Beauplan.
full breadth, and is not above 200 paces over, and I remember I shot a Carabine which carried from one Bank to the other. The farther Bank is somewhat higher, and is call'd Socogura; to add to the conveniency of the place, it is all encompass'd with Channels abounding in Fish, which run among the Islands.
Below is the Island of the Monastery all hemm'd in with Rocks and very high, with Precipices all round 25 or 30 foot high, save only towards the upper end, where it is lower, and for that reason it is never overflow'd. There was formerly a Monastery in it, whence the Name was given it. Were not this Island commanded from the shore, it would be good living there; the length of it is about 1000 paces, the breadth 80 or 100: In it there are abundance of Snakes and other Serpents.
Next is Konesky Ostro, near three quarters of a League long, and a quarter over at the upper end, full of Woods and Bogs, and flooded in Spring. In this Island there are abundance of Fishermen, who for want of Salt preserve their Fish with Ashes, and dry a great deal. They fish in the River Samar, which on the other side falls into the Nieper, upon the right of the upper end of Konesky Ostro. This River of Samar and its Territory is very considerable, not only for its plenty of Fish, but for the Hony, Wax, Deer, and Wood for building, whereof it has greater store than any other. Thence was brought all the Wood used to build Kudac, of which place we shall soon speak.
This River runs very slow because of its windings; the Cossacks call it the Holy River, perhaps on account of its Fruitfulness. I have feen Herrings and Sturgeon caught there in the Spring, for there are none at any other time.
Below the end of Konesky Ostro, is Kniarow Ostro, a little Island all of solid Rock about 5 or 600 paces long, and 100 broad, free from being flooded, as is Koracky Ostro still lower, all Rock too, without Wood, but full of Snakes. This Col. Marcon was a Frechman. Within Cannon-shot lower is Kudac, which is the first Porouy, that is, a ridg of Rocks running quite cross the River, and hindering Navigation. There is a Fort which I caus'd to be erected in July 1635, but in August following, after I was gone, one Solyman General of certain rebellious Cossacks, in his return from the Sea, perceiving that Castle obstructed his return into the Country, surpriz'd it, and cut the Garison in pieces, which then consisted of about 200 Men under the Command of Col. Marcon: and Solyman, after taking and plundering the Fort, return'd with the Cossacks to Zaporouy; yet they continued not long Masters of it, being besieg'd and taken by the other Loyal Cossacks, under the Command of the Great Koniekspolsky Castelan of Cracosky; and lastly, that General of the Rebels was taken with all his Followers, and carried to Warsaw, where he was quarter'd.
The Polanders afterwards neglected that Fort, which made the Cossacks insolent, and gave them the means to revolt in the year 1637. When we met them, being 18000 strong, in their Tabort at Komaiky, on the 16th of December the same year, about noon; and tho our Army consisted but of 4000 fighting Men, we fell on and routed them. The Fight lasted till Midnight, of them about 6000 were kill'd upon the spot, and five pieces of Cannon taken; the rest escap'd by the assistance of the Night then very dark, leaving us masters of the Field. We lost about 100 Men, and had 1000 wounded, and among them several Commanders. Monsieur de Morueil a French Gentleman, who as Lieutenant Colonel lost his Life, together with his Ensign. Captain Juskesby was kill'd, and the Lieutenant to Monsieur la Crosade, besides several other Strangers. After this Defeat the War with the Cossacks lasted till October following, and then Peace was concluded.
That Great and Noble Koniespolsky went in Person to Kudak with 4000 Men, and continued there till the Fort was made tenable, which was done in a month, or thereabouts: Then the General went away, carrying along with him 2000 Men, and commanded me with some Forces and pieces of Cannon to take a view of the Country as far as the last Porouys, and at my return order'd me to come up the River in their Boats with my Lord Ostrorok Great Chamberlain, which gave me the opportunity of seeing thirteen Falls of the Water, and of making the Map as you see it.
In those parts 100 Men nor 1000 do not travel in safety; nor ought Armies to march but in good order, for those Plains are the usual abode of the Tartars, who having no settled place to be in, are continually ranging up and down those vast Plains, and never go fewer than 5 or 6000, and sometimes 10000 in a body. We leave it to another place to give an account of their Manners, and way of making War. In this place I will only say, that I have seen and observ'd all the 13 Falls, and pass'd over them all in one single Boat,going
