An historico-geographical description of the north and eastern parts of Europe and Asia; but more particularly of Russia, Siberia, and Great Tartary both in their ancient and modern state: together with an entire new polyglot-table of the dialects of 32 Tartarian nations: and a vocabulary of the Kalmuck-Mungalian tongue / Written originally in High German by Mr. Philip John von Stralenberg. Now faithfully translated into English.

  • Philip Johan von Strahlenberg
Date:
1738
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An historico-geographical description of the north and eastern parts of Europe and Asia; but more particularly of Russia, Siberia, and Great Tartary both in their ancient and modern state: together with an entire new polyglot-table of the dialects of 32 Tartarian nations: and a vocabulary of the Kalmuck-Mungalian tongue / Written originally in High German by Mr. Philip John von Stralenberg. Now faithfully translated into English. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Helps, compar’d the whole Diftance between fobolfky and Ner- Jchirifkoiy which, as I have laid above, lies under the fame Meri¬ dian with Peking, and fo found the Longitude thither to be upon pretty fure Grounds; but though this Longitude agrees tolerably well with what de rifle has made it; I could not follow him in the Latitude in many Places, having, by Experience, detected his Errors; among which, one is his making the City of Pobolfky- to be fomething above the both Degree, in which he, perhaps, followed de Witt's Map. XXVII. These Miftakes have, in a great Meafure, arifen from too great Dependance upon the Relations of Travellers, and their Computations of the Ruffian Miles, which formerly have not been rightly proportioned to a Degree of fifteen German Miles. A flagrant Proof of this, we have in the Road between Mufcow and Peterjburg, which formerly was computed to be yoo Werfls, each Werfl of 1500 Ruff an Ells, or Arfchins: But iince a new and more diredt Way has been cut, between thefe two Cities, it is found to be no more than 555 Werfls, each of 1500 Arfchins. By which Difference, in fo fmail a Diftance, it plainly appears what may be expedted in that of fix or 8000 Werfls, when the Way bends, fometimes towards the North, and then again as much Southward. XXVIII. F o r thefe Reafons, I was obliged, befides the ordi¬ nary Meafuring Rod, to ufe a Scale, on which a Degree was divided into 120 Werfls; though the Ruffian Mathematicians have found, upon Trial made, in Winter Time, on the Lake of La¬ doga ^ that no more than 104 Werfls, and 86 Arfchins, or Ells, in a diredt Line, go to a Degree of fifteen German Miles: Which Meafure may do in very fmail particular Maps, but not in large general ones, and great Diftances; as I, and my Affiftant Cap¬ tain Materni found, while we were employ’d in making this Map; for taking the Elevations of the Pole, a Degree reckon’d at 104 Werfls, never agreed with fifteen German Miles, though it tallied very exadtly with 120 ; which is occafion’d, as I have al¬ ready mention’d, only by the winding of the Roads. XXIX> And as we both took Obfervations, in rnoft Places of Ruffa and Siberia, between the 61 and 55 Degrees of Latitude, and faw thofe of the Ruffian Navigators, asftanas the 48 Degree,