We came to an anker there this day at 4. of the
clock in the afternoone being from Newnox hauen 15. miles, where we
continued in harbour til the 27, day of the moneth, by reason of contrary
winds.
27 We departed from Seusemski in the morning at 5. of the clocke, the wind
next at East and by North, and our course Northwest and by West.
The said land of Seusemski and the headland going into Owna riuer lieth
East and by South, west and by North, and between them is 25. miles.
This day at Sunne set we came to an Island called Sogisney passing betwixt
it and the maine, with the wind at South and by East, our course was West
and by South, being 85. miles from Owna riuer.
Being past the said Island 10. miles, the wind came contrary, whereupon we
returned to the Island of Sogisney, where we remained vntil the 29. day.
29 The 29. day we departed from Sogisney aforesayd, at 5. of the clocke in
the afternoone, the wind at East northeast, and our course was Southwest
and by west, passing by an Island called Anger, being 30. miles from
Sogisney, and keeping on our course, we came by the headland of an Island
called Abdon, being from the Island of Anger 15. miles, where we found many
rocks: and if the great prouidence of God had not preserued vs, wee had
there perished, being fallen amongst them in the night time, and our pilot
none of the perfectest, which was contrary to his profession as we found
it.
But whosoeuer will trauell that way must either keepe hard aboord the
shore, for that there is a chanell which goeth along the coast within the
rocks, or els giue the headland a birth of 6. miles at the least, and so
goe a seaboord all: for there are ledges of rocks that lie fiue miles from
the headland.
We gaue the headland a birth of 3. miles, notwithstanding there lay two
rockes two miles to sea boord of vs, so that we were inclosed with them,
and sate vpon the highest of them: but it pleased God to make it calme, and
giue vs the day also, or els we had miscaried.
30 We departed from the headland of the Island of Abdon, at 4. of the
clocke in the morning, directing our course West, and at 10. of the clocke
before noone, we arriued at a monasterie named Solofky, which is 15. miles
from Abdon.
At this monasterie we continued vntill the 31. day of this moneth. We had
here detracted vs by the chiefe monkes of the monasterie, their letter and
house seale, and a seruant of theirs to conduct vs safely through the
dangerous riuer of Owiga.
The people of all those parts are wild, and speake another kind of
language, and are for the most part all tenants to the monasterie. The
effect of the letter was, that they should be ready to helpe and assist vs
in all dangerous places, and carie our boats and goods ouer land in places
needfull, as in deed they did, as hereafter shall appeare.
Note, that at our being at the monasterie, there was no Abbot for the place
as then chosen: for 15. dayes before our arriual there, the Abbot was sent
for by the Emperour, and made Metropolitane of the realme, as he now is.
The number of monkes belonging to the monasterie are at the least 200.
31 Wee departed from the monasterie of Solofky, as is aforesayde, to a
faire stone house of theirs, which is 5. miles from the monasterie, lying
from it South and by West.
[Sidenote: August] 1 We departed from the Stone house at 3. of the clocke
in the morning: our course was West for 60. versts, and then passing
betwixt diuers and sundry rocks, with many small Islands round about vs for
the space of 20 miles, keeping most commonly the same course still, we then
shaped a new course, and yet sundry times shifting, [Sidenote: The riuer
Owiga.] but we alwayes kept the Southwest, and neerest of all South
southwest vntill we came within two miles of the entrance of the riuer
Owiga where we were to beare in, West and by North.
From the riuer Owiga, to the Islands and rocks before mentioned, are 20.
miles.
We arriued about 4. of the clocke in the after noone within the riuer of
Owiga, at a place named Soroka, at which place we forsooke our barke or
Lodia, and continued there in making prouision for small boates to carie vs
vp the riuer vntill the 3. day of the same.
3 We departed from Soroka at two of the clocke in the afternoone, with 3.
boats and 12. men to rowe, and set the foresaid boates vp the riuer of
Owiga, which we hired.
[Sidenote: The fall of a riuer.] We went this day 7. miles to a place
called Ostroue, where we lay all night, but in the way 4. miles from
Soroka, at a place where the water falleth from the rocks, as if it came
steepe downe from a mountain, we were constrained to take out our goods and
wares out of the said boats, and caused them to be caried a mile ouer land,
and afterwards also had our boates in like sort caried or drawen ouer land
by force of men which there dwelled, being tenants to the monasterie
aforesaid.
And when our boats were come to the place where our wares were laid, we
lanched our boats and laded our wares againe, and went to the place before
named, where we continued and remained that night.
