Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/151

From Mouron to Casin, sha. 100

From Casin to Moscow, sha. 250

So that from Astracan to Moscow they count it sha. 2950
which makes 590 Italian miles.

At Sarataf you may go ashore, and so by Land to Moscow. When the Snow is gone you travel in Wagons, but when the Snow lies, in Sledges. If a man be alone, and that his Goods weigh not above two hundred pounds Paris weight, they put them into two Bales; and laying them upon the Horses back set the man in the middle, paying for Carriage as much as from Astracan to Moscow.

From Sarataf by Land to Inserat, days 10

From Inserat to Tymnek, days 6

From Tymnek to Canquerma, days 8

From Canquerma to Volodimer, days 6

Volodimer is a City bigger than Constantinople, where stands a fair Church upon a Mountain in the City, having been formerly the residence of the Emperours themselves.

From Volodimer to Moscow, days 5

In all, days 35

Observe by the way that they never go ashore at Serataf but in case of necessity, when the River begins to be Frozen. For from Serataf to Inserat is a Journey of ten days, in all which time there is nothing to be had, either for Horse or Man. The Custom is the same at Moscow as at Astracan, that is Five per Cent. All the Asiaticks, Turks, Persians, Armenians, and others, lodge in a sort of Inns: but the Europeans lie in a place by themselves altogether.

Constantinople after it was taken by Mahomet the second, the twenty-seventh of May, 1453. was call'd by the Turks Istam-Bol; Istam signifying Security, and Bol, Spacious, large, or great, as much as to say, Great Security.

Chio,