zinskoi; for the Waters were fo low, that When every thing was ready, he fent his Camels and other Beafts of Burthen before him, towards Merzinskoi, by the Way of the Mountains, and following them himself, reached the River Onon upon the 19th. This River rites from the Fens of Mongal, and to the NorthEaft throws itself into the Ingodda, where having united their Streams, they go away together by the Name of Schilka. Their Waters are very white, and their Borders are inhabited by feveral Hoards of the Mongales, who commit frequent Ravages on the other Side of the Schilka, quite to Merzinskoi. But they are not always attended with the best Luck upon these Occafions; they are not seldom repulfed, and when any of them happen to be taken, they are fure to be executed as common Robbers. The Ruffian Coffacks alfo fcour the Country all along the Onon, to take Vengeance on them, and spare not one that comes in their Way. 1693. Upon the 20th, he happily arrived at Ner- Nerzinskoi. zinskoi, a Town upon the Nerza, which comes from the North-North-Eaft, and discharges itfelf into the Schilka, a Quarter of a League from this Fortrefs, whofe Works are not bad, and provided with a great Number of Brafs Artillery, as well as with a good Garifon of Daurian Coffacks, who ferve both on Foot and on Horfeback. This Place, though furrounded Dd 3 with 1693. with high Hills, does not want for Grafs Grounds to feed its Camels, Horses, and other Cattle. And here and there, upon the Hills, are Patches of Land fit for Tillage, and for the Production of fuch Things as the Inhabitants ftand in need of. Four or five Leagues upon the Schilka, above this Town, and ten Leagues below it, are feveral Ruffian Gentlemen, and fome Coffacks who fubfift by Tillage, Grazing, and Fishing. The Places about this Town and Hill produce all Sorts of Flowers and Plants; Baftard Rheubarb, or Rapontica, of extraordinary Size; fine white and yellow Lillies; red and white Pionies of a charming Scent, and of feveral Sorts; Rosemary, Thyme, Sweet Majoram, Lavender, befides many odoriferous Plants unknown in Europe; but they have no Sort of Fruit here except Gooseberries. The Heathens, who have a long time been in this Country, and who are under the Dominion of the Czar of Muscovy, are of two Sorts; the Konni Tungufi, and the Olenni Tungufi. The firft are obliged to appear on Horfeback at the first Orders of the Waivode, or Governor of Nerzinskoi, or when the Borders are infested by the Tartars; and the Olenni are obliged to ferve on Foot, and armed in the Town, when Occafion requires. The Chief of the Konni Tongufi, when M. Isbrant was there, there, was a Knez, called The Chief of Paul Petrowitz Gantimur, or, in their Lanthe Konni Tun- guage Cantana Gantimur. He was pretty far advanced in Years, and of the Country of Nieubeu, where he had been a Taifcha, under the Dominion of the King of China; but falling into Difgrace with that Prince, who depofed gift. him, he removed into Dauria, with his Hoards who live near the Town fubfift by Cattle; but 1693. They live in Cabbins, which they call Jurtes, Their Habitathe Infide of which are Poles joined or framed tions. together, and which they can easily remove from Place to Place, as they are often obliged to do. When thefe Poles are erected, they cover them over with Skins, except where the Smoke is to go out at Top; and their FirePlaces, round which they fit upon Turf, are in the Middle of the Cabbin. Women. Their Worship is the fame with that of the Inhabitants of Dauria, from whom they pretend to be defcended, and differs in no Point from that of Tartary, quite to the Frontiers of the Mongales. The Women are here robuft, Drefs and with broad Faces, like the Men; are, when they Arms of the are on Horfeback, armed like them with Bow and Arrow, which they use with great Dexterity, even when young Maidens. Nor does their Drefs differ from that of the Men.Water is their common Drink; but those who have wherewithal drink Tea, which they call Kara'tza, or Black-Tea, because it tinctures Dd 4 the 1693. Their Drink and Food. the Water with Black inftead of Green. They boil it in Mares Milk, and a little Water, to which they add fome Greafe or Butter. They have also a Kind of diftilled Liquor, which they call Kunnen or Arak, extracted from Mares Milk, and ftir it every Hour for one Night, and then having put it in an earthen Pot well covered, and luted with Paste, diftil it over a Fire. This is to be twice repeated before the Liquor is fit to drink, and then it becomes as strong and as clear as a Malt Spirit, and fuddles as eafily. It is to be observed of the Cows of Siberia, Dauria, and generally fpeaking of all Tartary, that they will not fuffer themselves to be milked while they have Calves at the Dug, and that they cease to give Milk as foon as they are out of their Sight. Hence it is that they are under a Neceffity of ufing Mares Milk, which is much fatter and fofter than that of the Cow. Thefe Heathens hunt in the Spring Time, and lay in their Store of Venifon after the Manner of the Burates, drying it as they do in the Sun. Their Bread they make of the dried Roots of yellow Lillies, which they call Sarana, and which they apply to several other Uses. They are very adroit at fhooting Fish in the Water, with their Arrows, tho' at the Distance of fifteen or fixteen Fathom. As their Arrows are heavy, they are fit to kill nothing but Pike and Trout, which swim in clear Water towards the Banks, and upon the Gravel, and these they split in two as if they had done it with a Cleaver, the Points of their Arrows being three Fingers broad. When 1 When these People are under a Neceffity to M. Isbrant ftaid fome Weeks at Nerzinskoi, FINI S. 1693. |