Many other most strange and wonderful things are in the Land of Cathay, towards the North-east, and China towards the South-east, where are many of the most famous Kingdoms in the World, where most Arts, Plenty, and Curiosities are in such abundance, as might seem incredible, which hereafter I will relate, as I have briefly gathered from such Authors as have lived there.
CHAP. XVII.
How Captain Smith escaped his Captivity; slew the Bashaw of Nalbrits in Cambia; his Passage to Russia, Transilvania, and the middest of Europe to Africa.
{MN-1} All the hope he had ever to be delivered from this Thraldom, was Only the love of Tragabigzanda, who surely was ignorant of his bad usage; for although he had often debated the matter with some Christians, that had been there a long time Slaves, they could not find how to make an escape, by any reason or possibility; but God beyond Man's Expectation or Imagination helpeth his Servants, when they least think of help, as it hapned to him. So long he lived in this miserable Estate, as he became a Thresher at a grange in a great Field, more than a League from the Timor's House; the Bashaw, as he oft used to visit his Granges, visited him, and took occasion so to beat, spurn, and revile him, that forgetting all reason, he beat out the Timor's Brains with his Threshing Bat, for they have no Flails; and seeing his Estate could be no worse than it was, clothed himself in his Clothes, hid his Body under the Straw, filled his Knapsack with Corn, shut the doors, mounted his Horse, and ran into the Desart at all adventure; two or three days, thus fearfully wandring he knew not whither, and well it was, he met not any to ask the way; being even as taking leave of this miserable World, {MN-2} God did direct him to the great way or Castragan, as they call it, which doth cross these large Territories, and generally known among them by these marks.
{MN-1} How Smith escaped his Captivity.
{MN-2} Their Guides in those Countries.
In every crossing of this great way is planted a Post, and in it so many bobs with broad ends, as there be ways, and every bob the Figure painted on it, that demonstrateth to what part that way leadeth; as that which pointeth towards the Crim's Country, is marked with a half Moon, if towards the Georgians and Persia, a black Man, full of white spots, if towards China, the Picture of the Sun, if towards Muscovia, the Sign of a Cross, if towards the Habitation of any other Prince, the Figure whereby his Standard is known. To his dying Spirits thus God added some comfort in this melancholy Journey, wherein if he had met any of that vile Generation, they had made him their Slave, or knowing the Figure Engraven in the Iron about his Neck, (as all Slaves have) he had been sent back again to his Master; sixteen days he travelled in this fear and torment, after the Cross, till he arrived at Æcopolis, upon the River Don, a Garrison of the Muscovites. The Governour after due Examination of those his hard events, took off his Irons, and so kindly used him, he thought himself new risen from the Dead, and the good Lady Calamata, largely Supplied all his wants.
{MN-1} This is as much as he could learn of those wild Countries, that the Country of Cambia is two days Journey from the Head of the great River Bruapo, which springeth from many places of the Mountains of Innagachi, that joyn themselves together in the Pool Kerkas which they account for the Head, and falleth into the Sea Dissabacca, called by some the Lake Maeotas, which receiveth also the River Tanais, and all the Rivers that fall from the great Countries of the Circassi, the Cartaches, and many from the Tauricaes, Precopes, Cummani, Cossunka, and the Crim; through which Sea he Sailed, and up the River Bruapo to Nalbrits, and thence through the Desarts of Circassi to Æcopolis, as is related; where he stayed with the Governour, till the Convoy went to Caragnaw; then with his Certificate how he found him, and had examined with his friendly Letters, sent him by Zumalack to Caragnaw, whose Governour in like manner so kindly used him, that by this means he went with a safe conduct to Lesch, and Donko, in Cologoske, and thence to Berniske, and Newgrod in Siberia, by Rezechica, upon the River Nieper, in the confines of Lithuania; from whence with as much kindness, he was convoyed in like manner by Coroski, Duberesko, Duzihell, Drohobus, and Ostroge in Volonia; Saslaw, and Lasco in Podolia; Halico and Collonia in Polonia; and so to Hermonstat in Transilvania. In all this his life, he seldom met with more Respect, Mirth, Content and Entertainment; and not any Governour where he came, but gave him somewhat as a Present, besides his Charges; seeing themselves as subject to the like Calamity. {MN-2} Through those poor continually Foraged Countries, there is no passage, but with the Caravans or Convoys; for they are Countries rather to be pitied than envied; and it is a wonder any should make Wars for them. The Villages are only here and there, a few Houses of streight Firr Trees, laid heads and points above one another, made fast by notches at the ends, more than a Man's heighth, and with broad split Boards, pinned together with woodden Pins, as thatched for coverture. In ten Villages you shall scarce find ten Iron Nails, except it be in some extraordinary Man's House. For their Towns, Æcopolis, Letch, and Donko, have Rampires made of that woodden Walled fashion, double, and betwixt them Earth and Stones, but so latched with cross Timber, they are very strong against any thing but Fire; and about them a deep Ditch, and a Palizado of young Firr Trees; but most of the rest have only a great Ditch cast about them, and the Ditches Earth, is all their Rampire; but round, well environed with Palizadoes. Some have some few small pieces of small Ordnance, and Slings, Calievers, and Muskets, but their generallest Weapons are the Russe Bows and Arrows; you shall find Pavements over Bogs, only of young Firr-Trees, laid cross one over another, for two or three hours Journey, or as the Passage requires, and yet in two days Travel, you shall scarce see six Habitations. Notwithstanding to see how their Lords, Governours, and Captains are civilized, well attired and accoutred with Jewels, Sables, and Horses, and after their manner with curious Furniture, it is wonderful; but they are all Lords or Slaves, which makes them so subject to every Invasion.