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.
November xviii.
This day we proceed one mile and a half to Tuytschenbrodt, an old fortification on the river Sazawa, and from thence two miles to Habern, in a wood on the right hand. Tuytschenbrodt was the place, where General Zeiska beat the Emperor Sigismund, and by that defeat drove him out of Bohemia.
November xix.
One mile brings us this day to Janikaw, and two more from thence to Czaslaw; the place where Ferdinand the second narrowly escaped being assassinated by an Italian, hid for that purpose in an oven. Half a mile farther carries us to a small hamlet, called Wasser Cratz. Of these towns Janikaw is the place, where the battle was fought betwixt the Swedes and Imperialists in 1645; and Czaslaw, where General Zeiska lies buried.
November xx.
From Wasser Cratz we proceed one quarter of a German mile, and then having the city of Kuttenberg on our left hand, a little farther in the road we pass by two Imperial mines, where they are now at work, and dig up a mixt oar, consisting of copper, lead, and silver, a specimen of which they then shewed us. At one mile and a half from our last lodging we come to Kottin, and there breakfast. Then proceeding another mile and a half, we arrive at Blanyan. From Kottin flows the river Elb, which takes its name about five miles below that place, and is there scarce navigable. As we travel, we keep it in sight on the right hand, and the woods still on the left.
November XXI.
Two miles and a half from Branyan carry us to Oval, thro an open arable country, with a continued tract of woods on our left hand. In the midway we bait at the poor town of Bohaimsbrodt. But the day following for two miles and a half we pass thro a pleasant grove of birch and pine, and afterwards thro open ploughed feilds to Prague.