Beauplan.
[Crim Tartars]
We shall take notice of two sorts of Tartars, the one call'd Haysky, and the other Crimsky; these last are of that Peninsula we have mention'd, in the Black-Sea, commonly call'd Scythia Taurica. But those of Nabaysky are divided into two sorts, that is the great Nabaysky, and the little Nabaysky, both of them inhabiting between the River Don, and that of Kuban, but moving, and as it were Savage; part of them are subject to the Cham, or King of Crim Tartary, and others to the Muscovites. There are some of them subject to no body. These Tartars are not of so generous a Temper as those of Crim Tartary, nor these so brave as those of Budziak. They are cloth'd after this manner, they wear a short Shirt of Cotton, which reaches but half a foot below their Waste, Drawers and close Cloth Breeches, and the common sort of Cotton Cloth pink'd ; the finest among them have a Caffetan of pink'd Cotton Cloth, and over it a Cloth Gown, lin'd with Fox-skins, or Sables, their Cap of the same, and their Boots of Red Turky Leather without Spurs.
The common sort wear only a Cassock of Sheep-skins, with the Wool outwards in hot or rainy Weather; and to meet them unexpectedly in the Field in this Garb is frightful, for a Man would take them for White Bears a Horseback. But in Winter and cold Weather, they turn their Cassock, wearing the Wool on the inside, and make a Cap of the same Skin, and in the same manner.
Their Weapons are a Scimiter, a Bow and Quiver, with eighteen or twenty Arrows, a Knife stuck in at their Girdle, a Flint to strike fire, a Nawl, with five or six fadom of small Leather-thongs, to bind the Prisoners they catch. Every one of them carrys a Sun-dial in his Pocket. Only the richest wear Coats of Mail, the others for want of better Provision go to the War without any Armour. They are all good Horsemen, and resolute, but sit ill, their Legs being bent, because they ride short, so they fit a Horseback as a Monkey would upon a Hare; yet for all that they are very active a Horseback, and so expert, that as they ride a large Trot, they will leap off one Horse when he is tir'd upon another they lead, that they may fly the better when pursu'd, and the Horse as soon as eas'd of his Master's weight comes about to his right hand, and keeps along even with him, to be ready to receive him again when he has occasion to mount him, according to their usual manner of activity. Thus are the Horses taught to attend their Masters. In other regards the Horses are ugly and ill shap'd, but good to endure Fatigue; for those Baquemates (so they call that sort of Horses) that have a very thick Main, and hanging down to the Ground, and their Tail in the same manner, are the only Beasts for running twenty or thirty Leagues without drawing bit.
Most of the common sort of those that remove from place to place do not eat Bread, unless they be among us. They had rather eat Horse-flesh than Beef, Yew-mutton, or Goats, for they know nothing of Weather-mutton; and they kill no Horse till he is very sick, and no hopes left of his being ever serviceable; and tho the Horse should die naturally of any Distemper whatsoever, they will not forbear eating of him, for it is to be conceiv'd that they are not at all dainty. They that go to War live after the same manner, and join Ten in a Mess; and when any Horse among them is not able to travel, they cut his Throat; and if they can get any Meal, they mix it with the Blood, as if it were Hogs-blood to make Puddings; then they boil it in a Pot, and eat that as a curious Dish. The Flesh they dress thus, they quarter the Horse, and lend their Comrades that want three Quarters, keeping for themselves only a Hind-quarter, which they cut out in as large slices as they can in the fleshiest part, and only an Inch or two thick; this they lay upon their Horse's back, and the Saddle over it, girding him as tight as they can: then they mount, ride three or four Hours a Gallop, for all the Army goes the same pace. Then they alight, unsaddle, turn their slice of Meat, and stroking up the Horses sweat with their hand, bafte the Flesh with it, that it may not grow dry; then they saddle again, and girt hard as before, riding on three or four Hours longer, and by that time the Flesh is dreft to their mind, as if it were stew'd, and this is their Dainty and Cookery. As for the rest which cannot be cut into Slices, they boil it with a little Salt, but never skim it, for they are of opinion that in skimming the Pot they throw away all the juice and relish of the Meat. Thus that miserable People lives, drinking fair Water when they can meet with it, which is but very seldom, for all the Winter they drink nothing but melted Snow. Such as are able, as for instance the Morzas, that is Gentlemen, and others who have Mares, or she-Asses, drink their Milk, which serves them instead ofWine
