November xvii.
We stay this day at Steken, where I had leisure to observe in general concerning Moravia, that the country is fertile and well tilled, except where it is overrun with pine or fir woods. The people are all slaves to the lords of the several mansions; but this extends only to their labour, not the property of their gain. The language of the place is Behemish, a dialect of the Sclavonian; but at inns and other public houses they ordinarily speak Tuysech. The government it divided into five districts, of which there are as many captains, but the command of the whole province is committed by the Emperor to Count Thorn. The river Morawa is likewise called Mark by the Germans; which latter name seems to relate to the antient inhabitants, the Marcomanni (who with the Quadi were here settled) as the former name does to the Moravians. Through the whole extent of the country we frequent meet with large lakes, at the distance perhaps of an English mile.