A Brief History of Moscovia and Other Countries, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Of Tingoesia, and the Countries adjoyning eastward, as far as Cathay.
BEyond Narim and Comgoscoi the Souldiers of those Garrisons travailing by appointment of the Russian Governour in the year 1605.Pur. par. 3. found many goodly Countries not inhabited;527. many vast Deserts, and Rivers, till at the end of ten weeks they spy'd certain Cottages, and Herds, or companies of People, which came to them with reverent behaviour, and signify'd to the Samoeds and Tartars, which were Guides to the Russian Souldiers, that they were call'd Tingoesi; that their dwelling was on the great River Ienissey. Ienissey.This River is said to be far bigger than Ob; 527.distant from the Mouth thereof 4 daies and nights sayling;551. and likewise falls into the Sea of Naramzie; it hath high Mountains on the East,546. some of which cast out Fire, to the West a plain and fertil Country, which in the Spring time it overflowes about 70 leagues;527. all that time the Inhabitants keep them in the Mountains,Manners. and then return with their Cattel to the Plain. The Tingoesi are a very gentle Nation, they have great swoln Throats like those in Italy that live under the Alpes; Ibid.at perswasion of the Samoeds they forthwith submitted to the Russian Government; and at their request travailing the next year to discover still eastward, they came at length to a River, which the Savages of that place call'd Pisida, somewhat less than Ienissey; 528.beyond which hearing ofttimes the towling of Brazen Bells, and sometimes the noise of Men and Horses, they durst not pass over; they saw there certain Sayles afar off, square, and therefore suppos'd to be like Indian or China Sayles, and the rather for that they report that great Guns have been heard shot off from those Vessels. In April, and May they were much delighted with the fair prospect of that Country, replenish't with many rare Trees, Plants and Flowers, Beasts and Fowle. Some think here to be the Borders of Tangut in the north of Cathay. 543.Some of those Samoeds about the Year 1610. travail'd so far till they came in view of a White City; and heard a great din of Bells,546. and report there came to them Men all arm'd in Iron from head to foot. And in the Year 1611. divers out of Cathay, and others from Alteen Czar who stiles himself the golden King, came and traded at Zergolta, or Surgoot on the River Ob, bringing with them Plates of Silver. Whereupon Michael Pheodorowick the Russian Emperour in the Year 1619. sent certain of his People from Tooma to Alteen, and Cathay, who return'd with Ambassadours from those Princes. These relate,797. that from Tooma in ten daies and a half, three daies whereof over a Lake, where Rubies and Saphirs grow, they came to the Alteen King, or King of Alty; through his Land in five weeks they pass'd into the Country of Sheromugaly or Mugalla, where reigned a Queen call'd Manchika; whence in four daies they came to the Borders of Cathay, fenc't with a stone Wall, 15 fathom high; along the side of which, having on the other hand many pretty Towns belonging to Queen Manchika, they travail'd ten daies without seeing any on the Wall till they came to the Gate. Where they saw very great Ordnance lying, and 3000 men in watch. They traffick with other Nations at the Gate, and very few at once are suffered to enter. They were travailing from Tooma to this Gate 12 weeks; and from thence to the great City of Cathay ten daies. Where being conducted to the House of Ambassadours, within a few daies there came a Secretary from King Tambur with 200 Men well apparell'd, and riding on Asses, to feast them with divers sorts of Wine, and to demand their Message; but having brought no Presents with them, they could not be admitted to his sight; onelyonly with his Letter to the Emperour they return'd as is aforesaid, to Tobolsca. They report that the Land of Mugalla reaches from Boghar to the north Sea,799. and hath many Castles built of Stone four-square, with Towers at the Corners cover'd with glazed Tiles; and on the Gates Alarum-Bells or Watch-Bells twenty pound weight of Metal; their Houses built also of Stone, the Seelings cunningly painted with Flowers of all Colours. The People are Idolaters; the Country exceeding fruitfull. They have Asses and Mules, but no Horses. The People of Cathay say that this great Wall stretches from Boghar to the north Sea four months journey with continual Towers a flight-shot distant from each other, and Beacons on every Tower; and that this Wall is the bound between Mugalla and Cathay. In which are but five Gates; those narrow, and so low, that a Horse-man sitting upright cannot ride in. Next to the Wall is the City Shirokalga; it hath a Castle well furnish't with short Ordnance, and small Shot, which they who keep watch on the Gates, Towers and Walls, duly at Sun set and rising discharge thrice over. The City abounds with rich Merchandize, Velvets, Damasks, Cloth of Gold and Tissue, with many sorts of Sugars. Like to this is the City Tara, their Markets smell odoriferously with Spices, and Tayth more rich than that. Shirooan yet more magnificent, half a day's journey through, and exceeding populous. From hence to Cathaia the imperial City is two daies journey, built of White-stone four-square, in circuit four daies going, corner'd with four White Towers, very high and great, and others very fair along the Wall, white intermingl'd with blew, and Loop-holes furnisht with Ordnance. In midst of this White City stands a Castle built of Magnet, where the King dwels, in a sumptuous Palace, the top whereof is overlaid with Gold. The City stands on even ground encompass'd with the River Youga, 7 daies journey from the Sea. The People are very fair, but not warlike, delighting most in rich Traffick. These Relations are referr'd hither, because we have them from Russians; who report also,806. that there is a Sea beyond Ob so warm that all kind of Sea-Fowl live thereabout as well in Winter as in Summer. Thus much briefly of the Sea and Lands between Russia, and Cathay.