Beauplan.
along the Tartar Banks; sometimes it breaks out of the River, then returns to it again, leaving great Banks of Sand between its course and the Nieper.
Tomahowka is an Island about the third part of a League diameter, or thereabouts, almost round, very high and lofty, like a half Globe, all cover'd with Wood: From the top of it may be seen all the Nieper from Chortika to Taman. This Island is very pleasant, I could not learn after what manner the Banks of it are, but that it is nearer Russia than Tartary. Ckemislky had made choice of this place for his Retreat when he was threatned with a Siege, and it was there they began to rendevouz when they rebell'd and took the field in May 1648, and won the Battel on the 26th of May near Korsum.
A little below the River of Czertomelik about the middle of the Nieper is a pretty big Island, with some Ruins. It is encompass'd by above 10000 other Islands, lying every way in very confuse and irregular manner, some of them dry, others fenny; besides they are all covered with great Reeds like Pikes, which obstructs seeing the Channels that part them: and into those confuse places the Cossacks make their retreat, which they call Skarbniza Woyskowa, that is, the Treasure of the Army. All these Islands are drowned in Spring, and only the place on which the Ruins are remains dry. The River is full a League between the two Banks. In these places it is that all the Power of the Turks can do no good; many Turkish Gallies have been lost there as they pursu'd the Cossacks returning from the Black Sea: for being got into this Labyrinth, they could not find their way back, and the Cossacks with their Boats play'd upon them, drawing them in athwart the Reeds. Ever since then the Gallies do not go up the River above four or five Leagues. It is believ'd that there are many pieces of Cannon in Scobnicza Woyskowa, hid there by the Cossacks in the Channels, and none of the Polanders could find them out: for besides that they do not go unto those parts, the Cossacks who are very close will not reveal the Secret to them, and there are but few Cossacks that know it.
All the Cannon they take from the Turks they sink; nay their Mony is hid there too, and they only take it out as they have occasion, every Cossack having his particular hiding-place. For after pillaging among the Turks they divide the Spoil, when they return to these parts; then every one hides his little Concern, as has been said, that is, such things as will not decay under Water.
In these places they make their Choina, that is, Boats to cross the Sea, which are about sixty foot long, ten or twelve in breadth, and eight in depth, with two Rudders, as we shall show in their Draught.
Kair is an Island five or six Leagues long, all plain, and cover'd partly with Reeds, and partly with Willows: when the Channel runs on the Russian side, the Island is larger towards Tartary. The West side is never drowned.
Wielesky Woda, that is, the great Water opposite to Skorouke, where there are but few Islands, and in the midst of the River an empty space without any.
Nosokouka is an Island above two Leagues long, without any Wood, and drowned in Spring. The Tartars pass over across this Island, as they do across Kair Kosmaka, which is but half a League. Betwixt this Island and Russia is a Channel call'd Kosmaka, down which the Cossacks slip when they go to Sea, for fear of being discover'd by the Guard kept at the antient Ruins of the Castle of Aslan Korodicke upon the Strait of Taman, for there the Turks always keep Guard.
Tawan is a streight and great Passage of the Tartars, because there the River runs all clear without interruption, and is not above soo paces over. The Russian side is very high and steep, but the other Bank is low, which is the Island of Tawan, yet not subject to be drowned, and is a proper place to erect a Fort, to curb the Cossacks, and prevent their going to Sea. The River runs altogether, that is, it makes but one Channel till two Leagues below, where it begins to spread and make Islands and Channels again.
The Island of Tawan is about two Leagues and a half long, and a third part of a League over. The Channel between the said Island and Tartary is Konskawoda, whereof we have spoken. When the River is not swollen, it is fordable; about half the Island floods on the West-side.
The Island Kosaky is about half a League long, but drowned.
The Island Burhanka about the same length, and flooded, but is a place where the Tartars pass over, tho there are three Channels there, viz. the Konskawoda, and the Dnieper twice, and none of these Channels are fordable. Fords the Tartars may pass over. Between Kuockasow and Orzakow there are five places where the Tartars may pass over.The
