, and that he would not put them to the charge of housekeeping, for he could eat horse-flesh.

1685. Geographia universalis: the present state of the whole world by Pierre Duval.

Of Lesser Tartary.

Lesser Tartary, which lies in Europe, is so called for distinction sake from the Great, which makes part of Asia. It is also named Percopense and Crimee from its principal Cities scituated in the Peninsula, called formerly Taurica. The Nogay Tartars may be there comprehended between the Tanais and the Boristhenes, the Tartars of Ocziakou, between the Mouths of the Boristhenes and the Niester, and also the Tartars of Budziack above mentioned on the East of Moldavia, between the Mouths of the Niester and of the Danube: Besides all these Tartars, there be those who inhabit in Lithuania and the Ukrain. This Region with Commania, which is in Asia, made up the Kingdom of the Bosphorus, possessed by Mithridates. Lesser Tartary is a plain Country, very cold by reason of the Winds. Its Peninsula is so advantagiously scituated, that several States had formerly a design of sending Collonies thither. Besides seven or eight good Cities, it has full fourscore thousand Koys, that is to say Wells or Villages. Its Neck is half a League broad, its Circumference seven hundred Miles. There be some salt Marshes, where any man takes as much salt as he has occasion for. The Inhabitants boast of never having been subdued. Tho' they be descended of the Great Tartars, they do not hold of them; they only assist the Turks in such expeditions they think to get booty in. Their Tongue comes near the Turkish, but they gabble it out faster. It was their Predecessors, known under the name of Scythians, who sent formerly to Darius, who would have subdued them, a Rat, a Frog, a Bird and five Arrows, for to declare to him, that he would find it a hard matter to retire out of their Countrey, wherein he had imprudently engaged himself. Yet they could not then draw any great advantage from their Cavalry, wherein now consists their principal strength, by reason of the braying of the Asses, which were in the Persian Army.

The Lesser Tartars have in all times made incursions upon their Neighbours, for which reason all their Frontiers is a desart. After they have made a great number of Slaves, they go to sell them in the Sea-Ports, from whence they are commonly transported to Constantinople. Their Country is very populous; several of the Inhabitants have often there each forty or fifty Children in a year: they go almost all to the War: principally the Nogays, from the age of seven years, that they go out of their Gantares, which are Huts or Portative Houses, they alwaies remain in the field. These Huts are of Ozier, of a round form, two Fathoms in Diameter, they put them upon Wheels, and use them in Summer more than in Winter. Few Houses in Lesser Tartary are built with Stone and Mortar, most of them are only of Wood, covered with Planks, upheld with Posts fixed in the Earth, and interlaced with Branches of Trees. Robbery is there tolerated, and there needs no more for any ones justification upon that account, than to say they stood in need of what they stole. The Inhabitants do not much care for the Sciences, they learn what they know by common Sence; it is said of them, they have eaten their Books and carry them in their Stomacks. They have several Horses very swift, small, lean, who live commonly on Roots and Leaves of Trees; the greatest Lords have of them very good, they take so much care of their Horses, that it is become a Proverb amongst them, That to lose ones Horse is to lose ones Head. They make sometimes up a hundred thousand Horse, and go easily Marches of four Months without Baggage; the Bow of their Saddle serves them for a Pillow, the Horse-Cloth which is of Pressed Wool or of Felt, serves them for a Coverlet, their Cloak for a Tent: each Trouper carries a Pickax; their Servants sleep in the open air, let it be never so cold. The know no other Trade than that of War, th• long experience they have had therein has taught them all the Secrets and Stratagems of that Art. Some of them pass, without any inconveniency, for three or four Days together without eating, after which they glut themselves like Hogs, to sleep as long as they have fasted. Their Provision is a little flower, steeped in Water, the use of Bread goes against their Stomacks. When they regal and treat one another, they roast a whole Colt. They have so much of the Beast, that they are born blind, and do not see clear until five dayes end. Their eyes are but little open, very black, with long lashes, and so piercing, that they always discover their Enemies soone• than they are perceived by them; they are much shorter than tall, have large Members; they have a high and big Breast, a short Neck, huge Head and Cheeks, their Face almost round, a flat and Saddle Nose, a small Mouth, white Teeth, tawny Complexion, very black and harsh Hair, like the main of a Horse. When they are Children their Mothers take care to bath them once a day in Water, wherein Salt is dissolved, to harden their Skin, and render them less sensible of the cold, when in Winter they are obliged to pass Rivers by swimming. Each Tartar has a Whistle, a Gamelle, which is a Porrenger of Wood or of Copper, a Whip, a Knife, an Awl, Packthread, Thread, Points and little Cords of Leather, a Marriners compass; every ten have a Chaldron and a little Drum. Their King is called Kan, and his Successour Galga. The Residence of the Kan is at Baccassaraium, otherwise Boston-Seraglio, sometimes at Crim. Mancup is his strongest Town, and the place where his Treasures be kept. He says himself allyed to the Grand Seignior, who gives him a Pension, and deposes him when he thinks fitting, or rather when he has the Power so to do; and who for that purpose seizes often on the Kans Relations, for the having him elected of that Family who is most his Creature. The Confederacy between the Turks and the Lesser Tartars bears among other things, that the Race of the Ottomans coming to fail, that of the Kans of the Lesser Tartars shall succed to the Turkish Empire. The Grand Seignior did this to engage those Princes to the maintaining their Dominions, as expecting to possess them one day themselves. The Turk is master of the City of Caffa, the best and most important of this State. His Predecessours took it from the Janizaries in the year 1475.

The Lesser Tartars assisted the Polanders in some of their late Wars, but to the cost of their Guests; besides some Money those gave them annually, some Rouls or Sheep-skins to cloath themselves with. Though their Shape makes them resemble Apes when they are on Horseback with very short Stirrups, yet they fail not of having the advantage of their Enemies in the Campaign. The Cossacks fight 'em when they can go in Tabort, that is to say when they can march between two rows of their Waggons, having eight or ten in the Front, and as many in the Rear, with Fuzils, Half Pikes, and long handed Scyths, while that the best mounted go round about with Sentinels on all sides for a Quarter of a League distance. The Lesser Tartars are so cruel, that they give Axes and Knives to their little Children for the killing those Prisoners outright, whom they mean not to carry away. They have themselves sometimes filled great Sacks with the ears of Christians, to show the greatness of their Victory.