Tartaria

Maps

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  1701 A system of geography by Herman Moll - Great Tartary.jpg

Sources from old books:

1615. The estates, empires, & principallities of the world by Pierre d'Avity.

A DISCOVRSE OF THE EMPIRE OF THE GREAT CHAM OF TARTARIA.

The Contents.

1. The contents and extention of the great Cham of Tartaria, the bounds, and climat. [ C]

2. The scituation and circuit of Cambalu, the chiefe citie.

3. The constilation of the ayre of those countries, their aboundance in Rice, Wheat, Silke, Rhubarbe, & Muske; in Camels and Horses; in stones which burne like wood; in Pheasants and other birds.

4. Of the terrible lightning, thunder, and winds, wherewith these countries are infested.

5. Description of the Lake of Caniclu, full of Pearles, and of the other riuers of this Empire,

6. Valour and manner of liuing of the Scythians, auncestors to the Tartarians: Their barbarous custome to drinke in skulls, and to weare the skins of their enemies.

7. Their chiefe gods, their sacrifices, and their bloudie ceremonies in contracting alliances, and at the funeralls of their Kings, where they did sacrifice the seruants and officers of the Crowne.

8. Another ceremonie obserued at the interment of priuat persons.

9. Of the pa••ting which [ D] the Scythian women vsed; of the Scythians oath, and of their lawes.

10. Of the beginning of the Empire of the Tartarians, and how they were freed from the dominion of their neighbours, by a Marshall called Canguist.

11. A description of the nature, manners, custome, lawes, meat and drinke, apparell, exercises, and kind of liuing of the Tartarians; their armes, and manner of fighting in warre: their ceremonies at the funeralls of their Kings.

12. Their riches in the traffique of Rice, Wooll, Silke, Hempe, Rhubarbe, Muske, Chaml•t•, Ginger, Synamon, Cloues, Gold, Sand taken out of riuers, Corrall, with mynes of Gold and Azure.

13. Their money made of the barkes of Trees, and Cockell-shells.

14. Their forces consisting in the strong scituation, and greatnesse of Prouinces, in townes, and in men of warre, camping out of Townes.

15. The names of the Emperours of Tartaria grauen in letters [ E] of gold, and set vpon the Temples of their chiefe Townes: their absolute power of life and death ouer their subiects.

16. Lawes and militarie orders established by Canguist their first Emperour.

17. Ceremonies obserued at the crowning of a new Prince.

18. Of the seale which the great Cham doth vse in his Patents, and of his rigorous iustice.

19. Of two Councells, of Warre, and State, and their iurisdiction, and of the power and authoritie of Astrologians in those countries.

20. Of the punishment of theeues and malefactors.

21. Explanation of the word Hordes.

22. Of the Tartarians religion composed of Mahometisme, Paganisme, and Christianisme: their gods, the forme of their prayers, and their beliefe touching the immortalitie of the soule.

23. The beginning and descent of the Tartarian Iewes.

24. Of the error of the Tartarians that be Christians, following the heresie of Nestorius.

25. A Genealogie [ F] of the Emperours of Tartaria.

[ A] THey that haue carefully obserued and calculated like good Geographers the contents of the Empire of this great prince, which yeelds not to any other in greatnesse of countries, but to the king of Spain, whom he doth also exceed, for that his lands are vnited, and haue all some bond which ties them together, whereas those of the Spaniard lie scattered and wonderfully diuided; such I say as haue carefully obserued the contents of the countries which this Monarch holds, haue found that it was neere two millions, and two hundred thousand Italian miles [ B] square.

This great Empire called by the inhabitants Mongul, which draws the name of Tartaria [ I] from the riuer of Tartar, which doth water a great part of it, hath for bounds on the East, the great realm of China, the sea of Cin, & the strait of Anian; on the West, the mountains of Imaus which shuts it vp on that side, except certain hordes of Tartarians which are on this side that mountaine, and acknowledge the great Cham; towards the South lies Indostan, the riuer of Ganges, and that of Oxe, now called Abiam, and also on the highest part is the realme of China; and vpon the North, the frosen sea, whose shoare is so cold (by reason of the neerenesse of the Pole) as all that countrie is vnknowne, and held by vs to be desart and vnhabited. Finally, this prince comaunds all the countrie which by [ C] the auncients was called Scithia, beyond mount Imaus, the which now they call Altay, and the region of Seres, which at this day hath the name of Catay. Or according vnto some who seeme more iudicious, his Empire extends from the desart of Lop of the one side, and the lake of Kytay of the other, vnto a wall drawne betwixt the three and fortieth and fiue and fortieth degree, from the towne of Ochioy scituated betwixt two mountaines, vnto another mountaine which ends with the sea, and diuides the Tartarians from them of China, and from the Scithian Ocean, vnto the frontires of Tipure, and the neighbour countries. This tract comprehends many great realmes and prouinces of a long extention, beautified with a great number of good townes.

The chiefe citie of this Empire is called Cambula, which some will haue to be in former [ II] [ D] times called Issedon Serica, built of a square forme, scituated vpon the riuer of Polisangi, and hauing in circuit about foure and twentie Italian miles, with twelue ports, euery one of which hath his suburbes, whereas strangers and merchants remaine. This citie is in the middest of the prouince of Catay, and as it were the center of all the countries round about.

Besides the great and rich kingdome of Catay, there are many other goodly realmes, as those of Tangut, Camul, Tenduc, Tainfur, Thebet, and the towne and prouince of Caindo, of all which countries, I cannot make any curious description, for that there is not any man found that hath had full knowledge thereof, or hath imparted it to others.

The Qualitie.

THey hold that the countrie of Catay abounds in rice, wheat, and such like things, [ III] notwithstanding that the aire be cold. There is also great store of gold, silk, rhubarbe, muske, and great numbers of beasts; and to conclude in a word, they haue all things necessarie not onely to liue, but also to entertaine life with delight. They haue great numbers of camells, and such aboundance of horses, as some haue written that the great Cham did feed ten thousand white mares, whose milke he did drinke. They do not write that they gather much wine there, for it is certaine that the prouince of Catay yeelds not any. They find also stones which burne, whereof they make their fire, as they do of turfes [ F] in the Low countries, and we of Newcastle coale. The aire is not very temperat, and the thunder and lightning is so terrible and strange there in Sommer as men die in a manner for feare when they heare it. It is sometimes extreamely hote and presently after very cold, and much snow doth fall. The winds are sometimes so strong and violent, as they staie horsemen or ouerthrow them, they ouerturne trees and pull them vp by the roots; and in a word they doe much harme. It raines neuer in Winter, and seldome doth there [ A] any water fall in Sommer, the which is so small, as it doth scarce wet the ground. There is great store of foule in this countrie, especially of phesants, and such like.

[ V] There are many lakes, to number which would be tedious, yet I will set downe the names of some for the readers content. In the prouince of Caniclu, there is a lake in which they find such aboundance of pearle, as they will presently be of no value if it were lawfull for euery man to carry away what he lift. But they are forbidden to fish for pearle without the permission of the great Cham. They find also in the same lake great store of fish. There is another which abounds as much with fish in the prouince of Caraim, being one hundred miles in circuit. These countries are watered by many riuers, among which [ B] that of Polisange is very famous: it dischargeth it selfe into the sea, and by it many vessells do mount laden with merchandise. There is also the riuer of Coromoran which falls into the sea, and is so deepe and broad, as there is not any bridge to passe ouer it. The riuer of Quianfu halfe a mile broad is as deepe and aboundant of fish. There is also that of Quiam, which Paulus Venetus holds to be the greatest in the world: for he writes that in some places it is ten miles broad, in some eight, and in some six. It is a hundred daies iourney long. But to specifie something, we must set downe what could be learned of the particularities of some prouinces.

There growes much rhubarbe in the realme of Tangut, the which is transported throughout the world. In the realme of Tenduc they find very rich mines of gold and [ C] azure. The realme of Tainfur is better manured, and abounds in vines. The countrie of Thebet is moorish, full of forrests, and wild beasts, and abounds in corall. They find also there great store of muske, synamon, and other spices.

This is all that can be said of the qualitie of these countries, both in the generall and particular: let vs now obserue the manner of liuing of the auncient inhabitants, to come afterwards to those which are practised among them, and to the qualities and humors which they haue in our time.

The Manners of the Ancients.

[ VI] THose which we call at this day Tartarians, were all comprehended vnder the name [ D] of Scythians, whereof some liued on this side, and others beyond mount Imaus. The Scythians in the beginning had no great continent of countrie, but in succession of time, and by their valour, they grew so great, as hauing subiected many prouinces, and vanquished diuers nations, they made a very great Empire, and became famous and renouned throughout the whole world. They were neuer subdued, and seldome had beene assaulted to be made subiect to the Empire of any other. They forced Darius to flie with a great part of his armie, and defeated Cyrus with all his forces being led by a woman. Alexander the Great lost both souldiers and commaunders, whom he had se•t thither, and had no better successe than the rest. The Scythians had heard speake of the Romans [ E] name, but they neuer tried their forces, nor were made subiect to the yoke of their commaund. These people liued according vnto nature, and vsed no law. They hated theft, as those which did not shut vp their troupes within inclosures, or walled places, but kept them in the open field. They had no vse of gold nor siluer. Milke and honie was their food. They armed themselues against the cold with the skins of wild beasts, knowing not how to make garments of wool. When as the ancient Scythians had taken a man in war, they were bound to carry vnto their king the heads of all such as they had slaine, if they would haue any part of the spoile: otherwise they might not demaund any thing. They vsed this manner in cutting their enemies heads, they made a round incision about the eares, & drawing forth the skull, they did shake out that which was in it, & in like maner [ F] flea off the skin, as they did that of the whole bodie, the which they tanned like an oxes hide, where with they attired themselues, and made raines for their horses, or else vsed them as napkins at their meat, and the more of these seruices they had, the more they were esteemed among them. Some also did cut off the right hands of their enemies, and [ A] hauing flead them with their nailes, they couered the tops of their quiuers therewith: and others hauing flead a whole man, they streched out the skin vpon a boord, and carried it in for a shew vpon their horses. As for the heads whereof I haue made mention, after they had flead them, and couered them without with a peece of an oxes skin, they did gild them within if they were rich, making cups to drinke in, and giuing them to strangers of note that came to see them, descoursing of their valour vnto them.

Euerie one of their princes did giue wine once a yeare to such souldiers as had slaine any of their enemies, and they that had not killed any, nor done some memorable exploit, were put apart without any honour, which was an insupportable infamie amongst [ B] them: whereas he that had slaine many, was presented with two cups of wine; for they carried so many goblets for a shew.

Their chiefe deities were the goddesse Vesta, who commaunded ouer all, and then [ VII] Iupiter, or Tellus, or the Earth, who they held to be Iupiters spouse, and these were the gods whom they honoured and sought to make fauourable vnto them. Besides these, they did worship Apollo, Venus, Mars, & Hercules, yet they did not erect any Temples or Altars vnto them, except to Mars, to whom they did sacrifice the hundred prisoner that, were taken in warre. To the rest they▪did sacrifice beasts, and especially horses. As for swine, they did so little esteeme them, as they would not suffer one to be kept among their troupes.

[ C] Whenas their king did condemne any one to death, the punishment was not restrained to him alone, but it was extended to all his issue male.

Whenas the Scythians contracted alliance with any one, they tooke a great goblet in which was earth, whereon they did poure wine mingled with the bloud of both parties, with the which they did besprinkle the points of their swords, their axes, arrowes, and darts: then hauing made a great oath with long and terrible imprecations against them that should breake this league, they did all drinke of the wine of this goblet, and not only the principall parties, but also all the chiefest men that assisted as companions to them that made the league.

When their King died, they made a verie deepe hole of a square forme, then taking [ D] the bodie they bowelled it, and put in the place thereof sweet odoriferous poulders, with the seeds of Smalage and Anis, which done, they sowed vp the bodie, and layed it vpon a chariot, sending it from nation to nation, euerie one doing it honour and seruice, and in the meane time the courtiers and seruants of the kings house did slit their eares, and cut their haire in signe of heauinesse, and they did launce their armes, and pinch their noses, euen to the effusion of bloud, and they did pierce their left hands with an arrow: the bodie hauing past throughout all the countries of the jurisdiction of the deceased, they left it in the most remote prouince of his empire. There the sepulchre being made, and the bodie being put into a coffin, and layed into the graue, they did set lances and long staues about it, with rodds vpon the top of them, and also certaine garments. [ E] Moreouer, they did put into the void place of the coffin, one of the Kings Concubines, whom he loued best in his life time. He must also of necessitie haue some officers to accompanie him, and to serue him in the other world: and therefore they did strangle neere vnto the tombe a Chamberlaine, a Cooke, a Butler, a Sergeant, and a Mulet-keeper; all which had for the carrying of their baggage but one horse which was slaine with them, and at the same time they were buried with their prince, and with him his plate, and richest moueables.

They had this custome, that at the end of the yeare they did the like seruice, with the losse of the liues of his best seruants and officers, who are all naturall Scythians, free, and of noble race, and such as it pleased the King to chuse, for that no slaue was admitted to [ F] his seruice. They did also chuse fiftie of the later sort, with the like number of horses which they strangled, taking out their bowels, and then sowed vp their bellies; after which, they couered them with their cloakes, and tied them about the tombe couered with a vault, they being on horsebacke, and set in such sort, as a farre off they did seeme a troupe of horsemen, appointed for the guard of the deceased King: such were the ceremonies and funeralls of Kings, whenas they were interred. [ A]

[ VIII] They had a particular kind of burying for priuat persons, for that any one being dead, his people layed him vpon a chariot, and carried him to his kinsfolkes and friends, uerie one of them making a feast in the place of his aboad to the kinsmen of the deceased, and to the rest that accompanied the bodie. They carried it vp and downe for the space of fortie daies, at the end whereof they did set vp three peeces of timber equally declining, and vpon it they layed a tent of wooll very artificially, then they did cast into a vessell made like vnto a barke, and set vpon the tombe next vnto the rent, the most glistering stones they could find: this is all that can be spoken of their manner of burying the dead; let vs now come vnto the rest. [ B]

[ IX] The men neuer washt themselues, but the women rubbed their naked bodies against some sharpe and rough stone, hauing then poured water vpon them, and their flesh being swolen by this meanes, they rubbed their bodies with the wood of Cypres, Cedar, and Incense, and they did also vse certaine oyntments for the face made of the like drugs, by meanes whereof they smelt sweet, then hauing the day following taken away these pla•ters, they seemed more beautifull and pleasing. These people did not sweare but by the royall Throne, and if any one did forsweare himselfe, or take a false oath, if he were conuicted by the Inchanters, who made proofe thereof by rods of willow, he presently lost his head, and his goods were forfeited to them that had proued his periurie. [ C]

They of Catay, whom they called the Seres, liued louingly and quietly together, and yet notwithstanding this mildnesse, they fled the companie and conuersation of other men; so as they would not traffique by word with any stranger: but if they would make any bargaine, and sell their commodities, or buy others, the stranger was forced to passe the riuer, vpon the bankes whereof either of them layed his merchandise; and then the Seres set the price of all things in looking on them, and the stranger did of necessitie pay what they demaunded.

An adulterous man or woman and a theefe were neuer called in question, and they say that in old time there was neuer any murther committed among them, for that they did more feare to be found disobedient to their laws, than of the threats and constellations, [ D] or of the predictions of those which cast their natiuities, and told them their fortunes.

No man amongst them touched his wife when she was with child, or had her monethly flux. There was not any one among them that did eat any polluted beast. They made no sacrifices, and euerie man was Iudge of himselfe, following naturally that which was reasonable.

[ X] The Tartarians, which acknowledge the great Cham at this day, were in old time subiect to their neighbours, and payed them tribute, they were so base and deiected; and yet they were gouerned by Lords and Captaines, who had the soueraigne gouernement of affaires: but in the end, they shaked off this yoke by the meanes of an old man, Marshall of his Estate, who said, he had seene a vision of a Knight armed in white, & mounted [ E] vpon a horse of the same colour, who hauing called him by his name, said these words vnto him, Canguiste, (for so was the name of this Marshall) it is the will of the immortall God, that thou freest this people from the subiection of their neighbours, and that th•• be•st •ouernour and King of the Tartarians, who shall make others subiect, as they are now tributarie to their neighbours: This was the cause that the Tartarians (being desirous to see themselues free, and to commaund others) made choyce of this Canguiste for their King, who was the first prince of this people: this happened in the yere of our Lord 1187. This Canguiste, called Chinghie by some others, was a wise man, and of a good life, and was the first which sought to root out idolatrie from among the Tartarians, forbidding by an edict when he was made King, the adoration of Idols, enioyning them to worship one God onely, by [ F] whose meanes he thought to haue gotten so great a dignitie. In the end, Canguiste seeing himselfe strong, failed not sodainly to inuade the Scythians his neighbours, on either side of Mount Imaus, and made them his subiects and tributaries, and the Tartarians more hardie and feared, whereas before they were onely shepheards.

[ A] The Manners of the Tartarians at this day.

THe Tartarians are of a meane stature, and haue very broad brests and shouldiers; [ XI] they haue great gogle eyes, and thicke eyebrowes: they are broad faced, and haue thinne beards with great mustachos: they commonly shaue the backe part of their heads and let the other grow long, which they tie behind their eares: not onely the Tartarians are shauen after this manner, but also such as go to remaine in their countrie. They are good horsemen, very light and actiue, but bad footmen. No man goes on foot, but all are [ B] mounted either on horses, or else on oxen when they trauell, how meane soeuer they be. They hold it for an honourable thing when their horses weare little bells about their neckes which haue cleere sounds. There are great criers euen when they talke familiarly together, and whenas they sing a man would say they were wolues that howled, and all of them when they sing shake their hands. Whenas they drinke, they neuer leaue till they be drunke, and glorie in this beastlinesse. There are many among them which haue neither townes nor villages for their ordinarie aboad, but remaine in the fields vnder tents. In Winter they liue in plains, but in Sommer they dwell on mountaines seeking the best pastures. For the most part they haue no bread, nor kned any, neither haue they any tablecloathes or napkins. These people contemne all the rest of the world, and thinke that [ C] there is not any one so worthie of honour as their prince, neither will they suffer one to call vpon any other man. They call all Christians dogs and idolaters: they vse Magicke 〈◊〉, and are giuen to the interpretation of dreames, and haue Magitians which be interpr••ers of their idle fancies, and which go vnto idols to heare their oracles and explicatio••. They are so couetous of wealth, as when any one hath seene a thing that he desire••, he takes it away by force, if he may not haue it with the owners consent, so as he be 〈◊〉 Tartarian; and euery man thinkes that it is lawfull by their kings lawes. Whenas the Tartarians find any one vpon the way which carries not the kings letters or pasport, they 〈◊〉 vpon him, and keepe him as their slaue. They lend money to such as haue need, but vpon great vsurie. They neuer giue any almes to beggers: but they haue one thing commendable, [ D] that if any one arriue whenas they dine or sup, he may eate and drinke with them; for in steed of giuing him leaue to depart, they inuite him courteously, and giue him willingly what they haue. They are very slouenly in their eating and drinking, for as they neither haue cloth nor napkins, so they neuer wash their hands. They vse no hearbes, pease, nor beanes, but their onely food is the flesh of all sorts of beasts, yea of dogs, and cats, and great rats. Some among them haue a custome, whenas they haue taken any one of their enemies to roast him, to shew the desire they haue of reuenge; when this is done, they assemble commonly in great numbers, and deuoure the bodie like •amished wolues: but before they roast him, they receiue the bloud and put it into cups, and so drinke it. For their ordinare drink, they vse mares milke. They hold it a great [ E] •••e to suffer any of their meat, or their drinke to be lost; and therefore they cast not any bones to dogs or cats before they haue taken out the marrow. Mor•ouer they are so mi•erable and base, as they neuer eate any beast that is found, but stay vntill it be lame or sicke, or so old as it doth but languish. They content themselues with little: they drinke two or three cups in the morning, and after that they sometimes passe a whole day without meat or drinke. There is s•arce any of them either men or women that hath aboue one garment. The men in steed of caps or hats weare miters which are not very deepe, 〈◊〉 before, and hauing a long taile behind: and to keepe them fast that the wind beat them not off, they tie them with ribons vnder their chins. Married women vse an attire of their heads made in forme of a pannier made of oziers, a foot and a halfe long, inricht [ F] with silke and peacockes feathers, and with it they weare pearles, stones, and ornaments of gold, and as for the rest of the bodie, they are attired according to their meanes, and the richer sort weare silke or scarlet. Their roabes are made after this manner: the slit is on the left side, by the which they attire and disroabe themselues, and they haue foure or fiue buttons which shut it vp: the garments they weare in Sommer are commonly black, and those in Winter, or in a rainie, season are white, and they go not beneath the knee. [ A] The Tartarians weare garments of furres, the which they vse commonly contrarie to other people: for to make shew of the bountie of the haire, they weare the furre outward, and the skin next to their bodies. They are veery good archers, good horsemen, and well practised in war: they carrie their wiues and children with them, and sometimes set images of men vpon horses, to the end their armie may seeme greater to their enemies, by which meanes they amase them the more. They are not ashamed to flie when as necessitie doth presse them, and that it is likely they shall be beaten in resisting. They fight by troupes, and flie also by troupes; and when as the enemie pursues them, they haue their arrowes alwaies readie to shoot: but if they see themselues pursued by smal troups [ B] they put themselues in order, renew the fight, and make their way with the multitude of their arrowes, wounding their enemies, and their horses of all sides, and in the end they obtaine the victorie when they were held vanquished. Whenas they meane to inuade any countrie, they diuide their armie, and assayle it of all sides, to the end they shall not come to encounter them, nor any of the inhabitants escape, and by this meanes they are most commonly conquerors. They vse the victorie with insolencie; for they spare not any they haue taken, neither women, nor children, old, nor young, but kill all indifferently, except workemen whom they keepe to do their workes. When they meane to kill them, they distribute them to captaines, who assigne ten or more to euery seruant to kill them, according to the number of prisoners, and all are sodenly slaine like beasts with an [ C] axe, or hatchet, to the end that others may be terrified by this example. They take one of a thousand, and hang him on a poale with his head downeward, in the middest of the rest that haue beene slaine; so as he seemes to admonish his companions and to heare them speake. There are many among the Tartarians which come vnto the dead bodies lying vpon the ground, and sucke vp the bloud which comes out of their wounds being yet fresh. They neuer keepe any faith or word they haue promised, by which meanes they practise great crueltie against such as haue yeelded vnto them. They are the most giuen to lasciuiousnesse and whoredome of any men in the world, for notwithstanding they may haue as many wiues as they are able to keepe, and that no degree of consanguinitie and bloud doth hinder them from marrying together, vnlesse it be with the mother, [ D] daughter, or sister, yet they are execrably giuen to that horrible sinne of Sodomie. They hold not any one for a wife vntill she hath borne children, neither doth he receiue any dowrie for her vntill that time; so as he may repudiat her that is found barren, and take another in her place. If any one be surprised in adulterie he is punished by the law, be it man or woman. Euery woman hath her lodging, her houshold & familie a part, and all liue very chastly. When the men returne from the war, they driue their cattell to the field, and keepe them, and spend their time in hunting, and they also practise wrestling. The women haue charge of all the rest, and care of those things which concerne meat, drinke, and apparell. This people is much giuen to superstitions: it is not lawfull for any one to pisse in publicke places, and if it happen that he shall do it wilfully, he shall be slaine [ E] without remission: but if necessitie forceth him, there is a pauillion, wherein if any pisse, they purge it, and all that is within it after this manner: They make two fires, in the which they fix two pikes, and tie a cord which runs from the top of the one vnto the other, and then they cause all things which they meane to purifie to passe betwixt these pikes as through a gate. There are also two women, one of the one side, and the other of another who cast water vpon them, mumbling certaine charmes and sorceries.

No stranger is admitted into the kings presence, of what dignitie soeuer he be, or any affaires of importance that he hath, vnlesse he be first purged. He that enters the pauillion whereas the king, or any prince, or great nobleman makes his ordinarie aboad, is instantly put to death. There are many other things which they hold for irremissible faults: but [ F] if there be question to kill or wound a man, to inuade another mans lands, to take away another mans goods contrarie to all right, and to contemne the commaundement of God, they hold it nothing, and doe it without any scruple. Whenas any one is sicke or neere death, they fix a pike or halberd with a blacke pennon or flag, neere vnto the place [ A] where he lies sicke, to the end that such as passe by may not enter. Being dead all his familie assembles, and they carrie his bodie out of the pauillion into a place which he had formerly chosen; then hauing made a deepe and large hole, they set vp a little tent in it, and a table furnished with meat, and they cast the bodie of the deceased into it, attired in his richest garments, and then all together couer it with earth. They doe also burie with him a mare and a horse, with a caparison. The richer sort in their life time chuse one of their slaues, whom they marke with a hot yron, and cause to be buried with them, to the end he may serue him in the other world. After this, the friends of the deceased take another horse, which they kill, and then eat. The wiues of the deceased burne his [ B] bones for a purgation of his soule. For a conclusion of their manner of liuing, I will say that their best drinkes are of Rice and spices, which make them more drunke than wine. They do also loue sower milke like vnto the Arabians, and milke distilled & past through 〈◊〉 Alymbeck, the which hath great force to make them drunke; and also they do accommodate their mares milke in such sort, as it is like to white wine, and pleasing in tast. They •bstaine wholly from swines flesh. And for that they are vagabonds, and stay little in any place, they guide themselues in their voyages by the North starre, and as men which liue commonly in the fields, they haue great knowledge of the planets and stars. There are few •••izans among them, neither is there any vse of money, but with merchants, for that the rest exchange one thing for another. Their horses are commonly gelt, and little, but [ C] strong: they call them Bachmat, & they furnish them of saddles, with stirrops of wood, and verie light bridles: and they vse whips in stead of spurs. If it happen they be ouerthrowne, disarmed, and grieuously wounded, their custome is to defend themselues with their feet and hands, yea and with their teeth, vntill the last gaspe. They doe easily indure labour, and want of victualls, and they are little giuen to delights.

Their Kings are buried on Mount Altay, called by Hayton the Armenian, the mountaine of Belgian; and whenas they carrie the bodie to be interred, they that accompanie it, kill all them they meet vpon the way, saying, Go and serue our King in the other life; and for proofe hereof, Marcus Polus reports, That whenas Mongu Cha• was carried to be interred, which was at such time as Polus was in Tartaria, his souldiers which did accompanie [ D] the bodie, slew for this cause aboue ten thousand men which past by the way. The inhabitants of the prouince of Camul, are giuen to playes and dauncings, and receiue strangers courteously, yea they will prostitute their owne wiues vnto them.

The Riches.

I Should want judgement to thinke that the Tartarians, who haue made so many incursions [ XII] into Europe and Asia, and haue carried away such great spoyles out of Muscouie and other parts, especially from China, which they haue long enioyed; I say it were a great folly to thinke that they are not rich at this day, seeing it is sufficiently knowne that [ E] these people, hauing at the taking of so many prouinces carried away the most pretious things they could find, haue since maintained themselues so well in their countrie, as no man hath wrested from them that whereof they were once seised; so as they haue kept all still: This may easily persuade any man that the Tartarians are verie rich. And that which doth moreouer preserue this Estate, is the scituation of their countrie, verie commodious for the commerce and traffique of one towne with another. The reason is partly for that the countrie is plaine, and hath great lakes (among which there is that of Cazaie, whose water is salt, and those of Gujam, Dangu, Xandu, and Catacora) and partly also for the greatnesse of riuers which run through these countrie. That which doth also make them rich, is the diuersitie of merchandise which grow there; for this [ F] countrie abounds generally in Rice, Wooll, Silke, Hempe, Rhubarbe, Muske, and excellent Chamlets made of Camels haire. But Polus writes, that the countrie of Caindu doth also yeeld Ginger, Synamon, and Cloues; the which notwithstanding is somewhat doubtfull. There are also some riuers which haue gold mixed with their sand.

The money which they vse is not all of one sort, for that in Cataya they imploy a certaine [ XIII] kind of blacke money which is made of a thin skin which they find betwixt the [ A] barke and the bodie of trees, and which being beaten and mixt with a certain• g•ue, is marked with the seale of the great Cham; and in the realme of Cajacan and Corazan, they vse certaine Cockle shells. The prince drawes vnto himselfe all the gold and siluer of his countrie▪ and causing it to be moulten, he keepes it in certaine strong forts, and neue• vseth it; so as it is thought this Emperour hath inestimable treasures: with the like art Prester Ian, who causeth graines of salt and pepper to go for currant money, hath verie great riches. And for that the citie of Cambalu is in the middest of the great prouince of Cataya, they bring thither from the East Indies, from China, and other countries, much rich merchandise, and among others, pretious stones, pearles, silke, spices, and [ B] such like. As for Rhubarbe which is spent in the countrie, they draw it out of the realme of Tangut, which is vnder the dominion of the great Cham. In the prouince of Tenduc, there are verie rich mines of gold and azure, which yeeld great profit to the inhabitants: and they of the countrie of Thebet inrich themselues by Corall, wherewith it abounds, as also by Muske, Synamon, and other spices, which yeeld no small profit. To conclude, there are few Principalities, where they haue better meanes to enrich themselues, and all the discommdities that are in this empire, falls vpon them which liue towards the North, who haue want of many things necessarie for the life of man, whereof their neighbours, subiect to the same prince, haue aboundance.

The Forces. [ C]

THey that will carefully consider of the forces of this great Emperor, may easily judge that they consist, first in the scituation of his countries, which we haue formerly shewed to be exceeding strong, in his large territories, and in the greatnesse of townes, as of Sucuir, and of Campion, built and fortified after our manner, of Ergimul, Corazam, Thebet, and Caindu, all chiefe townes of so many realmes; and also in the aboundance of victualls which they yeeld, and in the greatnesse of his reuenues: for that among other things, he exacts the tenth of wooll, silke, hempe, corne, and cattell, and he is absolute lord of all that the Tartarians enioy: but his chiefest forces consist in his men of [ D] warre, whom he entertaines continually in armes. These liue in field some foure miles from euerie towne, and besides the pay which they receiue from the Prince, they doe also make much profit of a great number of cattel which belong vnto them, and of their milke and wooll. If by chance the great Cham hath need to leuie a great armie, he takes what number shall be necessarie out of these men which lie dispersed in the prouinces, after the manner of the Roman Legions. The Tartarians doe not commonly fight on foot, except the Vachens, who are not vnder the empire of the great Cham. Their chiefe armes are bowes and arrowes, the which they vse (as we haue said) as well when they flie, as when they charge. They carrie little with them when they go to the warre, but their chiefest baggage consists of tents of felt, vnder which they retire themselues when it [ E] raines. They liue for the most part of milke, which they drie in the Sunne, hauing first drawne forth the butter; and whenas necessitie doth presse them, they liue of the bloud which they draw from their horses. They do seldome joyne battaile with their enemies, but charge them sometimes in front, sometimes in flanke, shooting their arrows continually after the manner of the Parthians. They that carrie themselues valiantly, haue goodly recompences, and are aduanced to the greatest dignities; they are honoured with exquisit presents, and haue goodly priuiledges.

This Emperour doth commonly entertaine twelue thousand horsemen for the guard of his person, and it is thought that he may draw more horse together than any Prince whatsoeuer; so as his forces haue two remarkable qualities: the one is, that he hath many [ F] men, as we may conceiue by the greatnesse of his countries, the which must needs be well inhabited, for that in the most part there is aboundance of all things necessarie: the other is, that all his men of warre are in armes, and readie to march vpon the first command, for that they are continually well payed, the which is a matter of great importanc•: 〈◊〉

[ A] as they doe more esteeme the disposition and agilitie of a souldier than his force, so they account much more of armies which are readie to march where they are commanded, and haue not much baggage to hinder them, than those which consist of great numbers: but Princes which haue them both great and readie to put to field, must of •ecessitie be held for powerfull and verie strong: for these are like vnto Eagles, Tygers, or Lions, which are held as princes of other beasts, for that they haue disposition and agilitie joyned to the force of the bodie; so as with these two parts they get the victorie ouer others. They say that the Tartarians cannot serue with a targuet, and that there are few of them that vse lances or long swords: those they weare are made like vnto the Turkish [ B] Cimetaries, pointed, and very sharpe, and of the length of a mans arme, to the end they may strike them that come too neere them. He among them is held most valiant, that knwes best to obey his Captaine.

¶ The Gouernment.

THis Emperor whom the Turkes call Vlucam, that is say, great prince, and the Muscouits [ XV] Czar Cata•ski, which is Caesar of Cataya, whose name they set in a red table in letters of gold vpon the temples of their chiefe townes, calling him the sonne of God, the shaddow of God, and the soule of God. He is so obayed in all the prouinces which [ C] are subiect vnto him, as they receiue his words for rigorous and inuiolable lawes. This absolute power came from Canguiste, who being chosen Emperor of the Tartarians, and desiring to trie if they would be readie to obey his will, he commaunded seuen princes, who before had gouerned all these people, to kill their children with their owne hands: and notwithstanding that the fathers found this commaundement very rough and hard, yet whether they feared the furie of the people who held this king as a diuine thing, or that religion moued them, for that they beleeued that God had giuen a beginning to this Empire, and that they should contemne God in disobeying the kings commaundement, they set hand to worke, and cut the throats of their owne children: so as since, that time the life and death of the Tartarians depends of the princes will, whom [ D] they so respect, as they doe not any thing that may contradict his intentions. This Canguiste [ XVI] or Chingis ordained that they which were of age to beare armes, should come at a certaine day to the place where he should appoint, and there he did set downe an order for his troupes after this manner, That Disseigners or Commaunders of ten should obey Captaines of hundreds, and these should be subiect to Commaunders of thousands, and the last should also yeeld obedience to the Colonells of euery regiment. He also ordained that if any of the Tartarians, or their slaues, should find a man, a woman, a horse, or any other thing without the princes pasport, he might sease thereon, and hold it as his owne, and iustly gotten. The exactions, imposts, and customes are so great, as we do not read that any other nation was euer so charged.

[ E] As for the coronation of their kings, whether they raigne by hereditarie succession, as [ XVII] the eldest sonnes of Emperor dos, or that they attaine vnto this dignitie for want of heirs capable to gou•rne this Empire; some haue said that the princes of their seuen tribes or generations being attired in white, which is the colour they do also vse when they mourn (as they of Iapon doe) cause the new pri•ce to sit vpon a blacke felt spread vpon the ground, willing him to looke vpon the Sunne, and to acknowlege the immortall God, the which if he doe, he shall receiue from him in heauen a far greater recompence than vpon earth, else he shall haue nothing left him, but that blacke felt to lie on in the fields, and that with much difficultie; and that he shal passe his life with a thousand discommodities and miseries. They also report that after this they crowne him, and that the greatest [ F] Peeres come and kisse his feet, and sweare fealtie vnto him, giuing him infinit rich presents; and that when this is done, they write his name in letters of gold, and set it vpon the temples of the chiefe cities of the Empire: others say that when they are to crowne a new Emperor, the princes and noblemen Tartarians being followed by the people which come from all parts of the Empire, meet vpon a plaine appointed to that end, and whereas that ceremonie is commonly performed. There, he to whom the Empire doth [ A] fall is set vpon a throne of gold, before whom, all in generall do prostrat themselues, and with a loud voice say vnto him these words: We pray thee, will, and commaund thee, to haue power ouer vs: whereunto the new prince aunswers; If you will that I obey you in this, I must of necessitie do it: in the meane time prepare your selues to do all that I shall commaund you, to come when I shall call you, to go where it shall please me to send you, and to leaue the whole Estate of the Empire in my hands to dispose thereof as I shall thinke good. The Tartarians hauing consented thereunto, the Emperor faith more: Wherefore the words of my mouth shall he vnto you hereafter, a sword, and shall take reuenge of rebells. The people clap their hands at these words, signifying thereby that they doe accept the condition. Which done the princes draw him out of his royall throne, and set him on the ground vpon a Felt, and [ B] say vnto him as we haue formerly mentioned: Looke vp and acknowled God, and withall, behold the place whereon thou art now set: if thou doest gouerne thy Estate well, all things shall succeed to thy hearts desire: but if thou doest not gouerne they people as it is fit, assure thy selfe thou shalt be so spoiled of all greatnesse and riches, that this Felt which is now thy seat, will not be left thee to do thee seruice. Hauing spoken this, they giue him the best beloued of his wiues, and raising them both vp with the Felt, they proclaime them Emperor and Emperesse of Tartaria, and instantly the great men of the Empire, and the deputies of prouinces which are vnder his obedience, bring him presents, in signe of acknowledgment. They do also bring vnto the same place the rich moueables of the deceased king, whereof [ C] the king distributes part vnto the greatest noblemen of the countrie, and keepes the rest for his owne seruice; then all the ceremonies being ended, euery man retires into his owne prouince.

This Emperor hath all in his owne power, and not one of his subiects dare say that he hath any thing in proprietie. It is not lawful for any man to dwell in any place but where he is assigned by the Emperor, who doth also appoint Gouernors, Generalls of armies, and Colonels, & they chuse Captains, & they the members of their companies, and these [ XVIII] of the rest to make their troupes compleat. The seale which the great Cham vseth in his pattents beares these words: God in heauen, Chuichuch Cham vpon earth: the Emperor is the force of God and men. This prince doth neuer speake vnto forraine Embassadors, and will [ D] not suffer them to be presented vnto him, if they, and their presents (for it is a forfait to come before this great prince emptie handed) be not purified by women appointed to that end. Then he aunswers by an interpretor, and whilest that this third person speakes, the strangers of what condition soeuer they be must kneele, & be attentiue that this interpretor omit not one word which the prince hath spoken: for it is not lawfull for any man to alter one word of the Emperours, or to faile in the execution of his will. This prince maintains justice with extreamerigour, for that offendors hauing been whipt for the first crime they haue committed, they are sawne a sunder in the middest for the second, whatsoeuer the offence be: wherein they seeme to follow the opinion which the Stoicks had of the equalitie of offences.

[ XIX] He hath two Councells, the one of war, being twelue men wife and of great experience; [ E] the other of state, of as many men, of great judgement, and full of knowledge of state affaires. These mannage all the gouernment, and haue the charge to punish offendors and wicked persons, and to recompence men of merit: and these men vse no lesse diligence to reward good seruices done vnto the Emperor as wel in time of peace as war, as to punish such as do il, or that haue carried themselues basely in any action. And without doubt the good gouernment of an Estate doth so consist in these things, that is to say, in punishment and reward, as we may rightly say that by their meanes onely the greatest part of barbarous princes maintaine their states and greatnesse. And for example, the Turke, the Xerif, the Mogor, and the Sophy, gouerne themselues after this manner. [ F] They do not obserue this in war, for that they ground their rule and commaund vpon force, and do not care for peace nor rest, but onely for victorie and grea•nesse: so as hauing this end onely, they vse no moderation, neither in the punishment of cowards, nor in rewarding the valiant and couragious. There was neuer commonweale whereas [ A] they propounded such goodly rewards for valiant men, as among these Barbarians. But they propound much more among the Turkes, than in any other place: for that the Tartarians, Arabians, and Persians, make some esteeme of nobilitie; but the Turkes ruine all noble families, and esteeme nothing but valour and hardinesse, committing their whole Empire into the hands of such as are issued from base houses; so as they haue made it knowne that they are capable of some great fortune: the which was also practised among the Mamelus. But to returne to the Tartarians gouernment, it seemes that among them they make great account of Astrologers, and that they do in a manner gouerne all things in this countrie. Paul writes that there were in his time in the citie of [ B] Cambula about fiue thousand: and that Cublai Cham hauing learned of them that this citie should one day reuolt, he caused another to be built called Taidu, the which is very neere. Finally, if any one hath stolne any thing of small value, for the which he deserues [ XX] not death, he is beaten seuen times with a cudgell, and receiues seuenteene, or seuen and twentie, or else seuen and fortie blowes, according to the qualitie of the offence: and in this kind of punishment they may giue one hundred blowes, adding alwaies ten. There are some which die, being beaten after this manner. If any one hath stolne a horse or some matter of price, for the which it seemes he deserues death, they kill him with the sword, and if he will redeeme his life, he may, paying nine times the value of the thing that was stolne. But before we passe ouer this discourse of the gouernement, for I meane [ XXI] [ C] to speake of certaine Hordes which obey the great Cham, I thinke it fit to expound this word which may happely trouble some readers, and being vnderstood, may content them that are most curious: Horde is an assemblie of many men gathered together after the manner of a Commonweale, but distributed in such sort, as in matter of warre there are Dezeniers, which obey Captaines of hundreds, and these superior Commaunders, as hath beene formely spoken. Among these Hordes, there are some which obey particular Dukes, others which obey the Muscouite, and are his tributaries, and some which are subiect to the Emperour, of whom wee make mention in this place.

[ D] ¶ The Religion.

THe Tartarians which obey the great Cham, are not all of one religion, but differ in [ XXII] beliefe, for that some follow the false doctrine of Mahomet, which was receiued into those countries, about the yeare of our Redemption 1246. They obey the Pentateuque of Moyses, and obserue the things commaunded by the auncient Law, and they crie daily, Iahi Illo Illoloth, there is but one God. Among them of Catay there are some Mahometans, but many more Idolaters, whose beliefe is thus. They hold there are two gods, one of heauen, and another of earth: of the first (to whom they cast Incense euery day) they demaund nothing but health, and vnderstanding: and of the other, aboundance [ E] of fruit, store of cattell, and such like. They say also, that the last hath a wife and children, and hath a care of their cattell, corne, and other affaires: and whensoeuer they eat, they rubbe the mouth of the Idoll with the fattest of the flesh, and of the wife and children, (for they haue many little images in their houses) and afterwards cast the broth of the flesh to the spirits without the house. They keepe their god of heauen in a high place, and that of the earth, beneath. They beleeue that our soules are immortall, but they passe from one bodie to another, and are lodged better or worse, according to their precedent actions; wherein they follow the Metempsychoses of Pythagoras. They honour also the Sunne, Moone, and the foure Elements, and doe sacrifice vnto them. They call the Pope and all Christians Dzinthis, which signifies Pagans; and Chaur, that is to [ F] say, Infidels, Dogges, and Idolaters: the which hath happened since that they were inuited by Pope Innocent the fourth to receiue the Christian faith. They were persuaded by the Mahometans to follow the religion of the Alcaron, as the most pure, saying, that it taught the adoration of one god onely, whereas that of the Christians was full of Idolls: and moreouer, that theirs was actiue, and did allow any thing to a free man, putting armes into his hand, whereas that of Christ was onely fit for effeminat persons, [ A] and for such has desired rest. They make their Idols of felt, or of some kind of silke, and they doe them great reuerence. They doe not solemnize one day more than another, and doe not fast nor abstaine in one season more than in another, as the Mahometans [ XXIII] doe, but the daies and seasons passe with them after one manner. As for the Tartarian Iewes, they are descended from the ten Tribes of Israell, transported by the commaundement of Salmanazar King of Assiria, into the countrie of Arsareth, in the time of king Oseas. Writers differ concerning the countrie of Arsareth, and speake diuersly: Some will haue it to be the countrie of Colchos, called at this day Mingrelie, for that Herodotus writes, that they of Colchos vsed circumcision. But the greatest part hold that Arsareth [ B] is the prouince of Belgian, from whence the Iewes went vnder the name of Tartarians, in the yeare of our Saluation 1200, vnder the great Ching is, Founder of the empire of Catay, and therefore they had retained circumcision, and some other things of the law of Moyses, so as they easily became Mahometans. But notwithstanding they are in a maner all Idolaters in Catay. Besides the Mahometans, whereof we haue spoken, there are some Iewes and Christians but few in number.

[ XXIIII] As for the Christians, their religion is much changed and corrupted, as the effect doth shew, for that seeing their Parents old, to the end they may dispatch them out of the world, they feed them with fat more than is fit, so as after it they doe but languish: and being dead they burne their bodies, and gather vp the ashes carefully, the which they [ C] keepe as a pretious thing, putting it vpon their meat whenas they take their repast. Moreouer they haue followed the heresie of Nestorius, which hath extended it selfe vnto the towne of Campion, and is yet held by some which remaine at Tangut, Sucuir, at Cambalu, and in other townes of this empire. These Nestorians notwithstanding that they speake many languages, according to the countries where they are, yet they celebrat their office in the Chaldean tongue. Their errours that they hold are, That the nature of man in Iesus Christ is without a person, and therefore defectiue: and for this cause they put Christ in two persons. They doe not call the Virgin Marie the mother of God, for that they say the name of God comprehends the Father, the Sonne, and the Holie Ghost, and then she should be mother of all three diuine persons: yet now they [ D] confesse that she is mother of God the Sonne. They hold for Saints, Nestorius, Theodore of Mapsuestie, Diodore of Tarse, and Paule of Samosates, and they condemne S. Cyrillus Alexandrinus. They say that it is one thing to be God the Word, and another to be Christ. They haue not the first Councell of Ephesus, nor the following. Their Patriarchs are not chosen, but come to it by succession from father to sonne. They first create him great Archbishop, then without any other ceremonie he succeeds the Patriarch which dies. In the yeare of our Redemption 1119, Prester-Iean, who commanded in the prouince of Hatay, or (as some say) in that of Tenduc (the in•abitants of the countrie call him Ioane) receiued this Nestorian heresie, but he was ruined by the great Chingis or Canguist king of the Tartarians, in the yeare of our Lord God 1162, fortie [ E] yeares after he had receiued this errour: yet he continued Lord of a small estate, which was recommended vnto the great Cham by certaine religious men of the order of S. Dominicke, by the commaundement of Innocent the fourth. And they find at this day, in the countries which are subiect to this Emperour, many Christians, which notwithstanding follow this condemned sect. And some English men which haue beene in those countries, report, that the Archbishop of Cambalu crownes the great Cham when he comes to succeed in the empire.

A GENEALOGIE OF THE EMPERORS OF TARTARIA.

It were needfull to haue other relations than those which haue come to light, [ XXV] or be neerer the countries whereof we treat, to set downe all the Emperours one after another that haue raigned there vnto this day. But for that we could not attain to any perfect knowledge therof, we must content our selues [ B] with that which we could learne from them that haue discoursed most of the succession of these princes.

Paulus Venetus holdes this order naming the Emperors that haue raigned in Cataya: First of all he sets Canguist, or Chingis, or Cinchis: secondly, Chuy: thirdly, Barchim, then Allau, and after him Mongu, and last of all Cublay, in whose court Paul remained some time.

But Hayton the Armenian giues them the names which follow. He names first Changy Cham, then Hoccora Cham, after him Gino Cham, and after these Mange Cham, and then Cobila Cham, who built the towne of Ions in Cataya, which they hold to be the same that Cambalu. We must follow in this list of Emperors Tamor Cham, who raigned in Cataya in the time of Hayton in the yeare 1308. Among the rest Hoccara Cham had many children, the eldest whereof was called Gino Cham, who succeeded his father in the [ C] Empire of Cataya; and Iochy his brother came into the Westerne parts, and seased vpon the countries of Persia, Turquestan, and some other prouinces; and another brother called Baydo conquered the Northerne countries, and taking the way of Europe, came into Hongarie, and begat Tamerlan he that spoiled the Westerne prouinces of Asia, and some of Europe. Gino Cham died young in the East, and the neerest vnto him called Mango was made Emperour, who assailed a certaine island in the East, whose inhabitants had rebelled: but they diued secretly into the water, and made holes in the keele of the ship wherein Mango was, so as he and all that were in it perished. Then his brother Cobila, called Cublay by Paul, was created Emperour, and made profession of the Christian religion, but his successors haue not maintained it. He that hath made the abridgement [ D] of the Atlas of Gerard Mercator describes this genealogie after another manner: He agrees with the rest touching the first, and calls him Changy Chan, or Cham, saying that it is the same that Paulus Venetus calls Cinchis, who liued about the yeare of Grace 1202. The Tartarians before his raigne liued brutishly without lawes or ciuilitie, neither had they any reputation among the Scythians or other nations, but paied tribute to their neighbours of the cattell which they had. This Changi extended his Empire in a short time from China vnto the Caspian sea. He had for sonne Iochu Cham, who begat Zain Cham the third Emperour, called by some others Bathi: This was he that spoiled Russia, Polonia, Silesia, Morauia, and Hongarie. The fourth Emperor, sonne to Bathi, was Temir Cutlu, whom our histories call Tamerlan, who ouerran all Asia, entred into AEgypt, tooke [ E] Baiazet Emperor of the Turkes, and led him bound in chaines of gold ouer all Asia. The fift Emperor, sonne to Temir Cutlu was Temir Gzar, who they say was slaine fighting valiantly against the knights of Prussia. The sixt issued from Temir Gzar, was Macmetczar, who had for successor Armetczar, and he begat Sziachmet the eight Emperor of the Tartarians.

1630. Relations of the most famous kingdomes. London. by Giovanni Botero.

The Empire of Tartaria laid prostrate under the Throne of the Great Cham. called Dominus dominantium, and Rex regum, spreadeth if selfe with to large imbracement, that it extendeth from the Northerne Olba, or if you will Tamais, even to the Easterne Sea, sometime surnamed the Atlanticke, whose vast Lap is almost filled with a fry of Ilands, and begirteth all the Countries called Scythia, Ievomongal, Sumongal, Mercat, Metrit, the vast Desart of Lop, Tangut, Kataia, and Mungia: so that shouldering all the Northerne shore of the Caspian, it runneth along without controll by the high looking walls of China, and is over-shadowed by those formidable Mountaines Riphei, Hyperborei, Iman, and Caucasus.

And although the Chrim Tartar would faine challenge affinity with the Turke, expecting that if the Ottoman line should faile, the greatest share of the worlds magnificence would devolve to him: yet dare he not but acknowledge the Emperour Cham for his Lord paramount, and is affrighted when hee heareth of any complaints to his prejudice.

From Scythia to the Province of Tangus, they live in troops or hoords, and remove from place to place according to the temperature of the season, and plenty of feeding: Nor before the yeare of Redemption 1•12. did we in Europe heare of the name of a Tartar, but of Scythians, Sarmatians, Albanians, and such, who were all Idolaters.

They are men of square Stature, broad Faces, hollow Eies, thin Beards, and ugly Countenances, swartish of Complexion, not for that the Sunne kisseth them with extraordinary kindnesse, but for that the aire, and their sluttish customes corrupteth their bloud and bodies: To which inconveniences Nature notwithstanding hath prevailed in the distribution of valour, swift foot-manship, vigilancy, and patience to endure the many incumbrances of travell, hunger, and want of sleepe.

They love horses,and from that love accustome themselves to a savage drinking of their bloud, practicing a cunning theft therem; which being inpunishable, occasioneth many pretty changes, both in keeping their owne, and purloyning from others; as if some civill Artist had instructed them in the Lacedemonian Lawes, which tolerated theft for the better animating one another in the spoyling of their enemies.

In their travels and removement they are governed by their Stars, and observing the North pole, they settle according to its motion. They live free from covetousnesse, and are thus farre happy, that the strange corruption of wealth breedeth no disorders amongst them; yet have they a kinde of trafficke, and by way of exchange continue mutuall commerces, loving presents, and can be contented to bee flattered even in their Barbarisme, as all the Easterne people of the world (I thinke) are affected either by nature or tradition.

If you will heare of their riches, then must you raise your eyes East-ward, and take notice of Tangut, a wealthy Province, affording many things befitting Europe, especially Rhubarb; a simple of that prerogative, as if the whole world of necessity should be beholding unto them for this distribution.

In Kataia (amongst many others) the great City of Cambalu will excite admiration, if you may be induced to measure a quadrant of thirty miles compasse, and over-looke at every corner a square Tower very neere forty furlongs in circuit; in which the Emperours Munition, Armour, and provision for warre are secured.

In Mangia, as Queene of the rest, is the City of Quinzay, having a circumference of an hundred miles, by reason that a great Lake divideth the streets into Chanels; over which are numbred twelve hundred and threescore bridges, some opening the Arches so high and wide, that a good Ship under saile hath a passage of ease. For beleefe, I will neither force the travels of Sir Iohn Mandevil, nor the writings of Munster, nor the constant asseveration of moderne Travellers; but for mine owne part I would modesty perswade you, That the world is a stage of variety, and that within our owne Kingdome we are acquainted with such novelties of wonder, that if they were but delivered by report, wee would soone prove as incredulous of the one, as we are of the other. But to proceed.

As I told you, the ancient Provinces were divided into three particulars; and in those dayes knowne by the names of Sarmatia Asiatica, both Scythiaes, and the Regions of Serica, now Kataia. Most fierce and barbarous Nations did alwaies inhabit this Country, as first the Amazons, a warlike kinde of women, which in their daies casting away the properties of their sex, vexed the whole world, usurped Asia, and built Ephesus. Upon their small extirpation arose the Scythians, no lesse dreadfull than the former. Then succeeded the Gothes or Getes, termed by their neighbours Polouci, that is, ravenous or theevish. These the Tartars tamed, and then erected their Monarchie about the yeare of our Lord, 1187. or as others say, 1162. electing for their King one Cingis, a man of base birth and calling. This mans followers at that time lived without Manners, Law, or Religion in the plaines of Caracoram, tended their Cattell, and paied their duties to K. Vn-cham, otherwise Presbyter Iohn, who without doubt in those daies kept his Court in Tenduch, in the Kingdome of Argon. But this King Cingis first subdued the Kingdome of Vn-cham, and afterwards imposed the yoke of subjection on the bordering Provinces. And certainly that famous Comet seene in the moneth of May, 1211. lasting eighteene daies, and glimmering on the Gothes, Tanais, and Russia, with its taile extended towards the West, did foreshew the succeeding inundation of these Tartars. For in the yeare following, this Nation, whose name (as I said) was not so much as dreamed of before in Europe, wholly subdued Sarmatia Asiatica, or Scythia, invaded Russia, Hungaria, and Polonia. And lastly, erected other famous Monarchies in China, Mein, and Bengala.

So that at this day it is divided into five great Provinces: Tartaria minor, lying in Europe betweene Tanais and Boristhenes: Tartaria deserta, (of old Sarmatia Asiatica) containing most of the Hords, but not all: Zagatai: Kataia: And lastly, that great Promontory which lieth out-stretched in the furthest part thereof towards the North and East, and may be called Tartaria antiqua, as the motherplace of the true Tartar Nation, utterly unknowne to Ptolomie.

Those that live in the open field, about the Euxine Sea, the Lake of Meoris, and the Tauricke Chersonesse, which adjoyneth upon Boristhenes and Tanais in Europe are the Precopenses. In this straight or Peninsula standeth Theodosia, now Caffa, once a Colonie of the Genois, now a Sangiacie of the Turkes. Their whole Territories are very fruitfull for Corne and Cattell, and tho people more civill and courteous than many of the residue, yet retaining a smatch of their ancient Barbarisme. For they are sworne enemies to the Christians, yearely invading Russia, Lituania, Valachia, Polonia, and many times Moscovie, yeelding to the Turke in the name of Tribute yearely three hundred Christian soules. To one of these Princes Selimus gave his daughter in marriage.

This in old time was called Sarmatia Asiatica, and better inhabited before the comming of the Tartars. It lyeth betweene Tanais, the Caspian Sea, and the Lake of Kitay. It is a plaine Country, by nature fertile, if it were manured by these Tartars, nothing given to husbandry, but addicted to lead a roguish and wandring life, after the manner of the Arabians. Their chiefe delight is in hunting and warfare; Mill and Panicke they cast carelesly into the ground, which notwithstanding yeelds sufficient increase. Their store of Horse and Cattell is so plentifull, that they have to spare for their Neighbours. For the most part they dwell upon Cartrages covered with skins and woollen cloth. Some defensible Townes they have, whereunto they flie in times of necessity.

Astrachan is situated upon the Caspian Sea; it is rich, affordeth excellent good Salt, and very well frequented by Moscovish, Turkish, Armenian, and Persian Merchants. In the yeare 1494. it was taken by Iohn Basilides, great Duke of Moscovie, and by him with the Title thereof annexed to the Moscovian Empire.

The Zagatayan Tartars, were so named of their Prince, the Brother of the great Cham, or Can, which once reigned amongst them. They are now called Ieselbas, that is to say, Greene-heads, of the colour of their Turbants. They inhabit the ancient Countries of Bactria, Sogdiana, and Margiana, in times past the habitation of the Massagetes, so famous in Armes. These are the most honourable people of the Tartars, indifferent civill, given to Arts, and Lords of many faire Cities built with stone; as Shamercand, once a Towne of great fame, and renowned for the birth of the great Tamerlan, or Temar-lang, but now decayed.

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

TARTARIE is a very large Kingdome: for besides a great part of Europe, it containeth all Sarmatia in Asia, with Scythie and Serica, which they now call Cathajo. It was so called from the River Tartoro, which watereth that part which wee call Magog, and the Inhabitants Mogull. It is situate in the North, on the East it hath the most potent Kingdome of China; on the South India, the Rivers Ganges and Oxus, on the West the Caspian Sea and Poland, from thence it confineth on Moscovie, and on the North the freezing Sea, which part is thought to be undiscoverd and unhabited.

The Ayre and Climate is very intemperate, & there is such horrid Thunder and Lightning in Summer, that many have beene slaine by it: now it is very hot, and by and by cold, so that thick Snowes doe fall downe. And there are oftentimes such violent stormes of winde, that they will blow men off from their Horses, and stay them as they ride, and overturne Trees by the rootes, and doe much other harme beside. It never raineth there in Winter, but often in Summer, but so sparingly, that it doth scarcely moisten the Earth. But yeeldeth good store of Wheate, Rice, and other Fruits: & it hath abundance of Silke, Ginger, Cinamon, Pepper, Cloves, Rhucbarb, and Sugar: also Muske. Pitch, and in some places Gold and Silver. In some places Wine is made, but all the Province of Cathaja hath no Wine. There is also a black kinde of stone which is digged out of the Mountaines, and serveth for Fuell; and they are wont to lay them on their fire, for want of wood. Moreover here are great store of Oxen, Goates, and Swine, and especially an incredible sort of Horses, and Cattell.

We read in the Tartarian Epistles that the Tartarian Emperour doth keep 10000. white Mares, whose Milke serveth him for drinke. And moreover that he keepeth 20000. Huntsmen, and 10000. Falkoners. And that this Country is full of Fowle, as Pheasants, Craues, and the like. In that part of Tartary which the Zavolhensian Tartarians doe possesse, they report that there is a kinde of seed like to the seed of a Mellon or Pompion, but not so long, which if it bee sow'd, a Plant will spring and grow up, which they call Boranetz, that is, the Lambe. For it groweth almost three foote high in the figure and shape of a Lambe, which it resembleth both for the feete, the hoofes, the eares, and the whole body except the hornes. And in stead of horne it hath strange haire like horne. It is covered with a thin skin, which the Inhabitants doe pluck from it, and cover their heads with it. They report that the inward pith of it is like the meate of a Crabfish: and that if it be wounded or cut, blood will runne from it. It is very sweet, and the root having put forth of the ground, will grow up as high as ones middle. Beside this is more wonderfull: as long as it hath other hearbes growing round about it, so long it doth live like a Lambe in a pleasant Pasture, but when they are gone it doth wither and dye, which hath beene often tryd. And which is most strange, Wolves and other ravenous beasts doe most desire it. In the Citty Quelinfu there are Hens, which in stead of Feathers have black haire like Cats, but yet they lay excellent Egges.

They doe call the first Emperour of Tartary, who got the Kingdome and established Lawes therein Changius Canes, or Cham. Paulus Venetus calleth him Cinchis. Hee lived in the yeere of Christ 1202. Before him this Nation lived barbarously, without manners, lawes, or civill government, being of no notes in Scythia, and living by keeping of Cattell. The other Princes descended from this Changius. Hee quickly enlarged the Empire, from the Country of Syn• and the Ocean even to the Caspian Sea. His Sonne was Iocucham, who begot Zaincha the third Emperour, whence some did call Bathi. Hee wasted Russia, Poland, Silesia, Moravia, and Hungary. Bathi begot the fourth Emperour Temi• Cutlu, who was that Tamberlaine, who is well knowne in Histories for his extreme Tyranny, who wasted all Asia, and entred even into Aegypt. Hee overcame the Turkish Emperour Bajazet, and having tooke him prisoner, put golden fetters on him, and carryed him in a Cage thorow Asia. The fift Emperour begotten by Temir Cutlu was Temir Gzar, who fighting against the Christians in Prussia, was slaine there. The sixt Emperour begotten by Temir Gzar was Macmectzar. His Sonne Amectzar was the seventh Emperour. He begot Sziachmet the eighth Emperour.

Tartary is devided into many parts, the lesser which lyeth toward Europe betweene Boristhenes and Tanais, and containeth the Taurican Chersonesus, of which we have spoke in the description of Europe. Also Tartaris deserta, in which there are many Kine: Zagatar which is Scythia within Imaus: Cathaja, with the Kingdome of Tangut, which is the ancient Scythia beyond Imaus: and lastly ancient Tartaria which was unknown to Ptolemy.

The Metropolis of this Kingdome is Cambalu, by the bank of the River Polisangus, which is 24. miles in compasse. There are 12. Gates, and as many Suburbs. It is a Mart Towne, and very rich in Pearles, Gold, Silver, and Silke. They report that every day a thousand Carts loaden with Silkes, and brought hither out of China, besides other commodities. Moreover there are many famous Citties, as Samarcauda built by Tamberlaine: Caindo, is a Citty famous for Merchandizing, in the farthest part of Tartary, and many others, which for brevity sake I omit.

There are many Lakes in Tartary, so that it would be tedious to reckon them, but yet we will name some of the chiefest. In the Province Caniclu, there is a Lake in which there is such store of Pearles, that they would be of no esteeme, nor nothing worth, if every one might carry away as many as he listed. Where it is forbidden on paine of death, that no man shall presume to fish in this Lake for Pearles, without leave and licence from the great Cham. This Lake also is full of fish. There is another Lake in the Province Caraim which is very full of Fish, being an hundred miles in compasse and others. It is watered with many Rivers, among which is the great River Pulisachnis. This River runneth into the Ocean, and many Boates loaden with commodities doe come up it. There is also the River Caromora, which is so broad, and deepe, that it hath no Bridge over it: but yet it rowleth into the Sea: There is also Quiantu, which is halfe a mile broad, and very deepe and full of fish: also Quian which as Paulus Venetus writeth, is thought to be one of the greatest Rivers in the world. For the breadth of it in some places is 10. miles, in others 8. miles, and in some 6. miles. The length of it is 100. dayes journey: I omit other matters, and so passe to the publike Workes and Buildings. The first is a faire great Marble Palace, beautified with Gold, which was built by the great Cham in the Citty Ciandu. And there is another in the same Citty, and another in the Citty Cambalu, built very curiously, and it is about 4. miles in compasse, every Quadrangle containing a mile. It hath a very thick wall, which is 10. paces high. The outward superficies of it is white and red. In the foure corners of the wall there is a faire great Palace, which is in stead of a Castle. And so likewise in the middle of the fore walls there is a faire Palace built, so that there are 8. Palaces in all. In these they keepe their Armour, their warlike Furniture, their Ordnance, their Bowes, Arrowes, Quivers, Spurres, Bridles, Launces, Bowstrings, and other things necessary in warre, and every severall kinde of Armour is laid up and kept in severall Palaces. But in the middle of them, or the innermost Court is the Kings Palace, in which the King dwelleth. This Palace hath no Chambers, but the lower Pavement thereof is raised 10. hand breadths from the ground: The roofe is very high, and adorned with Pictures, the walls of the Court yards and dining-roomes, doe glister with Gold and Silver. At the first entrance there are faire Pictures to entertaine the eye, and warlike Histories drawne foorth with gold and lively colours. The great Cham hath twelve Barons in his Court, who are Governours of his 34. Provinces: and it is their Office to appoint two Rectors or Governours in every Province, and they are to provide things necessary for the Kings Army wheresoever it be, and they acquaint the King with their purposes, who by his authority confirmeth their determinations. Malefactors are punisht in Tartary after this manner. If any one hath stolne some small matter, which doth not deserve death, he is beaten 7. times with a Staffe or Cudgell: and hath 17. blowes or strokes given him at a time, or 27. blowes, or 47. according to the quality of his offence: untill at last they come to an hundred and 10. stripes or strokes. And some doe die upon this beating. But if any one have stolne a Horse or any other thing that deserveth death, hee hath a Sword thrust thorow him. But hee that will buy out his life, hee must restore nine times as much as that which he stole was worth. If any man or woman be taken in adultery they are put to death by the Law. The Tartarians are devided into Hordes, which words signifies amongst them a Tribe or Company. And as they live in severall Provinces farre distant one from another, so they are as farre distant and different one from another in their manners and kinde of life. The men are of a strong square set stature, having broad fat faces, darke hollow eyes, having great rough Beards, but the rest of their haire is shaven: they are strong of body, and bold in courage, and can endure want and labour: when they are on Horseback, if they chance to bee hungry or thirsty, they cut their Horses veines, and so drinke his blood. It is a prophane ard barbarous Nation, who make warre their right, and strength and power their law. Many of them have no houses, but doe live in Carts. And because they wander from place to place, they doe usually direct their course by the Starres, and especially by the North Pole. They doe not tarry long in one place, for they thinke it a great unhappinesse to continue long in the same place. They have on use of money, and therefore they exchange one thing for another. They say that they are Ismaelites, and received the law of Mahomet in the yeere 1246. The Tartars doe feed on grosse meat, and especially on flesh, and that raw, or halfe sod, and on Milke, and Cheese, but they abstaine from Hogs-flesh. They drinke Mares Milke, which they doe so temper, that it is like white wine, and is a savory well-tasted drinke. They feed very sluttishly, for they neither use Tableclothes or Napkins, neither doe they wash their hands, bodies, or Garments. They drinke also Water and Milke, and a kinde of Beere made of Millet.

1638. The merchants map of commerce by Roberts, Lewes

Of Tartarie and the Provinces thereof. TARTARIE is bounded on the East with the eastern Ocean, on the West with the Moscovia and Moldavia; on the North with the frozen Ocean, on the South with the Caspian Sea, the hill Taurus, and the Wall of China: it is divided into these Provinces, Procopensis Asiatica, Antiqua Zagathai and Cathaia.

1652. Cosmographie in four bookes by Peter Heylyn.

TARTARIA is bounded on the East, with China, the Orient all Ocean, and the streights of Anian, by which parted from America; on the West, with Russia, and Podotra, a Province of the Realm of Poland; on the North, with the main Scythick or frozen Ocean; and on the South, with part of China, from which separated by a mighty wall; the the River Oxus, parting it from Bactria, and Margiana, two Persian Provinces; the Caspian Sea, which separates it from Media and Hyrcania; the Caucasian Mountains interposing betwixt it and Turcomania; and the Euxine, which divideth it from Anatolia and Thrace. So called from the Tartars, a puisant and mighty people now possessed hereof; the reason of whose name we shall shew hereafter.

It containeth all those great and spacious Provinces which the antients called Seres, Scythia extra Imaum, Scythia intra Imaum, Sacae, Sogdiana, the greatest part of Sarmatia Asiatica, and part of Sarmatia Europaea: extending it self the whole length of Asia from the River Tanais to the Eastern Ocean, taking in Taurica Chersonesus, and some other parts of Europe also. So that if we measure it by miles, it is said to contain 5400 from East to West, and 3600 from North to South: a greater quantity of ground than the Turkish Empire, but of less fertility and accompt.

In measuring by the way of degrees, it reacheth from the 50. degree of Longitude, to the 195. which is 145. degrees from West to East: and from the 40th. degree of Northern Latitude, unto the 80th. which is within ten degrees of the Pole it self. By which accompt it lieth from the beginning of the sixt Clime, where the longest day in summer is 15 hours; till they cease measuring by Climates, the longest day in the most Northern parts hereof being full six moneths; and in the winter-half of the year, the night as long.

The Countrey lying under such different Meridians, and such distant Climes, must needs be such as no generall Character can be given of it, and therefore we shall deferre that, with the names of the Rivers, and chief Mountains, to the description of the several and particular Provinces. But for the people, being much of the same nature in every part, we may take the measure of them here. Affirmed to be of square Stature, broad faces, hollow eyes, thin beards, thick lips, flat noses, ugly Countenances; swart of complexion, not so much by the heat of the Sunne, (which keeps farre enough off) as their naturall sluttishness. Barbarous every where in behaviour, especially in those parts which they call Asiatica, and Antiqua: but withall very strong of body, swift of footmanship, vigilant in time of service, and patient of all extremities both of cold and hunger. The women suitable to the men, scorning or wanting ornaments to set themselves out, or when they do, they seldome go beyond copper, feathers, or such precious gew-gawes.

In behaviour they are rude and barbarous, as before was said; eacing their Enemies when they take them, as in way of revenge, first letting out their blood which they receive into Cupe, and use it as wine unto their feast. Though swift of foot, yet generally they love to ride though it be but on Oxen: about whose necks, as about their horses, when they travell, they use little bells, with which musick they are much delighted. Their spearh, even in their common talk, is a kind of whining; and their singing little better than the howlin• of wolves. They eat commonly with unwashed hands, the durt and grease about their fingers serving as a sawce for their meat, which they devour greedily, and with little chewing; and for their ordinary drink use mares milk. Homely of habit, made of the coursest stuff, and reaching no lower than the knee: and if they go to the charge of furrs, contrary to the custome of other people, they wear the hairy side outwards, and the skinne next their own bodies; onely to shew the richness of their Apparell. And yet so proud in this beggery, that they account the Christians but as dogs, contemn all the rest of the world, and think their Cham the onely considerable Prince, by whose name they swear, as by their Gods.

In matter of Religion it is hard to say whether Mahometanism or Paganism be of most extent: some parts hereof being wholly Pagan, some wholly Mathometan, and some mix of both. But of the two the Pagan is the better Gentleman, as being of the elder house, and of more Antiquity: the Sect of Mahomet not being entertained amongst them till the year 1246.

And yet these have not so prevailed, as to extinguish the remainders of Christianity, of which there are amongst them many severall Churches. The Christian faith first planted amongst the Scythians by the preaching of Saint Andrew, and Saint Philip, two of the Apostles. Overgrown in these later Ages by the Sect of Nestorians, either by the diligence of their Preachers, or for want of others to instruct them in more Orthodox Tenets. Before the prevailing of the Tartars, besides the Circassian Christians of whom more anon, there are in the most remote parts of Tartary, whole Kingdomes of that Religion; as namely that of Tenduc, then the chief of all; besides some numbers of them in Tangath, Cauchinteles, Cassar, Samarchan, Karthim, Suchair, Ergimul, and Caraiam, where in the time of Paulus Venetus, who surveyed these parts about the year they lived intermingled with the Pagans. Not so diminished since the conquest of those Countries by the Tartars, but that they are of a considerable number, especially in Cathay it self: where they are said to have a Metropolitan in the City of Cambalu (the principall City of that Empire) and he so honoured by the Great Cham, that they receive their Crowns successively from no hands but his.

As for the Tartars, they are by the Chronologer Genebrard, said to be the off-spring of the Ten Tribes, whom Salmanassar led away captive, and that especially for three reasons. The first is, that the word Tatari, by which name (saith he) they ought rather to be called, than by that of Tartari, signifieth in the Syriack and Hebrew tongues, a Remnant. But unto this it is answered, that the name of this people is derived from the River Tartar, as some; or from the Region called Tartar, where they first dwelt, as most think: and again, that though the Hebrew word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifie a remnant, yet can it not properly be applyed to the Tartars; who so infinitely exceed the Jews, that they cannot be thought to be a remainder of them. Secondly, he allegeth for proof thereof, that this people use circumcision, the character of the Jewish Nation. And here unto it is replyed, that circumcision was common to many people, besides the Jews, as to the Aegyptians, Aethiopians, &c. and that rather as a national custome, than a religious ordinance; and again, that the Tartars cannot be proved to have received circumcision, before they received Mahometanism. Thirdly, there is brought to confirm this opinion a place of Esdras, cap 13. lib. 2. where it is said, that the Ten Tribes (that they might the better keep Gods Statutes) passed over the River Euphrates, and after a journey of an year and a half, came into a Countrey called Arf•reth. To refell which, those of the contrary opinion find no better course, than by shewing the impossibilities of it. For the Tartars (when their name was first known) were meer Idolaters, had no remembrance of the Law, observed not the Sabbath, nor any other point of Jewish religion: and so the Ten Tribes retired not hither to keep Gods Statutes. Secondly, Euphrates lyeth quite West from Assyria, and those places to which Salmanassar transplanted the Israelites; and so it could not be passed over in a journey towards the North. And Thirdly, it is very improbable, that the ten Tribes should eitheir be so simple, as to leave Assyria, where they were peaceably setled; or so valiant, as to force a passage thorough those Countries of Scythia; which neither Persians, Greeks, or Romans were able to withstand in the best of their fortunes.

To let pass therefore all imaginations of a forein Pedegree, the truth is, that they were no other than a Ruder and more Northern brood of Scythians, who pressed by want, or otherwise oppressed by the King of Tenduch unto whom they were subject, armed themselves against him, obtained a memorable victory, and setled Cingis their chief Captain in the Royall Throne. Anno 1162. After which growing of more power, and inlarging their dominions further; they united in the name of Tartars all the Scythian Nations: as Mahomet did those of the three Arabias in the name of Saracens; or as in former times, the many severall Tribes of the German Nations, were united in the names of Franks or Alemans. Not known in Europe by this name till their many great and signall victories had made them formidable, which was about the year 1212. within very little of which time they had made themselves Masters of a larger Empire, than that of Macedon or Rome, in their greatest glories. But being of a hasty growth it decaied as suddenly; the greatest part of their Europaean purchases being conquered from them by the Dukes of Moscovy, and the Kings of Poland; as their acquests in Asia, and Asrick, by the Turks and Persians. Yet still they are possessed of so large a territory, that were they not distracted into severall States; or did those severall states depend upon one Supreme; that one Supreme might very easily give law unto all his Neighbours; and make the Turks and Persians tributaries, as in former times. But laying aside these speculations of what they might do if united under one command: let us now look upon them as they are divided into these five parts, that is to say, 1. Tartaria Precopensis, 2. Tartaria Asiatica, 3 Tartaria Antiqua, 4. Zagathay, and 5. Cathay.

The great Chams of Tartars.

• A. C.
• 1162. 1. Cingis, Cinchius, Zingis, or Changius, was made King or Cham of the Tartars; he subdued Tenduch, and Cathaia, changing the name of Scythians, and Scythia, to Tartartans, and Tartari•. 6.
• 1168. 2. Jocuchan Cham, or Hoccata, succeeded. In his time the name of Tartar was first known in Europe, Anno 1212. in which year they drove the Polesockie from the banks of the Euxine Sea. By his Captain Bathu, or Ro•do, he subdued Moscovia; planted his Tartars in Taurica Chersonesus; wasted Hungary, Bosnia, Servia, Bulgaria; and by his other Captains, took P•rsia from the Turks.
• 3. Zaincham, Bathu, or Barcham, ruined the Turks Kingdom of Damascus, and Asia the lesse.
• 4. Gino Cham, whose daughter conveyed the Empire unto her husband Tamerlane or Tamberl•ne.
• 1370. 5. Tamir-Cutlu, Tamir-Cham, or Tamerlane, a great tyrant, but withall an excellent Souldier. It is thought, that he subdued more Provinces in his life-time, than the Romans had done in 800 years. Of whose acts we have spoke at large. Dying, he divided his great Empire amongst his Children, as Persia to Miza Charok his fourth sonne, Zagathay to another, (perhaps unto Sautochus his eldest sonne) and so to others.
• 1405. 6. Lutrochin, the second sonne of Tamerlane, succeeded in Cathay, though the eldest was before proclamed, which his Father had before prognosticated: who when his sons came to him before his death, laid his hand on the head of Sautochus who was the eldest, but lifting up the chin of Lutrochin, who was the second. He lived not long, succeeded to by
• 7. Atlan, who added little to his estate.
• 8. Mango Cham, to whom Haiton an Armenian Prince (and the chief Compiler of the Tartarian History) went for ayd against the Caliph of Bagdt. By whose perswasion the said Mango Cham is said to have been christned, with all his houshold▪ and many nobles of both sexes.
• 9. Cublay Cham, the sonne of Mango.
• 10. Tamor Cham, the Nephew of Cablay by his sonne Cingis.
• 11. Dem•r Cham, the great Cham of Cathay in the year 1540 or thereabouts. What the names of the Chams are, who have since reigned, we cannot learn; nor what memorable acts have been done among them. The great distance of Countries, and difficulty of the journey have hindred further discoveries. For the great Cham, and his next neighbour the King of China, will neither suffer any of their subjects to travell abroad; nor permit any foreiners to view their dominions, or enter into them; unless either Embassadours or Merchants, and those but sparingly, and under very great restraints, to avoid all giving of intelligence touching their affairs.

The government is tyrannicall; the great Cham being Lord of all; and in his tongue, (besides which they have almost no laws) consisteth the power of life or death. He is called by the simple vulgar, the shadow of spirits, and sonne of the immortall God: and by himself is reputed to be the Monarch of the whole world. For this cause every day assoon as he hath dined, he causeth his trumpets to be sounded; by that sign giving leave to the other Kings and Princes of the earth, to go to dinner. A fine dream of universal Monarchy. At the death of the Cham, the seven chief Princes assemble to crown his sonne; whom they place on a black coarse cloth; telling him, if he reign well, heaven shall be his reward; if ill, he shall not have so much as a corner of that black cloth to rest his body on: then they put the crown on his head, and kissing his feet, swear unto him fealty and homage. And at the funerall of these great Monarchs, they use to kill some of his guard-Soudiers, whereof he hath 12000 in continuall pay; saying unto them, It• & domino nostro se•v••e in ••ia vita. Paulus Venetus reporteth, that at the obsequies of Man•o Cham, no fewer than 10000 were slain on this occasion.

There Chams are for the most part severe justicers, and punish almost every small fact with sudden death; but theft especially: Insomuch that a man in Cambalu taking a pa•l of milk from a womans head, and beginning to drink thereof, upon the womans out-cry was apprehended; and cut a sunder with a sword, so that the blood and the milk came out together. Nor are Adultery or lying punished with less than death, and so ordained to be by the lawes of Cingis, their first Emperour, a wiser man, than possibly could be expected from so rude a Countrey, and of so little breeding in the knowledge of books or business: the Tartars being utterly without the use of letters, till the conquest of the Huyri, a Cathaian nation, but of Christian faith.

What forces the Great Chams, in the height of their power, were able to draw into the field, may be conjectured at by the Army of Tamerla•e, consisting of 1200000 horse and foot, as was said before. And looking on them as confined within Cathar, we shall find them not inferiour to the greatest Princes. For Cubla• Cham, long after the division of this great estate, which was made by Tamerlane, had in the field against Naian his Unkle, and one Caidu, who had then rebelled, an Army of 100000 foot, and 360000 horse; there being 500000 horse on the other side. Which made almost a million of men in both Armies. And this is probable enough, if report be true touching the Chams of Zagathay and those of •urchestan, (before reduced under the obedience of the other) of which the first is said to have been able to raise 300000 horse, and the last an hundred thousand more. For standing forces, he maintai•s 12000 horse, distributed amongst four Captains, for the guard of his person: besides which he hath great forces in every Province, and within four miles of every City, ready to come upon a call, if occasion be: so that he need not fear any outward invasion, and much less any homebred rebellions.

Of the Revenues of the Cham, I can make no estimate, but may conclude them to be what he list himself: he being the absolute Lord of all, the Subject without any thing he can call his own. But that which ordinarily doth accrew unto him, is the tenth of wooll, Silk, hemp, co•, and Cattel. Then doth he draw into his own hands all the gold and silver which is brought into the Countrey, which he causeth to be melted, and preserved in his treasurie imposing on his people instead of money, in some places Cockle-shels, in others a black coin made of the bark of trees, with his stamp upon it. And besides this, hath to himself the whole trade of Pearl-fishing, which no body upon pain of death dare fish for, but by leave from him. So that his Treasury is conceived to be very rich, though his Annual in-come be uncertain, or not certainly known.

And so much for Tartary.

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

E. China, and the Streights of Anian, W. Russia and Podolia, N. Scithicke or Frozen Sea, S. China, and the great wall that parts them, containing five thousand four hundred miles from E. to W. and three thousand six hundred from N. to S. from the sixth climate, till they cease measuring by climates; the dayes being in some places six months, and the nights as long, reaching from fifty degrees of Longitude, to one hundred ninety five, and from forty of Latitude to eighty, i. e. within ten degrees of the Pole it self: The people swarthy, squat, swift, vigilant, hardy, whining when they talk, and howling when they sing; men eaters, drinking Mares milk, riding Oxen. That Christianity that is there planted by St. Andrew, and St. Philip, and over-run with Nestorianism; thought by Genebrard to be the Off-spring of the ten Tribes...

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

• TARTARIA may be considered, as it is divided into the Parts of

• TARTARIA DESERTA,
  • Cumbalich,
  • Glustins,
  • Jerom,
  • Risan,
  • Frutach,
  • Centaz,
  • Risan,
  • Divasi,
  • Caracus.
• USBECK, or ZAGATHAY, with its Provinces or Parts of
  • Usbeck, particularly so called,
    • Jarchan,
    • Samarcand,
    • Nesaph,
    • Mogalachfu,
    • Horne,
    • Xibuar,
    • Reven,
    • Targama,
    • Teras,
    • Sachi,
    • Tanchit,
    • Tersis,
    • Sachania.
  • Sacae,
    • Sachi,
    • Istigias,
    • Busdascha•,
    • Rigul,
    • Coman,
    • Termend,
    • Escalcand,
    • Sermegan,
    • Asareft,
    • Kax,
    • Etaican,
    • Nesaph.
  • Sogdlans,
    • Bachars,
    • Pogansa,
    • Madrand•n,
    • Carassat,
    • Zahaipa,
    • Corui,
    • Chiargan,
    • Corfim,
    • Bechet,
    • Siminan,
    • Cant,
    • Chesolitis,
    • Caracol.
• TURQUESTAN, with its Kingdoms or Proviaces of
  • Chialis,
    • Chialis,
    • Turfan,
    • Cuchia,
    • Uga.
  • Chinchintalas,
    • Camul,
    • Aramul.
  • Cascar,
    • Emil,
    • Sark,
    • Cassia,
    • Taskent.
  • Thibet,
    • Andegen,
    • Raofa,
    • Tamafi.
  • Cotam,
    • Cotam,
    • Pinegle,
    • Cogricamri,
    • Peim.
  • Ciartiam,
    • Ciartiam,
    • Lop,
    • Sazechiam,
    • Carazan,
    • Vociam.
• CATHAY, with its Kingdoms or Provinces of
  • Tainfu,
    • Cambalu,
    • Achbaluch,
    • Tinzu,
    • Xandu,
    • Caidu,
    • Gouza.
  • Tenduc,
    • Tenduc,
    • Zambir.
    • Ciandu.
  • Egrigaja,
    • Ciangli,
    • Tudinfu,
    • Serra,
    • Suidio,
    • Mulon.
  • Tanguth,
    • Sachion,
    • Quiqui.
    • Hoyam,
    • Gauta.
  • Ergimul,
    • Campion,
    • Ergimul.
  • Serguth,— Erzina.
  • Belgian, — Belgian.
• True TARTARIA, with its Provinces or Hords of
  • Mongul,— Mongul.
  • Molair, — Caracoran.
  • Tartar, — Tartar.
  • Bargu, — Catacoran.
  • Carli,— Taingin.
  • Naiman,— Naiman.
  • Cavona,— Cavona.
  • Colmack, — Colmack.

    TARTARY, or TARTARIA, is seated in the most Northern part of all Asia, and extends it self from East to West, from the River Volga and Oby, which separates it from Europe, unto the Streight of Jesso; which separates it from America; and from South to North, from the Caspian Sea, the River Gehon, and the Mountains of Courasus; and Ʋssonte, &c. which divides it from the more Southernly part of Asia, unto the Northern Frozen or Scythian Ocean.

It reaches in length from the 19th unto the 180th degree of Longitude, which is the half of our Hemisphere; and in breadth, from the 35th or 40th unto the 70th or 72th degree of Latitude, which is half the breadth of all Asia; So that it may contain 1500 Leagues from West to East, and 7 or 800 from North to South.

Its position is almost entirely in the Temperate Zone;

nevertheless its more Southern parts being in the midst of this Temperate Zone, and the rest advancing to the Cold or Frozen; and its Southern parts being almost all bounded with very high Mountains, which keeps off the heat of the mid-day Sun, and renders it more cold towards the North; We may say, that Tartary in general hath its temperature much more cold than temperate.

Its Neighbours are the Moscovites, on the West; the Persians, the Indians or the Mogolls and the Chinois, on the South; the rest is washed by that Sea of which we have little knowledge; some place towards the East, the Streight of Anian, which should separate it from America; others, the Streight of Jesso, which divides it from the Land or Isle of Jesso, which is between Asia and America, as we shall declare after Japan. Some esteeming the Northern Ocean in one manner, and some in another.

The name of Tartaria is apparently taken from the River, Quarter, or Hord of Tartar; from whence these People being issued, have over-run and made themselves known in all parts of Asia. Others take it from the word Tatar or Totar, which in the Syriack signifies Remnant or Forsaken, because they esteem them the Remnant of the Jews, of which Ten Tribes were transported into Media by Salmanzer. They must then add, that these Ten Tribes passed from Media into Scythia, which is not observed by the Ancients. However it be, the Persians yet call this Country Tartar, and its People Tatarons; the Chinois, Tagun.

The People which possess this Country differ something from one another, as well in Personage as in Religion and Manners; but of the most part they are of an indifferent Stature, ugly countenances, thick Lips, hollow Eyed, flat Noses, broad Fated very strong, stout, valiant and good Warriers; very active, vigilant, and exceeding quick of Foot; patient in all Afflictions; they are very rude, barbarous and revengeful, not sparing their Enemies, whom in revenge they eat, first letting out their Blood, which they keep, using it as Win• at their Feasts.

Their Habit is very mean, which is for the most part made of course stuff, which reaches but to their Knees; yet are they very proud, despising all other Nations, and thinking their Cham to be the greatest Prince in the World; whom they greatly fear and reverence, being no better, than his Slaves. They are very nasty and sluttish, much given to drink of a treacherous and thievish nature.

In matters of Religion, they are generally Pagans and Mahumetans, which about the year 1246. crept in amongst them, which since hath spread it self over their Country, and intermixing with Paganism; yet hath it not so much prevailed as to extinguish Christianity, which was first planted amongst the Scythians (which were the Ancient people of Tartary) by the preaching of two of the Apostles, St. Philip and St. Andrew, which of latter years hath much lost it self, and not only by the prevailing of the Nestorian Sect, but chiefly for want of instructing the People in the true Orthodoxal points of Christian Religion.

Their Food is mean and very sluttishly drest; yet use they entertainments, and refuse nothing but Swines flesh, and eat all without Salt. They are much given to Hawking, and other Sports; but not much to Arts or Literature: The Women are much of the nature with the Men.

The Government (as Heylin observeth) is Tyrannical, their great Cham or King being Lord of all, in whose breast lieth their Laws, taking the Estates and Lives away of whom he pleaseth; whom they so much reverence, that they call him the shadow of Spirits, and Son of the Immortal God, and esteem him the Monarch of the whole World. In their execution of Justice they are very severe, punishing every small offence with sudden death. His Revenue without doubt must be very great; for besides the sole trade of Pearl-fishing, which upon pain of death none dares to fish for, besides those employed by him; also all the Gold and Silver that is either found in, or brought into the Kingdom, he doth assume to himself, as also the Tenth of all things that the Country doth produce; and also what else he thinketh fit; as being (as I said before) Lord over them all.

Here the Men have the liberty of 2 or 3 Wives, which they never choose but out of their own Tribe: and every Tribe hath a Chief, who is one of the Nobility of the Country, and carries for his Banner a Horses-Tail fastned to a Half-Pike, and died of the colour belonging to his Tribe.

As concerning the Forces that the Great Cham is able to raise, they may be supposed to be very great, by that which may appear by Tamerlanes Army, which consisted of a 1200000 Horse and Foot; besides, if we consider what a disturber he hath been, and how he hath enlarged his Territories of his Neighbours, as the Chinois, the Moscovites, &c. we may judge him powerful; but as his power is great on Land, it is as weak by Sea, scarce being Master of any Ships, and as little doth he regard them, though other Princes esteem them as a great security to their Kingdom.

I shall divide Tartary into five principal Parts; which are, Tartaria the Desart, Ʋsbeck or Zagathay, Turquestan, Cathay, and the True Tartaria; the first and last are the most Northern, barbarous, and unknown. The others more Southerly, are better civilized and known, having abundance of fair Cities, and driving a good Trade.

TARTARIA the Desart answers to the ancient Scythia intra Imaum; Ʋsbeck or Zagathay to the ancient Bactriana and Sogdiana; both the one and the other new Name retaining, in my opinion, something of the ancient; Sogdiana of Zagathay, and Bactriana of Ʋsbeck: Turquestan to the ancient Scythia extra Imdum. Cathay is the Serico Regia. As for the True Tartary it is unknown unto the Ancients, or at least it holds the most Northern part of the one and the other Scythia.

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

THis is the vastest Region of our Continent; Equals in bigness all Europe, and possesses all the Northern part of Asia. The Name of Tartary, which has succeeded that of Scythia, is come from the River Tatar, which the Chineses name Tata, because they do not make use of the Letter R. The Tartars are a warlike People, the best Archers of the World, but cruel and barbarous: they make War almost ever to the disadvantage of those they visit, and to the confusion of those who attack them. Cyrus at the passage of the Araxes; Darius Histaspes in his march against the Scythians of Europe; Alexander the great, when he was beyond the Oxus, have been constrain'd to yield to the Tartars: In our time, the great Kingdom of China has been forc'd to own them its Masters. Their Cavalry does most execution in their Battels, on the contrary to what is practiced in Europe, it is it which first attacks places. The most peaceable of the Tartars inhabit Tents of Pelts, and do nothing else than look to their Cattel. Their Countrey has in all times been a Nursery of Men, who under divers Names have made Conquests, and established Colonies in several places: That great Wall which the Chineses had rais'd for the putting a stop to their incursions, has not been capable of effecting that purpose. They acknowledge several Princes, whom they call Cans. They have sundry Hurdes, that may be called Cantons, Camps, Tribes, or Assemblies of Families. The little knowledge we have of them, is the reason we call them all under the general Name of Tartars. They have the Owl in great veneration, since that Cingis, one of their Sovereigns, was saved by the means of that Bird. They will not suffer they should be buried; some amongst 'em make choice of a Tree, and give order for their being hang'd up upon it after their death. There be still among 'em Idolaters, but they are for the most part Mahometans: It has been observ'd, that those who have conquered China, have hardly any particular Religion, tho' they practice several Moral Vertues. Five great parts are commonly reckon'd in Asian Tartary; Tartaria Deserta, Giagathi, Turquestan, Northern Tartary, and the Tartary of Kin.

Desert Tartary is so called, because that most of the Lands there are uncultivated: It is for the most part subject to the Czars of Muscovy; who draw fine and rich Furrs from thence, and who, with ease, subdued the Inhabitants of it, they being only Shepherds. Its Gities of Casan and Astracan, are near the Wolga, which empties it self into the Caspian-Sea by seventy Mouths; the Obi, which in the same Countrey empties it self into the Ocean, has six. Astracan drives a great trade in Salt, which the Inhabitants find in a neighbouring Mountain. The Calmack People are Idolaters, much like to the ancient Scythians, by reason of their incursions, their cruelty, and their other ways of living.

Giagathai, and Mawaralnahr, have peculiar Chams. The City of Samarchand, is that where Tamerlane the great, a Native of la Casta, a day's journey from thence, establish'd a famous University: There is also one at Bockora, which passes for the Countrey of Avicenna, a famous Philosopher and Physician; another at Orcange, near the Caspian-Sea. Alexandria, of Sogdiana, was formerly famous for the death of the Philosopher Calisthenes. The Tribe of the Mogul, is known by the rise of the Prince of the same Name, whose Successours command a good part of India. The Inhabitants of these Parts hunt wild Horses with Faulcons; in some of these Countries, they have such a disposition for Musick, that their little Children sing, instead of crying. Those of Giagathai and Yousbeg do not call themselves Tartars, being of the Mahometan Religion.

Turquestan is the Country, from whence some make the Turks to come. Thibet which is part of it, has Musk, Cinnamon, Coral which serve for Money to it's Inhabitants.

The Tartars of Kin, which some call Cathai, is the most Potent State of all Tartary, very Populous, Rich, and full of Great Cities, Cambalu, or rather Muoncheu is the Capital thereof: Several Authors have told Wonders of this City, making it known under the Names of Quinzai, Xantum, Suntien, and Peguim. Amongst other things, they say that in the Palace Royal there are twenty four Pillars of fine Gold, and another much greater of the same Metal, with a Pine Apple beset with Jewels, that are worth four Great Cities. The Voyage of Cathai has been undertaken by several ways, in hopes of finding Gold, Musk, Rhubarb, and other Rich Commodities there; several have gone thither by the Terra-firma, others by the Northern Sea, some by going up the Ganges. The Tartars of this Country invaded China in our Time; the King of Niuche called Xunchi, is the same, who made the Conquest of it, at the Age of twelve years, assisted with the good and faithful Councels of two of his Uncles. Besides a continual success and happyness, a great Moderation has been observ'd in this young Conquerour, who has treated a Nation newly subdued with all the Lenity imaginable.

The old or true Tartary, which the Arabians call after a different manner, is towards the North, and but very little known: Salmanasar, King of Assyria, is said to have transported thither the Tribes, which he carryed away Captive from the Holy Land, and there are also said to be still at this day Hords of them, who keep up their Names, and follow their Manners. It has Imaus, one of greatest Mountains in the World.

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

Tartarie, a great Country of Asia, that comprehends almost a third of that part of the World. It's generally called Great Tartary, to distinguish it from that of Europe. Some divide this spacious Country into four or five Parts, which are Tartary Proper, Tartary the Desert, Zagatai, Catai, and Turquestan. All this Country lies between the Frozen Sea, that of China, and the Streights of Anian, the Caspian Sea, the Dominions of Persia and China, and the Rivers Obi and Tanais. Some Modern Authors despise this, and follow the Arabian Division, who count in Tartary, the Kingdom of Thibet or Tobbat, which was formerly the Northern part of Scythia; the Maurenaher or Mawaralnahara, Olgarie or the Kalmuki, the Chazalgites, the Caulachites or Kara Cathai; Mongal, Moal or Magog, the Kaimachites or Naimans; the Kingdom of Tangut or Taniu, and Bagarghar; the Kingdoms of Niuche or Tenduc, and Jupi. This King of Niuche was he that made himself Master of China some Years ago. The Ancient or Proper Tartary is towards the North, and most part of it unknown. Some say there is a Place in it called Tartar, which gave its Name to the Country, though there is more likelyhood that it was called so from a River of that Name. Tartaria Deserta reaches from the Rivers Jaxarte and Tanais to Mount Imaus, and it's thought to be a part of the Sarmatia Asiatica of the Ancients, is possessed by several Companies of People or Clans, which the Tartars call Hordes, and do much resemble the Tribes of the Jews. Tartarie of Zagatai has more polish'd and civiliz'd Inhabitants than the first, as are also those of Catai. This is the Empire of the Great Cham, who is said to have about a hundred Tributary Kings: His Subjects have that Respect and Veneration for him, that they generally call him the Son, the Shadow and Soul of God; and when he dies kill all they meet, that they may go serve their Prince in the other World; which sometimes costs above 10000 People their Lives. The ordinary Residence of the Great Cham, in Winter, is Cambala, the Capital of his Territories, situated in the furthermost part of Catai. Modern Relations speak of it as one of the greatest and richest Towns of the World. As for Quensai, that signifies the City of Heaven, placed in this Country by Marc Polo, 'tis not known where it is, nor are the 12000 Stone Bridges which he says it has, to be found. Besides this Kingdom of Catai, the Great Cham has several others that are very considerable; as that of Tangut, where it's said Printing has been in use above a thousand Years; and it's hence we have our best Rhubarb: The other Places are the Kingdom of Tenduc, where live some Nestorians; that of Thebat, which abounds in Coral, whereof they make use as Current Coin. It's believed that all this Land was inhabited in former Times by the Scythians, a cruel and barbarous Nation.

1695. A New Body of Geography by A. Sewall & T. Child.

TARTARY, TARTARIA.

THIS vast Country is not sufficiently known, to give an exact Relation of it; except it be of those parts which border upon Muscovy, Persia, the Empire of the Mogul, and the Northern parts of China. And the Cause why it hath not been as fully discover'd as other Nations, is the great Difficulty of getting into it, because of the great number of High Mountains, horrible Deserts which encompass it, Rocks and Banks which run all along the Eastern Coasts, and the continual Ice which is upon the Shores in the North.

Tartary, which is more than a third part of Asia, takes its Name from Tartar, or Tatar, a River in the Northern Parts. It is called the Great, to distinguish it from the Less, which is in Europe, and joins to Turkie. The Ancients called a great part of it Scythia Asiatica.

This large Country is bounded on the North with the Frozen Sea, on the West with the Caspian Sea and the Country of the Great Duke of Muscovia, on the South with Persia, the Indies and China on the East, with the Sea of the Kaimachites, and Streights of Jesso or Ʋriez. The Extent of it from South to North is about 640 Leagues, from the Confines of Sablestan and Chorosan near Mount Taurus, to the Cape's End, towards Nova Zembla in the Country of the Samoiedes, between the 34th Degree and 71st Degree of Latitude, and from East to West about 2000 Leagues, from the Streights of Casa to that of Jesso, between the 68th and 197th Degrees of Longitude, comprehending that part which is under the Muscovite, and in its largest Extent.

The Air of this Country is different, according to the several parts of it, which are vastly distant one from another. It is so very rough in the Northern parts, that the violent Winds which sometimes blow there beat down Men, overturn Walls and Trees, and the Seas are all over Ice. The Land also is very barren there, and full of Marshes and Rocky Mountains. The South parts are of a clear different Nature, producing Rice, Hemp, and Rhubarb in abundance; as also, Wool, Silk, Cotton and Musk. It feeds also many Horses and Camels; and towards the North there are White Bears, Black Foxes, Ermins, and Sables, which are the principal Merchandize of the Country. They have great Numbers of Pheasants, and several other kinds of Birds. The great number of Mountains, Forests, Marshes, and Desarts full of Sand, make a great part of the Country not habitable, and unfit for Tillage.

The most remarkable Rivers of Tartary, are, 1. The Oby, which riseth in Ostiaski, and passeth cross Grustinski, the Country of the Samoiedes, and empties it self into the Northern Ocean, having received into it the River Irtiske, a little below the City Toboul, which comes out of Taista Kalmuck on the South-East of the City Bulagan, where it crosses the little Lake Kisubas, and then goes through the Prince-dome of Ablay, and through Sibary. It's whole Course is about 1000 Leagues from East to West, and then from North to South. It receives on the right side the Rivers Bescha on the Confines of the Princedoms of Kol and Ablay, Henkutia below the City Loukaragay. On the left it receives the River Toboul, a little below the City of the same Name; and several other smaller Rivers on each side. 2. Tongusi hath its Original in the Southern Tartaria Moscovitica; it's Course from South-East to North-East is more than 800 Leagues. Near the City Ilimsk• it receives the River Ilima, which divides it self into two parts in the Country of Jacuti, of which the Northern part keeps its Name to the Sea; but the other is called Len. Tongusi receives the River Jenica on the Left side, and then empties it self into the Frozen-Sea. 3. Amor rises in the Country of Daouri; the Course of it from North-East to South-East is about 500 Leagues. It receives the River Skilka on the right side, a little below Albasin, and then falls into the Sea of Japon. 4. Two Rivers, that lose themselves in the Lake Baikala: One, which comes from the Confines of Brast-ka and Jacuti, runs from North-East to South-East above 300 Leagues; and the other, which riseth within 9 or 10 Leagues of the City Jaranava, runs from South to the North-East about 250 Lagues. 5. Joxartes rises in Ʋspech Giagatay in the East, and runs from East to West into the Sea of Kulsum, or Caspian-Sea; but in the way receives Alsogd, Ardock, and Oxus on the left side: It's Course is 500 Leagues. 6. Rudha joyns it self with the River Yem, and having passed the two Countries of Kolmak, run both into the Caspian Sea at the Gulph of Mingus or Jav•. 7. Ʋppa riseth out of Pascatir, and crossing Casan, empties it self into the Volga. There are several other Rivers of less note in this Country.

The principal Lakes are, 1. The Lake of Marsan in the Country of Kolmak toward the West. 2. Kisulbas in the South in the Princedom of Kol. 3. Thama. 4. Parvan in Tongugi. 5. Baikala in Daouri. 6. Chiamai in the Kingdom of Lassa, out of which rise four or five great Rivers, which run into the Indian-Sea. 7. Taus, in the Country of the Samoiedae.

There are also long Ridges of Mountains, viz. of Hithay, Cocaya, Bengiar, Farvan, Saina, Magoa, Caucasus, Thibet, and Centava.

The Tartars are naturally savage, treacherous and cruel, especially in War, in which they often devour their Enemies, drinking their Blood, and eating their Flesh, to make their Hatred irreconcilable. Their ordinary Food is Rice and Milk. When their Cham dies, they kill and interr with him many of his Chief Officers, that they may attend upon him in the other World, and give him enough to maintain him according to his Greatness and Quality.

Two third parts of this vast Region are Idolaters, especially towards the North; there are many Mahometans in the South. Some Countries there are in the Northern parts, where the People have no manner of Religion. Near the Caspian-Sea there are some ancient Jews and some Nestorians. There are very few or no Catholicks among them.

The Language of the Tartars is understood in most parts of the North, and in some of the East. It is something like the Turkish Language. Soldiers are there innumerable, and the Lords of the Tartars send their Emperours in times of War an 100000 Horse. Their Forces consist in the multitude of Soldiers, who are always ready for any Service, to pass Rivers in obedience to their Commanders, to endure any Labour in marching towards their Enemy, or retreating from them, as occasion requires. They will shoot their Arrows very exactly at their Enemies, while they seem to fly from them; and all on a suddain will face about upon them to give a Charge, without Disorder. They will compass their Enemies in on all sides, and not mingle with them.

Their Women only buy and sell for the most part, the Men being employed in Hunting and Fighting. They have the best Hawks and Hounds in the World. They live for the most part in the open Field, as the Arabians do, in Tents, in which also they keep thei• Cattel with them. They are almost all Horsemen. When the Summer begins to approach, they go into the Northern parts, where there is more Cold; and when the Cold becomes great, they retire into the South into some hotter Country. They conduct their Familiss by small Journies, and carry their Houses in Carts covered with Skins, wherein they put their Wives and Children, and their Houshold-Stuff. They provide themselves in several places Ox and Horse-dung, and a sort of Stones for firing. Their Thunder is very dreadful, and Winds very violent, which take their Soldiers off from their Horses, and pluck Trees up by the Roots, be they never so deep in the Ground.

The Great Cham hath the Tenth part of the Wool, Silk, Hemp, and all other Commodities of his Empire. Every one of his Subjects is also obliged to work one Day in the Week for him, or do him some other Service, according to his Quality. He hath two Councils, made up of 12 of the wisest and experienced Men, of which one always attends upon the Affairs of State, and the other of War. Their Riches consist chiefly in Cattel, Horses, Furrs, Honey, and Wax, of which they have prodigious Quantities. This vast Country is governed by several Princes, Kings and People, besides the Emperor, who is called their Great Cham, to whom several Kings are Tributary. The Lives and Estates of all his Subjects are in his power to dispose of them as he pleaseth. No man may speak to him but upon his Knees, giving him a kind of Adoration, which is likewise observed by all Embassadors, who speak to him only by an Interpreter. This Emperour at this day rules over almost one half of Asia, espeially since he hath made himself Master of China, and several other States.

Some divide the Great Tartary into five parts, which are, 1. Tartaria Propria. 2. Tartaria Deserta. 3. Zegathay. 4. Cathay, and 5. Turquestan. But this Division gives us a very confused and imperfect Idea, or apprehension of it. The best Division, and most conformable to the Relations of our late Travellerss thither, is into 25 Parts, as in the Table.

These Countries some call the Muscovian Tartary, or Tartaria Muscovitica.

• 1. Part of the Kingdom of Casan, in which are
  • ...Casan,
  • ...Kibena.
• 2. Part of the Kingdom of Bolgar, which hath
  • Bolgar, and
  • ...Samara.
• 3. Part of the Kingdom of Astracan,
  • ...Astracan.
  • ...Batrach.
• 4. Pascatir, or Besegeret.
• 5. Siberie, in which is Toboul.
• 6. Samoiedae, a People who have
  • ...Kakinscoya.
  • ...Pohem.
• 7. Grussirisri, which contains
  • ...Clarem.
  • ...Jurgue:
• 8. Ostiaki, a People who have
  • ...Makouski.
  • ...Choroda.
• 9. Tongusi, or Tingoeses, a People, among which are
  • ...Jenisca.
  • ...Ilimsko.
• 10. Bratskra, a People which have Bratskra.
• 11. Jakuti, a People which have Jukustanke.
• 12. Daouri, a People which have
  • ...Albasin.
  • ...Naroniskie, Talembi.
• 13. The Principality of Ablay, in which are
  • ...Ablay.
  • ...Belouvioday.
  • ...Loukaragay.
• 14. Calmona, or Kolmak, or Kalmonque, Buchares, hath
  • ...Marsan.
  • Rudha, &c.
• 15. Turquestan, of old Sogdiana, contains
  • ...Belek.
  • ...Selixur.
• 16. Ʋsbech-Giagathia, or Mawaralnara, hath these three parts,
  • Samarkant Tartars, in which is
    • Samarchand, &c.
  • Bochar, a Kingdom, which hath
    • Bochard, &c.
  • Belch, a Kingdom, in which is
    • Belch, &c.
• 17. The little Thibet a Kingdom, or the Country of Ancheran,
  • Thibet, or Tahamet.
  • ...Garada.
• 18. Raia Nupal, which hath Nupal,
• 19. The Great Thibet, which are,
  • The Kingdom of Necball
    • ...Necball.
    • ...Cadmeudu.
  • The Kingdom of Assen,
    • ...Cammerouf.
  • The Kingdom of Lassa, or Baravantola,
    • ...Lassa.
    • ...Cuthi.
  • The Kingdom of Belor,
    • ...Selink.
  • The Country of Lotoch,
    • ...Centaba.
  • The Kingdom of Tanchut,
    • ...Tanchut.
    • ...Xamori.
  • Mongulsk, or Prestrejan,
    • ...Athamuth.
• 20. The Desert of Xamo, Calmax, or Karacathay, and Lop,
  • Gucio, &c.
• 21. The Chinese-Tartars,
  • ...Kokotam.
  • ...Camal.
• 22. The Chinese-Tartars, among whom are,
  • The Tartars of Kin, or Lor.
    • ...Kirum,
  • The Kingdom Mache,
    • ...Ʋla.
  • Targakrinsk, a People.
  • Bodoiski, a People.
  • Jupi, a People. who have
    • ...Port-Loud.
• 23. The Kingdom of Chalza, or Cesar, in which are
  • ...Hiarcham.
  • ...Ciarcinor.
• 24. The Principality of Kol, where is
  • ...Kol.
  • ...Kol.
• 25. Tartaria Propria, which are
  • The Country of Egregia.
  • The Province of Jagoy.
  • The Country of Magog.
  • The Country of Fritsa of the Mogol.
  • The Country of Traitza Irdekulu.
  • ...Traitsa Kalmuch,
    • ...Bulugan.
  • ...Traitsa Sudbiligenia Mogol.
  • ...Traitsa Sem Mogol.
  • ...Traitsa Dobro Mogol.

Tartaria Muscovitica, or the Muscovian Tartary.

THIS new Division will appear strange to those who have seen the ordinary Geographical Maps only, who content themselves with some bare Relations without searching farther into that vast Region, wherein are made new Discoveries almost every day.

It is evident that the Great Duke or Emperour of Muscovy possesses a great Breadth of Land in the Western and Northern parts of Tartary, as is to be seen in the foregoing Table. The most remarkable Cities, besides those which I have spoken of in the Chapter of Muscovy, in Europe are these:

Toboul, Tobolium is the chief City of Siberia, upon the River of the same Name, in the place where it joyns to the River Iris, towards the 64 Degree of Latitude, and 67 Degree of Longitude.

The City or Borough of Kakinscoia, is upon the right Bank of the River Oby in the Country of the Samoiedae in the 67 Degree of Latitude.

The Cities of Surgut, and Klarem are upon the Right side of the Oby in the 01 Degree of Latitude, and distant the one from the other about 20 Leagues in the Province of Grustinski.

Maskouskichoroda is the chief City of Ostiaski upon the right side of the River Kieta, about the 59 Degree of Latitude, and the 119 Degree of Longitude.

The City Bratska is the Metropolis of the People called Bratska, upon the left hand of the River Angara in the 58 Degree of Latitude, and 143 Degree of Longitude.

The City Jukustanke is upon the right side of a little River, which runs into the River Len in the 60 Degree of Latitude, and the 143 Degree of Longitude 15 Min.

The City Albasin is the Metropolis of the People called Daouri, upon the left hand of the River Amor, in the 51 Degree 30 Minutes Latitude, and the 168 in Longitude.

The Principal Cities of the Rest of Tartary.

THE Rest of Great Tartary is Possessed by several Princes, Kings and People, of which the Great Cham hath the most part, and hath made almost all the other Princes, who enjoy any Soveraignty, either his Tributaries, or Vassals.

Cambalu, Cambalum, which some call Issedon, or Muoncheu, is the Head-City of the Empire of the Great Cham of the Tartars. Marcus Paulus the Venetian says, 'tis Eight Leagues in Circuit.

The City Thibet is the chief City of the Country of the same Name; it is called also Tanhamet, situated in the 39 Degree of Latitude, and 110 of Longitude. In the lesser Thibet at the foot of the Mountain so called. Thibet contains several other States. It is extream Cold for six or seven Months, because it lyes by the side of a Ridg of Mountains that run from East to West. And for this reason 'tis that they provide Salt Meats for all that time.

The Kingdom of Tanchut, or Tangut is in the Eastern part of Great Thibet. It is also called Tanin, and Campion by some Geographers. It takes its name from the Head-City of it, which is situate in the 43 Deg. of Latitude, and 135 of Longitude, on the Borders of Mogol.

The City of Samarchamb in Ʋsbech Giagathay, or Mawaralnara, is in the 43 Deg. of Latitude, and 105 of Longitude: 'Tis nothing so considerable as it hath been. It was the Native place of the Famous Emperor of the Tartars, Tamerlane.

1699. Geography anatomiz'd. London. for Robert Morden and Thomas Cockerill.

Concerning Tartary.

	d.	m.
Situated	between	77	10	of Long.	its greatest	Length from E to W. is about 3000 Miles.
163	00
between	37	00	of Latit.	Breadth from N. to S. is about 2250 Miles.
75	04

Tartary comprehends five great Parts.

	Chief Town
3 South	From E. to W.
Kathay—	Chambalu—
Turkhestan—	Ihibet—
Zagathay—	Samarchand-
2 North	From E. to W.
Tartaria propria	Mongul, or Tenduc
Tartary the Desert	Cumbalich—

THIS Country (the greatest Part thereof being reckon'd the Scythia Asiatica of the Ancients) is term'd by the Italians and Spaniards, Tartaria; by the French, la Tartarie; by the Germans, Tartarijen; and by the English, Tartary; so call'd from Tartar or Tatar, a River of that Country, which is said to empty it self into the vast Northern Ocean. But others chuse rather to derive the Name from Tatar or Totar, which in the Syriack Language signifieth a Remnant, imagining that the Tartars are the remainders of those Israelites, who where carried by Salmanasser into Media. It's term'd Tartary the Great, to distinguish it from the Lesser in Europe.

The Air of this Country is very different, by reason of its vast Extent from South to North; the Southmost * 1.2 Parts thereof having the same Latitude with the middle Provinces of Spain, and the Northmost reaching beyond the Arctick Polar Circle. What its real Extent from East to West may be, is not certainly known as yet; only this we will affirm in general, that 'tis much less than commonly suppos'd, if the Relations of some late Travellers in these Parts of the World be found afterwards to hold true. The opposite Place of the Globe to Tartary, is part of the vast Pacifick Ocean, as also the Countries of Chili, Paraguay, and Terra Magellanica.

This vast Country towards the North (it lying in the 6th, 7th, 8th 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, &c. North Climate) is extremely Barren, being every where encumber'd with unwholesome Marishes, and uninhabited Mountains; but in the Southern Parts, the Soil is indifferently good for Tillage and Grazing, especially the latter; and towards the East 'tis reported to be abundantly fertil in Corn, (where duly manur'd) and several sorts of Herbs, especially Rhubarb. The longest Day in the Northmost Parts, is about two Months (the Sun not Setting for that time when near the Summer Solstice) the shortest in the Southmost, is about 9 Hours ¼, and the Nights proportionably.

The chief Commodities of this Country, are Sable, Martins, Silks, Comlets, Flax, Musk, Cinnamon, and vast Quantities of Rhubarb, &c.

In lieu of the Rarities of this barbarous and little frequented Country, we may mention that prodigious Wall dividing Tartary from China, erected by the Chineses, to hinder the frequent Incursions of their unwelcome Neighbours, the Tartars; 'twas commonly reckon'd Three hundred German Leagues in length, Thirty Cubits high in most places, and Twelve in breadth. The time of its building is computed to be about Two hundred Years before the Incarnation of our Blessed Saviour. By our latest Relations of the State and Nature of this Country, we find that some remarkable Vulcano's are to be seen in the North and Eastern Parts thereof.

Archbishopricks, Bishopricks, Universities, in this Country; none.

The Tartars are a People of a swarthy Complexion, strong Bodies, and middle Stature. The generality of 'em are Persons of broad Faces, hollow Eyes, thin Beards, thick Lips, slat Noses, and ugly Countenances. In Behaviour they're very Rude and Barbarous, commonly devouring the Flesh of their Enemies, and drinking their Blood, so soon as they are in their Power. Their ordinary Food is Horse-flesh, which they greedily tear and eat up like so many Ravenous Vultures. Their manner of Living, is commonly in Tents in the open Fields, which they remove from place to place, according to the time of the Year, and conveniency of Grazing. Many of 'em make excellent Soldiers, being not only willing and able to endure great Fatigues, but also very dexterous and daring in time of Engagement. When they seem many times to fly before their Enemies, they'll unexpectedly send back a dreadful Shower of Arrows in the Faces of their Pursuers, and frequently turning about, do give them a violent Charge, and all without the least disorder. When their great Cham dies, 'tis reportd, That many of his chief Officers are immediately kill'd, and interred with him, that they may also attend him (as they imagine) in the other World, according to their respective Posts here.

The Language us'd by the Asiatick Tartars, is not much different from the Tartaresque, spoken by those of Crim Tartary, (a Specimen of which is already given in Europe) and both have a great Affinity with the Turkish.

The vast Body of Tartary is said to be subject to several Princes, who are wholly accountable (in their Government) to one Sovereign, who is commonly term'd the Great Cham, whose Government is most Tyrannical, and Crown hereditary. The Lives and Goods of his People are altogether in his Power. His Subjects stile him the Sun and Shadow of the Immortal God, and render him a kind of Adoration, never speaking unto him Face to Face, but falling down upon their Knees with their Faces towards the Ground. He looks upon himself as the Monarch of the whole World; and from that vain Opinion, is reported to cause his Trumpets to sound every Day after Dinner, pretending thereby to give leave to all other Kings and Princes of the Earth to Dine. For the better management of Publick Affairs, he's said to appoint two Councils, each consisting of twelve Persons, (the wisest and best experienced of any that he can pitch upon) of which one doth constantly attend the Affairs of State, and the other those which relate to the War. Yet after all, this mighty Cham is lookt upon by some Judicious Persons, as a meer Chimera; and those strange Relations concerning him (though hitherto current) are thought to have a near Affinity unto the Legenda Aurea of the Roman Church.

The most receiv'd Opinion about the Arms of the Great Cham, is, that (as Emperor of Tartary) he bears, Or, an Owl Sable. But what as King of China, see the following Section.

The Inhabitants of this Country are partly Pagan, partly Mahometan, and partly Christian. Paganism doth chiefly prevail in the Northmost Parts, the People being generally gross Idolaters in those places. In the Southern Provinces they're (for the most part) followers of Mahomet's Doctrine, especially since the Year 1246. And towards the Caspian Sea are found a considerable number of Jews, thought by some to be the Offspring of the ten Tribes, led away Captive by Salmanasser. Those of the Christian Religion (overgrown of late by Nestorianism) are scatter'd up and down in several Parts of this vast Country, but most numerous in Cathay, and the City of Cambalu. The Christian Faith was first planted in this Country, (as is generally believ'd) by the Labours of St. Andrew and St. Philip, two of the Apostles.

1701. A system of geography by Herman Moll.

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1732. Atlas Historique by Zacharie Chatelain.

Cette vaste Region que l’on nomme la Grande Tartarie, pour la distinguer de la Tartarie d’Europe, est trop inconnue pour en pouvoir donner une relation fidèle. Elle est éloignée de nous tant par mer que par terre, à la réserve de ce qui se rencontre vers la Moscovie, vers la Perse, vers l’Empire du Mogol, & du côté de la Chine Septentrionale; elle est inaccessible par rapport au grand nombre des hautes montagnes & des déserts affreux qui l’environnent: des écueils & des bancs que l’on trouve le long de ces côtes Orientales, & des glaces presque continues qui les bordent du côté du Nord; que toutes les Relations que nous en avons font pour le moins fort douteuses, pour ne pas dire tout-à-fait incertaines. Cependant, dans l’obligation où je suis d’en parler, pour ne pas laisser cet ouvrage imparfait; je me contenterai de rapporter ce qui s’en trouve de plus assuré dans les Auteurs qui en ont écrit.

Ce grand Pays est situé entre la Mer glaciaire, celle de la Chine avec le détroit d’Anian, la Mer Caspienne, les Etats du Roi de Perse & de la Chine, & les Fleuves Obi & Tanais. Mais à la vérité, cette division est bien incertaine, & il serait difficile d’y faire quelque fondement, quoiqu’elle ait été la plus reçue par les Européens. Plusieurs Modernes aiment mieux s’attacher à la division que font les Arabes, qui comptent dans la Tartarie le Royaume de Thibet ou Tobbat, qui était autrefois le Pays Septentrional de la Scythie: le Maulremher ou le Mawalranhara: l’Olgarie ou le Kalmuki: les Chazaiques: les Cauchalites ou Ka-Cathai: Mongal, Moal ou Magog: les Kaimahites ou Naimahas: le Royaume de Tangut ou Tanjin & Baggarbar: le Royaume de Niuche ou Teuduc: & Jupi. Le Roi de Niuche est celui qui depuis quelques années s’est rendu Maître de la Chine.

La Tartarie propre ou ancienne est vers le Septentrion, la plûpart inconnuë. On y met une Place appelée Tartar ou Tatar, qui, selon quelques-uns, donne ce nom au Pays; mais il y a plus d’apparence qu’il s’applique à celui d’une Rivière, ainsi nommée, que les Cartes ordinaires font couler dans le Pays de Mongol, placé le long de l’Océan Septentrional et qu’elles font décharger le Tartar. Elles mettent aussi une Ville de Tartar sur cette Rivière. Mr. Witen, qui met les Mongols aux Confins de la Chine, y met aussi la Rivière de Tartar; & il en fait une des sources de la Rivière qui appelle Schilgat & Quantung, qui coule au Midi de celle d’Amour, & va se décharger dans l’Océan Oriental. Au reste, ce savant Homme n’y met point de ville de Tartar; il y a seulement une cité de l’imaginaire, comme plusieurs autres.

Quoiqu’il en soit, on peut du moins ajouter à cette remarque, que le nom de Tartarie n’est pas un nom de Religion, comme quelques-uns le font imaginer. La Tartarie dernière s’étend depuis les Rivières de l’Azarte & de Tanaïs, jusqu’au Mont Imaus. On estime que c’est une partie de la Sarmatie Asiatique des Anciens. Elle est peuplée par diverses assemblées de Peuple que les Tartares nomment Hordes, qui en leur signification ont beaucoup de rapport aux Tributs des Juifs. La Tartarie de Zagatai est peuplée beaucoup plus civilement que les premiers; ainsi on dit qu’elle est Catholique. C’est l’Empire du Grand-Cam à qui on donne jusqu’ici le nom de Roi Tributaire; & on assure que les sujets sont pour lui en état de respect & de vénération, qu’ils le nomment ordinairement Fils de Dieu, Ombre de Dieu, & Image de Dieu. Quand il meurt, les Tartares tiennent tous ceux qu’ils rencontrent, pour adorer, tandis…jeffuer leur principe en l'autre monde: ce qui souvent coûte la vie à plus de dix mille personnes. Le fejour ordinaire du Grand Cam en hiver et Cambalu, ville Capitale de son Etat, située aux extrémités du Caïai. Les Relations modernes nous en parlent comme d'une des plus grandes et des plus riches villes du monde. Car pour celle de Quenfai, qui veut dire Ville du Ciel, et que Marco Polo met dans ce pays, on ne sait où elle est, et on ne saurait trouver les douze mille soixante Ponts de pierre qu'il lui donne. Outre ce Royaume de Catai, le Grand Cam en a plusieurs autres considérables; comme celui de Tangut, où l'on dit que l'Imprimerie fut trouvée il y a plus de mille ans. C'est de Tangut d'où vient la bonne Rhubarbe. Les autres Etats de ce Roi sont le Royaume de Tenduc, où l'on trouve des Chrétiens Nestoriens; celui de Thibet, qui abonde en Corail, dont on se sert pour monnaie courante.

Les Tartares en général aiment la guerre, & on les considère comme les meilleurs Archers du monde. Leurs guerres se terminent toujours par le pillage & la dévastation du pays, où ils entrent en armes. Pour l'ordinaire ils n'ont point de demeure fixe, & ils courent sur les terres de leurs voisins. Les plus paisibles habitent sous des tentes de feutre, & n'ont point d'autre emploi que celui de garder leurs troupeaux. La principale force du Grand Cam consiste en cavalerie, qui est d'autant plus considérable, que souvent les Rois qui lui font tributaires lui amènent jusqu'à cent mille chevaux. Nous ne pouvons rien dire de sûr sur les diverses hordes, ou bandes des peuples de la Tartarie déserte, leur nom étant souvent aussi douteux que leur demeure est peu arrêtée; les peuples de ces assemblées prennent quelquefois le nom du lieu où ils s'arrêtent, & souvent celui de la couleur de leurs habits. Presque tous les Tartares sont Mahométans: quoique dans ces vastes Provinces on trouve aussi des Juifs, & quelques Chrétiens du côté de Moscovie. Ils ont la taille haute, & leur manière d'agir est assez ouverte & sincère. Ils ont fort peu de lois, mais d'eux-mêmes ils déférent aux personnes les plus considérables qui ont droit d'exercer la justice. Leurs habits ordinaires ne sont que des peaux de mouton ou de renard; mais les hommes qui tiennent quelque rang, portent de longues vestes de soie ou de coton, qui viennent la plupart de la Chine. Ils ont de larges ceintures, où ils laissent pendre un mouchoir de chaque côté. Ceux qui se plaisent à la guerre ont quelquefois des bottes qui sont faites de soie; mais ordinairement elles sont de peau de cheval. L'usage des éperons leur est inconnu. La viande à demi bouillie ou à demi rôtie est leur mets ordinaire; celle de cheval & de chameau est pour eux la plus délicieuse; les bœufs & les vaches y sont très rares. Les Tartares des parties septentrionales ne s'attachent ni à l'agriculture ni au trafic, ce qui en bannit les richesses, à moins qu'elles ne viennent du pillage qu'ils font continuellement sur leurs voisins. Ils ont quelques mines d'or. Mais leur grande application est à la conduite de leurs troupeaux de chèvres & de brebis, dont le lait est leur breuvage ordinaire. Ils portent un casque à la guerre, ou du moins une coiffe de peau qui est ronde, & qui leur descend sur le front & sur les oreilles. Les armes à feu leur sont inconnues; mais ils se servent de l'arc. La housse de leurs chevaux étendue parterre est le lit ordinaire de leurs Cavaliers. Ils portent leurs sabres la pointe tournée devant leurs jambes. Ils vont à la charge avec impétuosité; mais pour attirer l'ennemi, ils font semblant de plier, et lorsqu'ils l'ont engagé à les poursuivre en désordre, ils se rallient tout-à-coup et ne manquent guère de le mettre en déroute.

Les Tartares et les Mogols, dont nous parlerons dans la suite, ont la même origine; et quoique l'Empire des Mogols d'aujourd'hui soit nouveau, par rapport à celui des Tartares, puisqu'il y a plus de cinq cents ans que Genghizcan fut proclamé Empereur de cette Nation, nous appellerons quelquefois les Tartares, Mogols de Tartarie, ou anciens Mogols, pour les distinguer des Mogols des Indes qui sont plus connus.

Cette grande Tartarie d'Asie, de même que la petite Tartarie d'Europe, ne sont rien autre chose, comme je l'ai déjà dit, que ce qu'on appelait autrefois la Scythie. Elle contient divers Royaumes; mais ils sont partagés en tant de Souverainetés, qu'il est presque impossible d'en faire le dénombrement.

Les Auteurs Orientaux se font contenter de la diviser en quatre parties. La première est le Capchac, composé de plusieurs grandes Provinces, parmi lesquelles est celle des Getes, située à l'Occident du Pays des Mogols, et au Septentrion de la Transoxiane et des Pays que le Sihon arrose. La seconde partie est le Zagatai, qui est appelé par les Anciens Transoxiane ; et par les Arabes Maouarannahar. La troisième est le Caracatai, qui contient le Turkestan, le Pays des Naïmans, le Pays des Gelayrs, dont celui des Keraïtes ne fait qu'une partie ; le Pays des Yuguros, le Tangut, le Khothan, ou Khyta, ou Koutan ; le Pays des Calmacs, et le Royaume de Courgé qui confine à la Chine et à la Mer. Enfin la quatrième partie est composée de l'ancien Mogolistan, qui est le Gog et Magog, dont la situation est marquée diversement par les Historiens, quoique ce soit le véritable pays de Genghizcan.

Les uns l'ont mis dans l'Asie Mineure ; d'autres seulement en Lydie ; d'autres dans la Colchide et dans l'Hyberie ; et enfin quelques Voyageurs l'ont placée aux Pays des premiers Scythes au-dessus de la Chine, vers le Nord-Est de l'Asie, disant, pour appuyer leur conjecture, que les Enfants de Magog, second fils de Japhet, passèrent du Nord d'Europe, à celui d'Asie, où ils donnèrent leur nom aux Pays qu'ils habitèrent. En un mot, ce Pays est situé dans le dernier Orient de l'Asie au Septentrion de la Chine, et a toujours été fort peuplé. Les Auteurs Orientaux ont appelé ses Habitants Mogols, et les Européens leur ont donné d'autres noms. Dans le temps du Bifayeul de Genghizcan, ils firent des progrès; ils s'avancèrent jusqu'au Caracatai, où ils obligèrent quelques Cams à leur payer Tribut ; mais dans le onzième siècle, auquel Genghizcan prit naissance, ils étaient tributaires du Roi des Keraïtes. Dès le septième siècle, il y avait deux sortes de Mogols : les uns, appelés Mogols Dirlighin ; et les autres, Mogols Niron. Les Mogols Dirlighin étaient les Nations de Congorat, Berlas, Mercout, Courlas, et plusieurs autres ; et les Peuples de Merkit, Tanjout, Mercat, Soumogol, Nironcajat, Yeca Mogol, et quelques autres encore, étaient les Mogols Niron. Sur quoi il faut remarquer, qu'Yeca-Mogol et Nironcajat appartenaient en propre à la Maison de Genghizcan.

Comme presque tous les Empires et les Maisons illustres ont leurs fables et leurs faux miracles, les Mogols n'en ont pas manqué; ils ont mieux aimé corrompre la pureté de leur Histoire, que de n'y pas mêler du merveilleux. Ils ont attribué des révélations à Genghizcan : et pour porter la vénération des Peuples aussi loin qu'elle pouvait aller, ils lui ont donné de la Divinité. Ceux qui s'intéressaient à son élévation, eurent même l'insolence de le faire passer pour Fils de Dieu. Sa Mère, plus modeste, dit seulement qu'il était Fils du Soleil ; mais n'étant pas assez vaine pour se flatter de l'amour de ce bel Astre, elle appliqua la fable à son neuvième Prédécesseur ; et on publia que Buzengir était Fils du Soleil. Nous parlerons dans la suite de ce Buzengir, dont les Turcs et les Tartares croient que la Mère est la tige de tous les Empereurs Mogols.

Pour parler maintenant de quelques coutumes de ces Peuples, et du premier établissement de leurs Lois : je rapporterai en peu de mots ce qui se passa dans une Diète générale que leur Grand-Cam convoqua pour en faire la publication. Lorsque les Princes du sang, les Nevians, les Cans, les Emirs et autres Seigneurs qui devaient composer la Diète générale furent arrivés au lieu que l'Empereur Mogol avait marqué, et que le premier jour du Printemps fut venu, ils s'habillèrent tous de blanc. Le Grand-Cam, vêtu comme les autres, se rendit à l'assemblée. Il s'assit sur son Trône au milieu des Princes de son sang, la Couronne sur la tête. Tous les Cans et les autres Seigneurs firent des vœux pour la continuation de sa santé et de sa postérité. Ce qui fut suivi des cris et des applaudissements du Peuple, qui était à l'assemblée. Après cela on ne se contenta pas de confirmer pour lui et pour ses Successeurs l'Empire des Mogols ; on y ajouta celui de toutes les Nations qu'il avait subjuguées. On déclara même les Descendants des Princes vaincus, déchus de tous leurs droits. Quand il eut remercié tout le monde des marques de zèle et de respect qu'il en recevait, n'ignorant pas que l'établissement des Lois est le principal devoir d'un Souverain ; il ne manqua pas de déclarer, qu'aux anciennes Lois du Pays il jugeait à propos d'en ajouter de nouvelles, qu'il voulait qu'on observât.