Page:Notes upon Russia (volume 2, 1851).djvu/184

not only by the guests, who quoted the king as an eye-witness of the fact, but Pierstinski himself was also present at the entertainment, and so explained the matter, as to make it easy to believe it. For he said, that after being thrown from his horse, he three times raised himself above the water, and that by that time, as before stated, he had been considered as lost, and no assistance was brought to him, but at the third time he succeeded in extricating himself: that he then opened his eyes, and moved forward, holding his hand up by way of a sign to them to assist him. When he was asked if he had swallowed water, he answered, that he had done so twice. I wish to relate these things to others as I have heard them told to me: but now I return to the continuation of my journey.

Prostvitza, where the best beer is brewed.

Thence to Cracow, the capital of the kingdom, and seat of royalty, situated on the Vistula, eighteen miles from Sandomir, a city, I say, famous for the great number of its clergy, students, and merchants, at which place I received an honourable dismissal, accompanied by a present from the king, to whom my embassy was very acceptable.

Thence straight to Lipovetz, to which is attached a fortress, used as a prison for priests who are found guilty of more than ordinary crimes.

Thence three miles to Osventzin, situated on the Vistula, a town of Silesia, but under the dominion of Poland; at which place the river Sola, which flows down from the mountains which separate Silesia from Hungary, falls into the Vistula. Not far below the said town is the river Preyssa, which falls into the Vistula on the other side, separating Silesia from the territories of Poland and Bohemia.

To Ptzina (in German, Ples), a principality in Silesia, under the dominion of Bohemia, three miles.

To Strumen (in German, Schwartzwasser), two miles.

To Freystactl, a town belonging to the dukes of Tcschin,