A Brief Description of the Whole World, Part 10 – Part 12
Of the Sea running between Europe and Asia.
IF there were no other Argument,Northerne parts were not discovered in times past. that the Northern parts of the World were not discovered in times past, by any that travelled that way, yet this would sufficiently avouch …, that there was never thought upon an… land between Asia and Europe, higher than the River Tanais; which doth not extend it selfe very fa… into the North, but is short of the uttermost bounds that was by the space of foure thousand miles; but this river which by the Tartarians is now called Don, where it doth run, it leaveth Asia on the Eastside, and Europe on the West, but going forward towards the South, it disburtheneth it self into a dead Lake or Fen (for so it seemeth) which isMeotis Palus Iustine Ovid. called Meotis Palus, spoken of in the second book of Justine, and not forgotten by Ovid de Ponto: and at this day in the dead of winter, it is usually frozen, that the Scythians and Tartarians neer adjoining, do both themselves and their cattel, yea, sometimes with sleads after them, passe over, as if it were dry land. On the Southern part of this Meotis is a narrow strait of the Sea, which is commonly called by the name ofBosphorus Cimmerius. Bosphorus Cimmerius, because (as it is thought) sometime Oxen have ventured to swim crosse there from Asia to Europe, or backward. When the water hath run for a pretty space i… so narrow a passage, there beginneth … great and wide Sea, named Pontus Euxinus, whether (asPontus Euxinus. Josephus reporteth) the whale did carry the Prophet Jonas, and there did disburthen himselfe of his carriage, by casting him upon the land. At the mouth of this Sea, is a very great strait, knowne by the name of Thracius Bosphorus, where theThracius Bosphorus. breadth of this sea is not above one mile, serving Asia and Europe. O… the side of Europe standeth Constantinople. On the side of Asia, the City called Pera or Galatae, which for the neerenesse is by some, reckoned a part of Constantinople. When anyA strange custome among the Turks. of the Turks Janizaries have committed ought worthy of death, the custome is, is to send the same party in the night time over by boat from Constantinople to Pera, whereby the way he is thrown i… to the water with a great stone about his neck, and then there is a piece of O…dnance shot off, which is a token of some such execution. The Turke is forced to take this course, lest the rest of his Janizaries should mutiny when any of their fellowes is put to death.
By reason of the standing of Asia and Europe so neare together, and the sea running between them, which serveth each place with all manner of commodities, it appeareth that Constantinople is marve… lously, richly, and conveniently sea…ed, a…d therefore a fit place from whence …e Turke may offer to atc…ieve att…mps.
After this st…ait, the sea openeth it self more large toward he …, & …is called by the name o… … But then it groveth again into a …other stra…t, which they write to be … b…ead … two in …: This is called H…ll sp…ntus having on the one side … in Asia, on the otherside S…stus on the side of Eu…pe. This is that place whereHellespon …us X…rxes b…idge. …rxes the great King o… Persia, d…d …ike his bridge over the Sea, so mu…h renowned in ancient history; which was not impossible, by reason of the narrownesse, the foundation of his bridge being rested on ships. Here also may appeare the reason of the story of Leander and Hero: which Leander is reported for the love of Hero, to have often times swum over the Sea, till at last he was drowned. From this stra… …outhward, the Sea groweth more wide, and is called afterwards by the name of Mare Aegeum, and soMare Aegeum. descendeth to the full Mediterranean.
Of Asia, and first of Tartary.
ON the South side of Asia, … unto the Domini… the Emperour of R…ssia, is Tartary, in ancientTartary b…unded. time … Scy…hia, the bou…ds whereof did then extend them…es into a good part of Europe; and therefore was called Scythia Europea: but the greatest part of …t lyeth in Asia, a mighty large Country, extending it self on the North to the uttermost Sea, on the …ast to the Dominion of the Great Cham, or Prince of Cathaie; on the South down to Mare Caspium. The Tartarians which now inhabit it, are men of great stature, rude of behaviour, no Christians but Gentiles; neitherTheir Religion. do they acknowledge Mahomet, They have few or no Cities among them, but after the manner of the old Scythians, do live in Wildernesses, lying under their Carts, and following their droves of Cattell, by the milke whereof they do nourish themselves. They sowe no corne at all, because they abide not long in any one place; but taking their direction from the North-pole-starre, they remove from one coast of their Countrey, unto another. The Countrey is populous, and the men are great warriours, fighting alwaies on horseback with their bow, arrowes, andTheir manner of wars a short sword. They have amongst them infini…e store of horses, whereof they sell many into the Countries neere adjoining. Their ordinary food in their warres is horseflesh, which they use to eat raw, being chafed a little by hanging at their saddle.
They have great wars with the Countries adjoining, but especially with the Moscovite, and sometimes with the Turke: from hence came Tamberlain, who brought 700000.Tamberlain the Great, … Tartarian. of the Tartarians at once into the field, wherein he distressed and took prisoner Bajazet the great Turke, whom he afterward forced to feed as a dog under his table.
They have now amongst them many Princes and Governours, as those have one, whom they call the Crim Tartars: and those have ano ther, which are the Tartars of Ma gaiae, and so divers others.
The English have laboured (to their great expences) to finde out the way by the North Seas of Tartaria; to go into Cathay and China; but by reason of the frozen Seas, they have not yet prevailed: although it hath been reported, that the Flemmings have discovered that passage: which would be (very likely) to the great benefit of the Northern parts of Christendome; yet that report doth not continue, and therfore it is to be thought; that the Flemmings have not proceeded so farre.
Of Cathaie and China.
NExt beyond Tartaria, on the North-East part of Asia, lyeth a great Country called Cathaie, the bounds whereof extend themselvesScituation of Cathaie. on the North and East, to the uttermost Seas; and on the South to China. The people are not much learned, but more civill then the Tartars; and have good and ordinary traffick with the Countries adjoining.
This Country hath in it many Kings, which are tributaries, and do owe obedience unto one, whom they call the great Cham or Can ofThe great Can of Cathaie. Cathaie, who is the chief governor of all the Land, and esteemed for multitude of people and largenesse of dominion, to be one of the greatest Princes of the World: but his name is the lesse famous, for that he lyeth so far distant from the best Nations, and the passage into this Country is so dangerous, either for the perils of the sea, or for the long space by Land. HisCambalu the chiefe City of China. chief Imperiall City is called Cambalu. On the South side of Cathaie, and East part of Asia, next to the Sea, lyeth China: and the people thereof, Osorius describeth by the name of Sina, and called their Countrey Synarum Regio. This is aA very rich Country. fruitfull Countrey, and yieldeth as great store of rich commodities, as almost any Country in the World. It containeth in it very many severall Kingdomes, which are absolute Princes in their Seats. The chief City in this Countrey is called Quinsay, and is described to be ofQuinsay the …hiefe City. incredible greatnesse, as were wont to be the ancient Cities in the East, as Babylon, Ninive, and others.
This Countrey was first discovered by the late Navigation of the Portugals into the East Indies.
The people of China are learnedThe people skilfull in Ar…s. almost in all Arts, very skilful workmen in curious fine Workes of all sorts, so that no Country yieldeth more precious Merchandise then the workmanship of them. They are great souldiers, very politick and crafty, and in respect thereof, contemning the wits of others using a Proverbe, That all other Nations Their Proverbe.do see but with one eye; but they themselves have two.
Petrus Maffaeus Historiographer to the King of Spaine for the Eastern Indies, doth report of them, that they have had from very ancient time among them, these two things, which we hold to be the miracles of Christendome, and but lately invented: The one is the useTwo rare wonders invented in Chinai, guns and printing. of Guns for the wars, and the other is Printing; which they use not as we do, writing from the left hand unto the right; or as the Hebrewes and Syrians, from the right hand unto the left: but directly downward, and so their lines at the top do begin again.