CHAP.

XIV.

country of the Comani: this is all flat, and has four great rivers. The first is called Neper (Borysthenes); the second is called Don (Tanaïs); the third is named Volga (Rha); the fourth is denominated Jaec (Rhymnus)." Thus it Thus it appears that the Comani, the ancestors of the Cossacks, had established themselves as far to the westward as the Dnieper, before the middle of the thirteenth century; and considerable light is thrown upon a very obscure part of antient geography by the documents thus afforded. W. de De RabruRubruquis himself, in another passage of his Itinerary, extends their limits as far westward as the Danube; and says, that the whole country, from this river to the Tanaïs, was inhabited by them. The western part was called Casaria, the country of the Cazars, Cassars, or Cossacks, as they are now called. Nothing can be more faithful than the account he has left of these vast solitudes, where there is neither wood, nor mountain, nor stone.

quis.

(2) "Tendebamus rectè in orientem ex quo exivimus prædictam provinciam Casariæ, habentes mare ad meridiem, et vastam solitudinem ad aquilonem: quæ durat per viginti dietas alicubi in latitudine: in qua nulla est sylva, nullus mons, nullus lapis. Herba est optima. In hac solebant pascere Comani, qui dicuntur Capchat. A Teutonicis verò dicuntur Valani, et provincia Valania. Ab Isidoro vero dicitur a flumine Tanai usque ad paludes Meotidis et Danubium Alania. Et durat ista terra in longitudine a Danubio usque Tanaim--- quæ tota inhabitabatur a Comanis." Hakluyt, vol. I. p. 80.

CHAP.
XIV.

Tahtars.

Armenian
Merchants

The Tahtars near to the Sea of Azof are a small race of men, but not so ugly as to answer to the descriptions given of them. They disfigure themselves very much by pressing their ears forward with the lower rim of their caps, from their tenderest infancy: in consequence of this practice, their ears protrude from the sides of their heads, and front the spectator. Some of those who passed us at Nakhtshivan looked fearfully wild, appearing in the rude and perhaps primeval dress of the first shepherds of the earth. Their bodies were almost naked: over their shoulders were loosely suspended the undressed fleeces of their sheep, fastened with a single loop in front. Upon their heads, and about their loins, they had a covering of the same nature; and upon their feet they wore those sandals of lindenbark of which a representation has been given as à Vignette to the Tenth Chapter of this Volume. A similar costume is sometimes represented upon the Grecian terra-cottas, and it is also exhibited by the sculpture of Antient Greece'.

Nakhtshivan offers an example of that enterof Nakhl- prising commercial spirit which is characteristic

shivan.

(1) Among the earthen vases described and published at Naples, there is a costume of this kind, upon a male figure, who is delineated checking two furious horses.

XIV.

of Armenian merchants. They are not naturally CHAP. a lively race of men. The Armenians are almost as grave as the Turks, and they have all the boorishness of Dutchmen; insomuch, that this is a common saying with European merchants in Constantinople; "A sportive Armenian is as awkward as a dancing bear." Yet, instigated by commercial speculations, these men traverse all countries, and overcome surprising obstacles; frequently making journeys to India, and to the most distant regions of the earth. Their commodities and their manufactures, as far as we were enabled to judge of them, appeared to be Turkish, and of a nature to find a ready sale in Axay and in Tcherkask. They supply all the fairs of the neighbouring provinces; and these fairs afford the most extraordinary sights in Europe, because they are attended by persons from almost every nation. There is scarcely a nation, civilized or barbarous, which has not its representative at the fairs which are held along the Sea of Azof, and upon the Don; but particularly at the great fair of Nakhtshivan. The Hamaxobii of Herodotus then make their appearance, as in the days of the historian; travelling in vehicles, the coverings of which are their tents by night, and tilts for their cars by day. Such

(2) See the Vignette to this Chapter.

CHAP. moveable dwellings may be noticed in all the territories of the Tahtars.

XIV.

We entered the quarter where the shops are stationed. It is a very lofty covered street, or cloister, surrounding a square, after the manner of the Palais Royal at Paris. Every trade has its peculiar station assigned, as in the bazars of Constantinople; and, according to the rule observed in Oriental bazars, the floor of each shop is made level with the counter; the dealers sitting at their work, as in Turkey, with their legs crossed beneath their bodies. The shops were all well stored, and a rapid sale was going on. Their owners, in many instances, were really Mohammedans, who manufactured slippers, sandals, and boots, in coloured leather. Among other tradesmen, we observed tobacconists, pipemakers, clothiers, linen-drapers, grocers, butchers, bakers, blacksmiths, silk-mercers, dealers in Indian shawls, &c. Their bakers make bread of a very superior quality. According to a salutary Asiatic custom, it is publickly made, and publickly baked; so that the whole process of preparing the most important article of food is open to the inspection of every one. The crowd passing before their shops resembled a masquerade, where the costly embroidered vestments of rich Armenian mer

chants' were contrasted with the coarse hides covering wild Tahtars, the long furred pelisses of the Turks, the military, but simple, garb of the Cossacks, the uncouth uniform of the Russian police, and the greasy trappings of the Calmucks.

We visited a Turkish coffee-house, the most favourite rendezvous of the inhabitants. On the right hand as we entered, and upon a raised floor like the counters used by English tailors, were squatted a number of merchants, reclining upon cushions, with long pipes in their hands, smoking, and drinking coffee. As we joined the party, we were presented, according to the usual custom, with kindled pipes (having tubes made of the wood of the cherrytree, tipped with amber), a small cup of coffee, and a bit of wood of aloes; this, being put into the bowl of each pipe, exhaled a refreshing and pleasing fragrance. In a corner of the

СНАР.

XIV.

(1) The costume of the Armenian women of Astrachan is the richest in Russia. It is surprising that they sustain the weight of their dress, The first, or inner robe, is of silk and gold; the second, of black velvet, heavily laden with gold and pearls. The third, or outer vest, is almost of massive gold, in ponderous embroidery, with large gold knobs, gold buttons, gold tassels, gold fringe, &c. &c. The turban is white, hangs over the left shoulder, and conceals the face, except the nose and eyes. The only hair disclosed is often false; two thick locks, one on each side, being brought in front before the ears.