Beauplan.
You may observe they have great Bundles of large Reeds put together as thick as a Barrel end to end, and reaching the whole length of the Vessel, well bound with Bands made of Lime or Cherry-tree; they build them as our Carpenters do with Ribs and cross-pieces, and then pitch them, and have two Rudders one at each end, as appears in the Draught, because the Boats being so very long, they should lose much time in coming about when they are forced to fly back. They have commonly ten or fifteen Oars of a side, and row faster than the Turkish Gallies: They have also one Mast, which carries an ill-ahap'd Sail made use of only in very fair Weather, for they had rather row when it blows hard. These Vessels have no Deck, and when they are full of Water, the Reeds above-mention'd ty'd quite round the Boat, keep it from sinking. Their Bisket is in a Tun ten foot long, and four foot diameter fast bound, and they take out the Bisket at the Bung.
They have also a Puncheon or half Tun of boil'd Millet, and another of Dough dissolv'd in Water, which they eat mix'd with the Millet, and make great account of it: This serves for Meat and Drink, and tasftes sowrish; they call it Salamake, that is, a dainty Food. For my part I found no delicacy in it, and when I made use of it upon my Voyages it was for want of better.
These People are very sober, and if there be a Drunkard found among them, the General causes him to be turn'd out; therefore they are not permitted to carry any Brandy, being very observant of Sobriety in their Expeditions and Enterprizes.
When they resolve to make War upon the Tartars in revenge for the Mischiefs receiv'd from them, they take their opportunity in Autumn. To this purpose they send all Necessaries for their Voyage and Enterprize, and for the building of Ships and other uses to the Zaporouys: then 5 or 6000 Cossacks all good able Men well arm'd take the field, and repair to Zaporouy to build their Boats: Sixty of them go about a Boat, and finish it in a fortnight; for, as has been said, they are of all Trades. Thus in three weeks time they make ready 80 or 100 Boats, such as I describ'd above; between 50 and 70 Men go aboard each Vessel, with each of them two Firelocks and a Scimiter, carry four or five Falconets upon the sides of the Vessel, and Provisions proper for them. They wear a Shirt and Drawers, have a Shift, a pitiful Gown, a Cap, six Pounds of Cannon Powder, and Ball enough for their small Arms and Falconets, and every one carries a Quadrant. This is the flying Army of the Cossacks on the Black Sea, able to terrify the best Towns in Anatolia.
Thus provided, they run down the Boristhenes; the Admiral carries his Distinction upon the Mast, and generally has the Van, their Boats keeping so close that the Oars almost clash. The Turk has commonly notice of their coming, and keeps several Gallies ready at the mouth of the Boristhenes to hinder their coming out, but the Cossacks who are cunninger flip out in a dark night about the NewMoon,
