Page:Notes upon Russia (volume 2, 1851).djvu/38

easily pass through it, nor the quails fly out of it. There is a great abundance there of honey, fish, birds, and wild beasts; and the fruits are far superior to the fruits of Moscow. The people are most daring and warlike.

The Don flows out of the province of Moscow up to this fortress, and nearly twenty-four German miles beyond it; it passes near a place called Donco, where the merchants going to Azov, Caffa, and Constantinople, load their ships. This they do generally in autumn in the rainy season, for the Don is not full enough of water at other times of the year to bear laden vessels. The Grand Duke Vasiley, who had married the sister of Ivan Vasileidch, Grand Duke of Moscow, and had by her Ivan and Feodor, once ruled over Rezan. When Vasiley died, his son Ivan succeeded him; and his sons by the daughter of the knes, Feodor Babitz, were Vasiley, Feodor, and Ivan. On the death of their father, the two eldest of these contended for the dominion, and fought a battle on the plains of Rezan. One of them died in this battle; and the victor not long after died on the same plains, where an oaken cross was erected to his memory. The youngest of the three brothers, who still survived, on learning their death, made alliance with the Tartars, and took forcible possession of the principality for which his brothers had contended, and which was hitherto in the possession of his mother. Having done this, he applied to the Duke of Moscow for permission to govern, as his ancestors had done, unchecked by any one in the free tenure and possession of the principality. While he was making this proposal, the Grand Prince heard that he was seeking in marriage the daughter of the king of Taurida, with whom the prince was then at war. Wherefore, when the prince sent for him, he, through fear, hesitated and delayed to go. At length, by the persuasion of Simon Crubin, one of his counsellors, he went to Moscow, where he was seized by the prince's command, and placed under custody, but not in prison (liberis