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The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation v. 4

R >> Richard Hakluyt >> The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation v. 4




They begin to mooue their houses and cattell in the Spring time from the
South part of their countrey towards the North partes. And so driuing on
till they haue grased all vp to the first farthest part Northward, they
returne backe againe towards their South countrey (where they continue all
the Winter) by 10. or 12. miles a stage: in the meane while the grasse
being sprung vp againe, to serue for their cattell as they returne. From
the border of the Shelcan towards the Caspian sea, to the Russe frontiers,
they haue a goodly Countrey, specially on the South and Southeast parts,
but lost for lack of tillage.

Of money they haue no vse at all, and therefore prefer brasse and steele
before other metals, specially bullate, which they vse for swordes, kniues,
and other necessaries. As for golde and siluer they neglect it of very
purpose, (as they doe all tillage of their ground) to bee more free for
their wandering kinde of life, and to keepe their Countrey lesse subiect to
inuasions. Which giueth them great aduantage against all their neighbors,
euer inuading and neuer being inuaded. Such as haue taken vpon them to
inuade their Countrey (as of olde time Cyrus and Darius Hystaspis, on the
East and Southeast side) haue done it with very ill successe: as wee finde
in the stories written of those times. For their manner is when any will
inuade them, to allure and drawe them on by flying and reculing (as if they
were afraide) till they haue drawen them some good way within their
countrey. Then when they begin to want victuall and other necessaries (as
needes they must where nothing is to be had) to stoppe vp the passages, and
inclose them with multitudes. By which stratagem (as we reade in Laonicus
Chalcacondylas in his Turkish storie) they had welnigh surprised the great
and huge armie of Tamerlan, but that hee retired with all speede hee could
towardes the riuer Tanais or Don, not without great losse of his men, and
cariages.

[Sidenote: Pachymerius.] In the storie of Pachymerius the Greek (which he
wrote of the the elder) I remember he telleth to the same purpose of one
Nogas a Tartarian captaine vnder Cazan the Emperor of the East Tartars (of
whom the citie and kingdome of Cazan may seeme to Emperors of
Constantinople from the beginning of the reigne of Michael Palæologus to
the time of Andronicus haue taken the denomination) who refused a present
of Pearle and other iewels sent vnto him from Michael Palæologus: asking
withall, for what vse they serued, and whether they were good to keepe away
sicknesse, death, or other misfortunes of this life, or no. So that it
seemeth they haue euer, or long time bene of that minde to value things no
further, then by the vse and necessitie for which they serue.

For person and complexion they haue broade and flatte visages, of a tanned
colour into yellowe and blacke, fierce and cruell lookes, thinne haired
vpon the upper lippe, and pitte of the chinne, light and nimble bodied,
with short legges, as if they were made naturally for horsemen: whereto
they practise themselues from their childhood, seldome going afoot about
anie businesse. Their speech is verie sudden and loude, speaking as it were
out of a deepe hollowe throate. When they sing you would thinke a kowe
lowed, or some great bandogge howled. Their greatest exercise is shooting,
wherein they traine vp their children from their verie infancie, not
suffering them to eate till they haue shot neere the marke within a
certaine scantling. They are the very same that sometimes were called
Scythæ Nomades, or the Scythian shepheards, by the Greekes and Latines.
Some thinke that the Turks took their beginning from the nation of the Crim
Tartars. [Sidenote: Laonicus Calcocondylas.] Of which opinion is Laonicus
Calcocondylas the Greek Historiographer, in his first booke of his Turkish
storie. Wherein hee followeth diuers verie probable coniectures. [Sidenote:
1.] The first taken from the verie name it selfe, for that the worde Turke
signifieth a Shepheard or one that followeth a vagrant and wilde kinde of
life. By which name these Scythian Tartars haue euer beene noted, being
called by the Greekes [Greek: skythai nomades] or the Scythian shepheards.
[Sidenote: 2.] His second reason because the Turkes (in his time) that
dwelt in Asia the lesse, to wit, in Lydia, Caria, Phrygia and Cappadocia,
spake the very same language that these Tartars did, that dwelt betwixt the
riuer Tanais or Don, and the countrey of Sarmatia, which (as is knowen) are
these Tartars called Crims. At this time also the whole nation of the
Turkes differ not much in their common speech from the Tartar language.
[Sidenote: 3.] Thirdly because the Turke and the Crim Tartar agree so well
together, as well in religion, as in matter of Traffique neuer inuading, or
iniurying one another: saue that the Turke (since Laonicus his time) hath
encroached vpon some Townes vpon the Euxin Sea, that before perteined to
the Crim Tartar. [Sidenote: 4.] Fourthly, because Ortogules sonne to
Oguzalpes, and father to Ottoman the first of name of the Turkish nation
made his first roads out of those pans of Asia, vpon the next borderers,
till hee came towardes the countreys about the hill Taurus where he
ouercame the Greekes that inhabited there: and so enlarged the name and
territorie of the Turkish nation, till hee came to Eubæa and Attica and
other partes of Greece. [Sidenote: 1400.] This is the opinion of Laonicus,
who liued among the Turkes in the time of Amurat the sixt Turkish Emperour,
about the yeere 1400. when the memorie of their originall was more fresh:
and therefore the likelier hee was to hit the trueth.

[Sidenote: The Nagay Tartar the cruellest, The Chircase the ciuillest
Tartar.] There are diuers other Tartars that border vpon Russia, as the
Nayages, the Cheremissens, the Mordwites, the Chircasses, and the Shalcans,
which all differ in name more then in regiment, or other condition, from
the Crim Tartar, except the Chircasses that border Southwest, towardes
Lituania, and are farre more ciuill than the rest of the Tartars, of a
comely person, and of a stately behauiour, as applying themselues to the
fashion of the Polonian. Some of them haue subiected themselues to the
Kings of Poland, and professe Christianitie. The Nagay lieth Eastwarde, and
is reckoned for the best man of warre among all the Tartars, but verie
sauage, and cruell aboue all the rest. [Sidenote: The Cheremissen Tartar of
two sorts: the Lugauoy and the Nagornay.] The Cheremessen Tartar, that
lieth betwixt the Russe and the Nagay, are of two sorts, the Lugauoy (that
is of the valley) and the Nagornay, or of the hilly countrey. These haue
much troubled the Emperours of Russia. And therefore they are content now
to buy peace of them, vnder pretence of giuing a yeerely pension of Russe
commodities to their Morseys, or Diuoymorseis, that are chiefe of their
tribes. For which also they are bound to serue them in their wars, vnder
certaine conditions. They are said to be iust and true in their dealings:
and for that cause they hate the Russe people, whom they account to be
double, and false in al their dealing. And therefore the common sort are
very vnwilling to keepe agreement with them, but that they are kept in by
their pensions sake.

[Sidenote: The Mordwit Tartar the most barbarous of the rest.] The most
rude and barbarous is counted the Mordwit Tartar, that hath many selfe-
fashions and strange kinds of behauiour, differing from the rest. For his
religion, though he acknowledge one God, yet his manor is to worship for
God, that liuing thing that he first meeteth in the morning; and to sweare
by, it all that whole day, whether it be horse, dog, cat, or whatsoeuer els
it bee. When his friend dieth, he killeth his best horse, and hauing flayed
off the skinne hee carieth it on high vpon a long pole before the corpes to
the place of buriall. This hee doeth (as the Russe saieth) that his friend
may haue a good horse to carie him to heauen: but it is likelier to declare
his loue towards his dead friend, in that he will haue to die with him the
best thing that he hath.

Next to the kingdome of Astracan, that is the farthest part Southeastward
of the Russe dominion, lyeth the Shulcan, and the countrey of Media:
whither the Russe marchants trade for rawe silkes, syndon, saphion,
skinnes, and other commodities. The chiefe Townes of Media where the Russe
tradeth, are Derbent (built by Alexander the great, as the inhabitants say)
and Zamachi where the staple is kept for rawe silkes. [Sidenote: The
reuiuing of silkwormes.] Their maner is in the Spring time to reuiue the
silke-wormes (that lie dead all the Winter) by laying them in the warme
sunne, and (to hasten their quickening that they may the sooner goe to
worke) to put them into bags, and so to hang them vnder their childrens
armes. [Sidenote: Chrinisin a kind of silkworme.] As for the woorme called
Chrinisin (as wee call it Chrymson) that maketh coloured silke, it is bred
not in Media, but in Assyria. [Sidenote: Liberty to trade downe the Caspian
Sea.] This trade to Derbent and Samachi for rawe silkes, and other
commodities of that Countrey, as also into Persia, and Bougharia downe the
riuer of Volga, and through the Caspian sea, is permitted aswell to the
English as to the Russe merchants, by the Emperours last grant at my being
there. Which he accounteth for a very speciall fauour, and might proue
indeede very beneficiall to our English merchants, if the trade were wel
and orderly vsed.

The whole nation of the Tartars are vtterly voide of all learning, and
without written Law: yet certaine rules they haue which they hold by
tradition, common to all the Hoords for the practise of their life. Which
are of this sort. First, To obey their Emperour and other Magistrates,
whatsoeuer they commaund about the publike seruice. 2 Except for the
publike behoofe, euery man to be free and out of controlment. 3 No priuate
man to possesse any lands, but the whole countrey to be as common. 4 To
neglect all daintinesse and varietie of meates, and to content themselues
with that which commeth next to hand, for more hardnesse, and readines in
the executing of their affaires. 5 To weare any base attire, and to patch
their clothes whether there be any neede or not: that when there is neede,
it be no shame to weare a patcht coate. 6 To take or steale from any
stranger whatsoeuer they can get, as beeing enemies of all men, saue to
such as will subiect themselues to them. 7 Towards their owne hoorde and
nation to be true in worde and deede. 8 To suffer no stranger to come
within the Realme. [Sidenote: No stranger without pasport admitted.] If any
doe, the same to be bondslaue to him that first taketh him, except such
merchants and other as haue the Tartar Bull, or passport about them.


Of the Permians, Samoites, and Lappes.

The Permians and Samoites that lye from Russia, North and. Northeast, are
thought likewise to haue taken their beginning from the Tartar kinde. And
it may partly bee gessed by the fashion of their countenance, as hauing all
broade and flat faces as the Tartars haue, except the Chircasses.
[Sidenote: The Permians.] The Permians are accounted for a very ancient
people. They are nowe subiect to the Russe. They liue by hunting, and
trading with their furres, as also doeth the Samoit, that dwelleth more
towardes the North Sea. [Sidenote: The Samoits.] The Samoit hath his name
(as the Russe saith) of eating himselfe: as if in times past, they liued as
the Cannibals, eating one another. [Footnote: _Samoyed_ means "self-eater",
while _Samodin_ denotes "an individual". Nordenskiöld considers it
probable, however, that the old tradition of man-eaters _androphagi_,
living in the north, which originated with Herodotus, reappears in a
Russianised form in the name "Samoyed".] Which they make more probable,
because at this time they eate all kind of raw flesh, whatsoeuer it be,
euen the very carion that lieth in the ditch. But as the Samoits themselues
will say, they were called Samoie, that is, of themselues, as though they
were Indigenæ, or people bred vpon that very soyle, that neuer changed
their seate from one place to another, as most nations haue done. They are
subiect at this time to the Emperour of Russia.

[Sidenote: The Samoits religion.] I talked with certaine of them, and finde
that they acknowledge one God: but represent him by such things as they
haue most vse and good by. And therefore they worship the Sunne, the Ollen,
the Losh, and such like. [Sidenote: Slata Baba or the golden Hag.] As for
the story of Slata Baba, or the Golden hagge, which I haue read in some
mappes, and descriptions of these countries, to be an idole after the forme
of an old woman that being demanded by the Priest, giueth them certaine
Oracles, concerning the successe, and euent of things, I found it to be a
very fable. [Sidenotes: A fable. The Sea.] Onely in the Prouince of Obdoria
vpon the sea side, neare to the mouth of the great riuer Obba, there is a
rocke, which naturally (being somewhat helped by imagination) may seeme to
beare the shape of a ragged woman, with a child in her armes (as the rocke
by the North Cape the shape of a Frier) where the Obdorian Samoites vse
much to resort, by reason of the commoditie of the place for fishing:
[Sidenote: Fishing or sea.] and there, sometime (as their manner is)
conceiue, and practise their sorceries, and ominous coniecturings about the
good or bad speede of their iourneies, fishings, huntings and such like.

[Sidenote: The Samoits habit and behauiour.] They are clad in Seale skins,
with the hairie side outwards downe as low as the knees, with their
breeches and netherstockes of the same, both men and women. They are all
blacke haired, naturally beardlesse. And therefore the men are hardly
discerned from the women by their lookes: saue that the women weare a locke
of haire downe along both their eares. [Sidenote: The people of Meta
Incognota such.] They liue in a manner a wilde and sauage life, rouing
still from one place of the countrey to another, without any property of
house or land more to one then to another. Their leader or directer in
euery companie, is their Papa or Priest.

[Sidenote: The Lappes.] On the North side of Russia next to Corelia, lieth
the countrey of Lappia, which reacheth in length from the farthest point
Northward, (towards the Northcape) to the farthest part Southeast (which,
the Russe calleth Sweetnesse or Holy nose, the English men Capegrace) about
345. verst or miles. From Sweetnesse to Candelox by the way of Versega
(which measureth the breadth of that countrey) is 90. miles or thereabouts.
The whole countrey in a maner is either lakes, or mountaines, which
towardes the Sea side are called Tondro, because they are all of harde and
craggy rocke, but the inland partes are well furnished with woods that
growe on the hilles sides, the lakes lying betweene. Their diet is very
bare and simple. Bread they haue none, but feede onely vpon fish and foule.
They are subiect to the Emperor of Russia, and the two kings of Sweden and
Denmarke: which all exact tribute and custome of them (as was saide before)
but the Emperor of Russia beareth the greatest hand ouer them, and exacteth
of them farre more then the rest. The opinion is that they were first
termed Lappes of their briefe and short speech. The Russe diuideth the
whole nation of the Lappes into two series. The one they call Nowremanskoy
Lapary, that is, the Norwegian Lappes because they be of the Danish
religion. For the Danes and Noruegians they account for one people. The
other that haue no religion at all but liue as bruite and heathenish
people, without God in the worlde, they cal Dikoy Lapary, or the wilde
Lappes.

The whole nation is vtterly vnlearned, hauing not so much as the vse of any
Alphabet, or letter among them. For practise of witchcraft and sorcerie
they passe all nations in the worlde. Though for enchanting of ships that
saile along their coast, (as I haue heard it reported) and their giuing of
winds good to their friends, and contrary to other, whom they meane to hurt
by tying of certaine knots vpon a rope (somewhat like to the tale of Aeolus
his windbag) is a very fable, deuised (as may seeme) by themselues, to
terrifie sailers for comming neere their coast. Their weapons are the long
bow, and handgunne, wherein they excell, as well for quicknesse to charge
and discharge, as for neerenesse at the marke by reason of their continuall
practise (whereto they are forced) of shooting at wild fowle. Their maner
is in Sommer time to come downe in great companies to the sea side, to
Wardhuyse, Cola, Kegor, and the bay of Vedagoba, and there to fish for
Codde, Salmon, and But-fish, which they sel to the Russes, Danes, and
Noruegians, and nowe of late to the English men that trade thither with
cloth, which they exchange with the Laps and Corelians for their fish,
oyle, and furres, whereof also they haue some store. [Sidenote: The mart at
Cola.] They hold their mart at Cola on S. Peter's day: what time the
captaine of Wardhuyse (that is residant there for the king of Denmark) must
be present, or at least send his deputie to set prices vpon their
stockfish, train oile, furres, and other commodities: as also the Russe
Emperors customer, or tribute taker, to receiue his custome, which is euer
paide before any thing can bee bought or solde. When their fishing is done,
their manner is to drawe their carbasses Or boates on shore, and there to
leaue them with the keele turned vpwardes, till the next spring tide.
[Sidenote: Sleds drawen with Deere.] Their trauaile to and fro is vpon
sleddes drawen by the Olen Deere: which they vse to turne a grasing all the
Sommer time in an Island called Kildyn, (of a verie good soyle compared
with other partes of that Countrey) and towards the Winter time, when the
snowe beginneth to fall they fetch them home againe for the vse of their
sledde.


The description of the regions, people, and riuers lying North and East
from Moscouia: as the way from Moscouia to the riuer Petzora, and the
Prouince Iugaria or Iuhra, and from thence to the riuer Obi. Likewise the
description of other countreys and regions, euen vnto the Empire of the
great Can of Cathay, taken out of Sigismundus ab Herberstein.

[Sidenote: The dominion of the Duke of Moscouia.] The dominion of the
Prince of Moscouia, reacheth farre toward the East and North, vnto the
places which we will now describe. As concerning which thing, I translated
a book that was presented vnto me in the Moscouites tongue, and haue here
made a briefe rehearsall of the same. I will first therefore describe the
iourney from Moscouia to Petzora, and so to Iugaria and Obi. From Moscouia
to the citie of Vologda, are numbered fiue hundred versts, one verst,
conteyning almost the space of an Italian myle. From Vologda to Vsting
toward the right hand, descending with the course of the riuer of Vologda
and Suchana with whom it ioyneth, are counted fiue hundred verstes, where
within two versts of the towne called Strelze, and hard by the citie of
Vsting, Suchana ioyneth vnto Iug which runneth from the South: from whose
mouth vnto the springs of the same, are numbred fiue hundred versts.

[Sidenote: Iug. So called of his swift and pleasant streame.] But Suchana
and Iug, after they ioyne together, lose their first names, and make but
one riuer named Dwina, by the which the passage to the citie of Colmogro
conteineth fiue hundred versts, from whence, in the space of sixe dayes
iourney, Dwina entreth into the North Ocean at sixe mouthes. And the
greatest part of this iourney consisteth by Nauigation. For by lande from
Vologda vnto Colmogro, passing ouer the riuer Vuaga, are a thousand
verstes. Not farre from Colmogro, the riuer Pinega running from the East on
the right hand for the space of seuen hundred versts, falleth into Dwina.
From Dwina by the riuer Pienega, by the space of two hundred versts, they
come to a place called Nicholai, from whence within halfe a verst ships
haue passage into the riuer Kuluio, which hath his originall from a lake of
the same name towarde the North, from whose springs is eight daies viage to
the mouth of the same, where it entreth into the Ocean.

[Sidenote: The regions by the North sea.] Sayling by the coasts of the
right hand of the sea, they passe by the regions of Stanuwische,
Calunczcho, and Apnu: And sayling about the promontorie or cape of
Chorogoski Nose, Stanuwische, Camenckh, and Tolstickh, they come at length
into the riuer Mezen, and from thence in the space of sixe dayes, to a
village of the same name, standing in the mouth of the riuer Pieza, by the
which againe ascending toward the left hand and sommer East, they come to
the riuer Piescoia: from whence sayling for the space of fiue versts, they
come into two lakes, in the which are seene two wayes: whereof one on the
right side, goeth to the riner Rubicho, by the which they passe to the
riuer Czircho. Other, by an other and shorter way, bring their ships from
the lake directly into Czirchor: from whence, except they be hindered by
tempest, they come in the space of three weekes to the riuer and mouth of
Czilma, flowing into the great riuer Petzora, which in that place is two
versts in breadth. Sayling from thence, they come in the space of sixe
dayes to the Towne and castle of Pustosero, neare vnto the which Petzora
entreth into the North Ocean at sixe monthes. The inhabitants of this
place, are men of simple wit: they receiued the faith of Christ, and were
baptised in the yeare M. D. xviii.

From the mouth of Czilma vnto the mouth of the riuer Vssa, going by
Petzora, is one moneths viage. Vssa hath his springs in the mountaine
[Marginal Note: Cingulus mundi.] Poyas Semnoi, being on the left hand
toward the sommer East, and springeth out of a great stone of the same
mountaine, called Camen Bolschoi. From the springs of Vssa to the mouthes
of the same, are numbered more then a thousand versts. Furthermore, Petzora
runneth from this south winter part, from whence ascending from the mouthes
of Vssa, vnto the mouthes of the riuer Stzuchogora, is three weekes viage.
They that described this vyage sayd that they rested betweene the mouthes
of the riuers Stzuchogora and Potzscheriema, and left their victuals there
which they brought with them from Russia. Beyond the riuers of Petzora and
Stzuchogora toward the mountaine Camenipoias, and the sea with the Ilands
thereabout, and the Castle of Pustosero, are diuers and innumerable
nations, which by one common name are called Samoged (that is) such as eate
themselues. They haue great increase of foules, birdes, and diuers kindes
of beastes: as Sables. Marternes, Beuers, Otters, Hermelines, Squirrels:
and in the Ocean the beast called a Morse: Also Vesse, white Beares,
Wolues, Hares, Equiwoduani, great Whales, and a fish called Semfi, with
diuers other. [Sidenote: Wilde people.] The people of these nations come
not to Moscouia: For they are wilde, and flee the company and society of
other men.

From the mouthes of Stzuchogora, sayling vp the riuer vnto Poiassa,
Artawische, Cameni, and Poiassa the greater, is three weekes vyage.
Furthermore, the ascending to the mount Camen, is three dayes iourney: from
the which descending they come to the riuer Artawischa, and from thence to
the riuer Sibut, from whence they passe to the Castle of Lepin, and from
Lepin to the riuer Sossa. The people that inhabite the region by this
riuer, are called Vuogolici. Leauing Sossa on the right hande, they come to
the great riuer Obi, that springeth out of the lake Kitaisko, the which,
with all the haste they could make, they could scarcely passe ouer in one
day, the riuer being of such breadth that it reacheth fourescore versts.
The people also that dwell about the riuer, are called Vuogolici and
Vgritzschi. From the Castle of Obea, ascending by the riuer of Oby, vnto
the riuer Irtische, into the which Sossa entereth, is three moneths
iourney. In these places are two Castles named Ierom and Tumen, kept by
certaine Lords called Knesi Iuhorski, being tributaries to the great Duke
of Moscouia, as they say. Here are diuers kinds of beasts and furres.

From the mouth of the riuer Irtische to the Castle of Grustina, is two
moneths iourney: from whence to the lake Kitai, by the riuer Oby (which I
said to haue his springs in this lake) is more then three moneths iourney.
[Sidenote: Blacke men without speech.] From this lake come many blacke men;
lacking the vse of common speech. They bring with them diuers wares, and
especially pearles and precious stones, which they sell to the people
called Grustintzi and Serponowtzi. These haue their name of the Castle
Serponow, situate in the mountaines of Lucomoria, beyond the riuer Obi.
[Sidenote: Men that yeerely die and reuiue.] They say that to the men of
Lucomoria chauncheth a marueilous thing and incredible: For they affirme,
that they die yeerely at the xxvii. day of Nouember, being the feast of S.
George among the Moscouites: and that the next spring about the xxiii. day
of Aprill, they reuiue as doe Frogges.

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