This
Yeraslaue standeth vpon the riuer of Volga, 180. versts I say distant from
Vologhda.
To the Caspian sea are 2700. versts from Yeraslaue.
So from S. Nicholas to the Caspian sea, are 3800. 80. versts.
The iourney from S. Nicholas to Yeraslaue is accomplished in foureteene
dayes by water, and two dayes by land. 16. dayes.
From thence to Astracan men trauell by water in 30. dayes and 30. nights.
So between S. Nicholas and the Caspian sea, are 46. dayes iourney.
There passe downe Volga euery Summer, 500. boats great and smal, from all
the vpper parts of the riuer, whereof some be of 500. tunne. They go for
Minerall salt and for Sturgeon.
The salt lieth in rocks (and is whitish red, and in fine sand) as it were
30. miles from Astracan toward the Caspian sea. They dig it themselues and
pay nothing for it, but to the prince a peny a pood, viz. 40. pound waight.
[Sidenote: Fishing for Sturgeon for 3 moneths.] The Sturgeon which they
call Ocetera is taken fiftie miles on this side Astracan. Along the riuer
the space of 20. miles, they make their booties in plaine grounds, and fish
for the space of three moneths, viz. from the end of May till, the end of
August, and hauing salt they vse to salt them.
The riuer is there 5. or 6. miles broad, but with some Islands. The riuer
below Yeraslaue, where it is most narrow, is a mile broad from side to
side.
The riuer runneth vpon red clay, all woods of birch and oke on the riuer
sides, saue about the townes of the fishing places.
Dwina from S. Nicholas to Vstiug runneth all on chalke and sand: the fish
are sweete and fat The Mene a fish with a great head a foot long breedeth
about Vologda, and is fat and delicate.
Between Vobsko and Nouogrod, the space of an 180. miles, groweth flax: the
whole soile in length is so imploied, and as much in breadth: this is vpon
a flat soile.
The hempe groweth about Smolensko vpon the Polish border, 300. miles in
compasse: much of the soile is so imploied.
[Sidenote: The Englishmen in making of cables set on worke 100 men in
Russia.] Of this hempe they bring in Winter to Vologda and Colmogro, and we
set in worke in making of cables aboue 100 men.
The Russians do spin and hachell it, and the English tarre it in threed and
lay the cable. And one cable of those is woorth two of Danzick, because the
Danzickers put in old cable and rotten stuffe, which in fowle weather is
found of no strength.
[Sidenote: Sosnoua tree excellent for the cure of the wolfe.] Sosnoua, a
tree that cureth the wolfe with the shauings of the wood, groweth in these
parts, and of the barks they make ropes as big as a mans arme for their
boats.
The Samoeds lacking linnen make handkerchiefs and towels of the very wood
of this tree. The wood of this tree is as heauie as hollie, and the
shauings tough.
[Sidenote: The description of Rose Island.] Rose Island in S. Nicholas Baie
is full of Roses damaske and red, of violets and wild Rosemarie: This
Island is neere 7. or 8. miles about, and good pasture, and hath the name
of the roses.
The snow here about the midst of May is cleared, hauing bin two moneths in
melting, then the ground is made dry within 14. dayes after, and then the
grasse is knee high within a moneth. Then after September the frost commeth
in, the snow is a yard deepe vpon plaine ground. The Island hath Firre and
Birch, and a faire fresh spring neere the house built there by the English.
* * * * *
The way discouered by water by vs Thomas Southam and Iohn Sparke, from the
towne of Colmogro, by the Westerne bottome of the Baie of S. Nicholas,
vnto the citie of Nouogrod in Russia, containing many particulars of the
way, and distance of miles, as hereafter foloweth. Anno 1566.
We departed from Colmogro about 10. of the clocke afore noone in a Lodia or
Barke, which we hired to bring vs along the coast to a place called Soroka,
and in the sayd barke we hired 6. mariners, and a boy to conduct vs to the
place before rehearsed.
The Lodia or barke was of the burden of 25. tunnes or thereabout, wherewith
we valed downe the riuer of Dwina, the winde being then calme, vnto a
monasterie, called S. Michael where we were, constrained to anker because
of a contrary wind which there met vs.
[Sidenote: A verst is but 3 quarters of an english mile.] From Colmogro to
this monasterie are 50. versts or miles of Russia, at which place we taried
till the 21. day in the morning, and then hauing the wind somewhat faire,
we set saile and departed thence.
21 We departed, from the monasterie of S. Michael, hauing the wind somewhat
faire, and arriued at Rose Island, ouer and against the monasterie of S.
Nicholas, the 22. day at 2. of the clocke in the morning, which is 35.
miles distant from the monasterie of S. Michael. By reason of contrary wind
and tide we were constrained to tary there all that day.
23 We departed from the monasterie of S. Nicholas at 7. of the clocke in
the euening, and came to an anker at the Beacons, and continued there vntil
halfe an houre past 10. of the clocke, and then set from thence, the wind
being South: our course was West vntil 5. of the clock in the morning, when
as we came to an anker against Newnox towne, where we continued vntil the
25. day.
[Sidenote: At this towne Newnox Richard Chanceller in his first voyage,
with his companie ashipboard were relieved.] The sayd towne of Newnox is
from the monasterie of S. Nicholas 35.
