Иностранные известия о восстании Степана Разина - [62]

, when they went robbing on their own account

After Stenko had Kept his Winter quarters in Yeikstadt[288]which place he had taken by a Stratagem, desiring to go in only with 5 persons, but Bogumolic breaking in with the Arriergard did render himself Master of it, he went to Sea with 1200 men in 29 or 30 Struses. Upon each Buse was but one Cannon, but when they came back from Astarabad, they had 2 or 3. It is to be wondered at, that they could pass the Sea with Struses; to perform this, they had defended their Vessels by fastening round about the Gunnel Rolls stuffed with Grass or Straw, which made them lighter and Kept off the (л. 5) Waves. They had built these Struses at Gurgi upon the Caspian Sea, and doubtless carried the materials with them down the Volga, for they did not take that course which Chardin describes, but the usual Robbers way through Kamuczinka Rekka, by Zariza and Astracan, where by the way they robbed all in a hostile manner. These Struses were one man high, one Russian Ell deep under Water, 8 fathoms long, and 1 fathom broad.

The first assault was[289] upon Pod buchari by Karngar[290] where the Russian Buses lye, thinking to get booty there, but this design was frustrated, therefore they went away and sailed along the Coast as far as Astrabad. There they proposed to the Cham.[291] to give them a Place to live in as subjects and assist the King against the Usbecks, Two Weeks passed, and in the third they began to traffic, they made the people confident, feigning great simplicity (giving for instance a Ducat for a little[292] Schai, and selling some Goods for a Trifle). The Cham sent a Messenger to the King, and three Weeks after they sent their Deputies also: they took 500 men[293] of all sorts of people from the Cham for Hostages; they stayd in all 6 Weeks there. Messengers after Messengers arrived from the King with favorable promises. The Cham detained them with friendly words, to amuse them till a sufficient Army could be raised. None of the Cossacks understood the Language of the Country, except Stenko, who went about every day disguised in old Clouths to hear what was discoursed, for he spoke 8 languages (л. 5 об.). Не took it ill, that the Deputies were not sent back with an answer. The Cham endeavoured, according to the Persian custom, to amuse him with Civility, promising him Honour and a Calate (Robe of Ceremony) from the King. Stenko was too cunning to be imposed upon, but returned Dissimulation for dissimulation. The Cham having allready 7000 men drawn together from all parts, invited Stenko Razin to dine with him the next day, for which mark of honour he returned him his 500 Hostages again. For the greater Security it was agread upon on both sides, that no body sh[oul]d bring Knives or any arms with them. The next day Stenko Razin ordered 500 men to ty their Sabres upon their Backs and hide them under their Coats, and to be present at the Entertainment standing in a Line: that upon a signal being given, every one should take the sabre from his Neighbour's back and make use of it. It is said, that Stenko in going about for intelligence, had information that the Persians had ordered men of their own to be present at the Entertainment, privately armed after the same manner, which was a good Plea for him that it was not he, who began Hostilities.[294] He therefore went with his 500 men to the Entertainment: the Cham had pitched his Tent in the Field about two Wersts from Astarabad attended by 700 men who had their Sabres concealed, and left their fire arms near by in a secret place. Stenko had left 500 men more in reserve, who were to observe the Motion of the Persians, and when an advantage offered were to advance against them with their Cannon. Stenko and 11 Persons with him (л. 6), sett themselves down, the rest remained standing in a Line. After they had sate a little while, and according to the custom of the Country viewed the Sweetmeats, the Cham drank Stenkos Health, and desired him to drink the King of Persia's Health, which he did. By this they fell into a familiar discourse. Stenko admired the Cham's Cloathe and fine Sabre, and the Cham admired Stenko's Cloaths which were of Sables of none of the worst sort, as also his Sabre, which Stenko draws out and presents to the Cham to look upon, the Cham, after having viewed it, returns it to Stenko, and draus out his likewise and presents it to Stenko. Stenko admires the fine Arms of the Persians as doing honour to the King whose servants they were. In talking after this manner, he plays with the Sabre and makes the Signal agreed upon to his Captain, who was a Russian Priest, and dressed in his Priestly Habit with an Iron Staff in his hand. The latter having given his Men the Blessing, Stenko begins the Massacre, with the Cham's own Sabre cutting off his Head and of 5 others. At the same time his 500 men took their Sabres and fell upon the Kiselbashes, of whom some escaped and gave the Alarm to the Army. Those could not so soon mount their Horses, before Stenko's Corps de reserve fired upon them with their Cannon, which they had planted privately in an advantageous Place, to hinder the Army from approaching. All these were killed, some few excepted who had the good look