What is Dauria now?
From Wikipedia: Dauria (Daurian land) is a historical and geographical region within the modern Republic of Buryatia, the Trans-Baikal Territory and the Amur Region (Transbaikalia WEST Priamurye). The toponym was given by Russian explorers for the Daura people who inhabited the region until the middle of the 17th century, which first became known after the expedition of Yenaley Bakhteyarov in 1640.
Modern map of the region.
The territory of Dauria on a modern map.
Dauria (within the Russian and Chinese empires) on the map of 1851 (from Wikipedia).
Dauria on the map of the 19th century.
This is what Dauria looks like on Nikolaas Witsen's 1705 map (underlined in yellow):
N. Witsen map of Tartary 1705
Promotional video:
There are no borders between states on this map yet. It is written that this is the territory of Tartary. The broken line at the bottom is probably the Wall of China.
The name "Dauria" Witsen deciphers as follows: "Daur - in Mughal" border "; from here comes [word] "Dauria".
And this is what he writes about Dauria in his book "Northern and Eastern Tartary":
“Dauria is rightly ranked among the regions of Eastern Tartary. It lies at about 51 ° north latitude. It is cut by the famous Amur River, which flows north of Yeso into the Indian East Sea."
Dauria belongs to Eastern Tartary, which means that Southern Tartaria is located to the south of it, Western Tartaria is to the west, and Northern Tartaria is to the north. And what does it border on then? From the east - the ocean, and from all other sides - Tartary.
He describes the area as beautiful and abundant:
“Near the former fortress Albazin, where the Albazinskaya river flows into the Amur, the area is very beautiful. Rye and other grains grow there; one of any cereals get 50, 60, even 70 pounds. Vineyards are found in other places along the Amur River. Near Albazin and downstream along the Amur one can find sterlet, nalus, sturgeon, sassassa, dosessy and many other small fish of unknown names.
…… On the banks of these rivers, but especially to the south of the Amur, there are various fragrant flowers.
Near the mouth of the Amur, in the sea, there are many birds, which the natives call the eagle”. There are also many large groves with various trees in the vicinity along the coast.
…. Gold, silver, precious stones are said to be found in this area and silk is [made]. The people there are more skillful, better tempered and more industrious than those who live to the north, that is, [in those lands] that are considered Sina."
Here, probably, Witsen has some kind of slip. After all, this Dauria is located north of China, and not vice versa…. Although, maybe the fact is that earlier the cards were drawn the other way around - upside down in our way. And China was then higher than Dauria:
Semyon Remezov's map from the "Chorographic Drawing Book of Siberia" (1699)
And maybe they also called north south and south north?
Witsen writes that Dauria, in addition to the Daurs, was also inhabited by Tungus, Cossacks - Muscovite warriors, Targanians, or Targuns, Juchers (who were engaged in agriculture, as well as the Daurians, in contrast to the nomadic Tugnus), Gilyaks living in the mouth of the Amur, fishing for fish catching.
And he calls the cities and settlements of Dauria, modern for that time, some of only a few houses, but still having names: Nerchinskaya, Nauchin, Rybenskaya, Yandinsk, Aldi, Albazin, Irgenskaya, Argun, Naum (or Targatsin), Uronkoy, Udinskaya, Selenginskaya, Rongelskoy, Verhaleniya, Plotische, Tsitsiagan and others. Here is what he writes about the population of some places:
“The Nerchinsk and Udi lands used to be very densely populated. But now a lot of people have moved to the Sinskaya wall. There are fewer people between Nerchinsk and Argun, and even further, between Argyn and Naun, there are almost no people. But there are more people between Naun and the Sinskaya wall."
About the city of Nerchinsky:
“Thirteen years ago, Nerchinskaya was rebuilt into a town, or a fortress, enclosed by wooden walls or double, solid fences three fathoms high with two square turrets, four fathoms in transverse dimensions *. You should know that over the Russian fortifications, or fortifications, built of wood, there are log cabins protruding from both sides. These walls are so wide that you can not only walk there, but also defend yourself with guns and spears. The length of the fortress is 90 fathoms."
Witsen mentions in his book about some ancient destroyed mines:
“Two German miles inland, as mentioned earlier, are the mines where silver, tin and ore are mined.
They say that these mines were discovered many hundreds of years ago, then started up and not explored.
They say that here in ancient times the Mugals of Niuhe mined a lot of silver, and now there are still many slags of the ore melted there. This is the unclean part of the ore that is discarded after alloying. Many of these mines are now heavily polluted and overgrown, as they have not been mined in centuries; covered with neighboring mountains. Smelting woods are abundant there. They sent me from there in 1694 in an untreated goat bladder 100 pounds of ore. I was able to smelt 3 lots of silver and 70 pounds of tin over the fire from 100 pounds of ore. But another part of a lower quality, sent to me at the same time from a nearby mine, produced only 60 pounds of tin.
It is believed that the mines are approximately equal in value to the mines of Saxony."
“They say that in ancient times, from the mines, which seem to be still found today, the zines transported the earth inside the Great Wall (which separates Sina from Tartaria). There she was cleansed and straightened."
I wonder why they were building this Great Wall? To make it easier to carry ore there from Tartaria? However, now this wall is located in the center of China, which means that they dragged ore from their (according to the current situation) territory.
And about the ancient destroyed cities:
“In these lands, here and there, in the valleys, are the ruins of fortresses built in the form of towers of solid stone. The Tungus say about them that they were built by warriors in time immemorial, when the united Mugals and Western Tartars attacked the state of Niuhe. But it should be borne in mind that under the name Niuhe, or Movantheu, or Niukhe, they mean the whole country from Nerchinsk down the Amur to the Albazin mountains and the Liaotung region. Until recently, a wagon with wheels with iron upholstery and millstones were found there. It is believed that they were previously used by niuhe, since this is not currently found there.
In the desert Mugalia, there are demolished villages and completely destroyed cities. This was reported to me by an eyewitness who traveled from Russia through the Selenga to Sina. He saw eight [such cities], where not only ruined houses are stone, but even stone streets. It can be seen that there were rich buildings in this place in antiquity; now grass and bushes grow between the stones and snakes crawl.
In the Mugalskoy desert, near the city of Naun, in the direction of the wall, there are also the remains of ancient stone buildings with heavy columns and towers as high as a large house in Amsterdam. The peoples living here bring handkerchiefs, silk and other things dear to them there as a sacrifice and put them at the foot of the tower. Apparently, there are cemeteries of people close to them. Nearby are the remains of many pillared stone buildings that cover an area of about 400 square feet.
It is said that this destruction was caused by Alexander. On the buildings are still visible bas-relief images of people of both sexes in clothes that are now unknown; animals, birds, trees; different things, very well done. At one of the towers there is an image of a woman made of stone and cast plaster. She appears to be sitting on a cloud, with a halo around her head, with folded hands, as if praying; the legs are hidden. Inside the tower, as can be seen from the remaining parts, there was a room where sacrificial fires were burning. There were also found texts and images of the goddess written on red paper in the Indian language. Below and next to it are inscriptions in Tartar characters. I compared them with the niuhe or those tartars that now dominate Sina; and it seems to me that it resembles the language and writing of this language. But the letters printed in Beijing (I have many samples)differ in a large number of points. In general, this is all that can be said about these wrecks. Not far from there there are many yurts, or clay houses, where the Mugals live in a village style. There are many oxen with long hair, somewhat larger than our calves. They are called Barsvuz, or Barsoroye.
Like all people near the Great Wall, they live in houses made of clay, natural stone or wood."
N. Witsen encloses drawings of these cities:
The old ruined Tartar city.
But how much do they correspond to reality? After all, Witsen did not see these cities with his own eyes. Did he make his drawings according to some sketches sent to him or only on the basis of the descriptions sent to him? Here's what he writes:
“These ruins are said to be Iki Burkhan Coton, or Trimmingzing, is an ancient ruined city in the Mugalsky desert, four days' journey east of another ruined city. There, they say, in ancient times, no one lived, except for the pagan priests, whence these names originate. Here, in some places, the remains of an earthen rampart are still visible. In the middle there is an octagonal Chinese-style tower with hundreds of iron bells suspended, which make a pleasant sound when the wind blows. The tower has an entrance; you can go upstairs. There are many thousands of small images of Xin's idols made of paper and clay of various kinds. I have two such paper [idols] (the eastern merchant Simons brought them to me; he himself took them from the tower). These figurines depict the same face, with a halo around the head, like an idol. The figure sits in Persian. The Niuh letters are visible between them, written in red ink, perhaps because of their holiness. It seems to me that this is a Sino job, done quite skillfully. One figure has an ax-like tool in his left hand, and a winding chain of coral in his right; hands apart. Many stones have fallen from the outside of this tower, and in these holes there are many scribbled papers brought there by passing lamas or pagans. The letters are East Tartar, or Manchurian, otherwise - of the people of Niuhe. Clay images lie around. Half a mile away lies a village where many pagan priests live. They live off the passers-by, whom they teach the ancient paganism of these places.and on the right is a winding chain of coral; hands apart. Many stones have fallen from the outside of this tower, and in these holes there are many scribbled papers brought there by passing lamas or pagans. The letters are East Tartar, or Manchurian, otherwise - of the people of Niuhe. Clay images lie around. Half a mile away lies a village where many pagan priests live. They live off the passers-by, whom they teach the ancient paganism of these places.and on the right is a winding chain of coral; hands apart. Many stones have fallen from the outside of this tower, and in these holes there are many written papers brought there by passing lamas or pagans. The letters are East Tartar, or Manchurian, otherwise - of the people of Niuhe. Clay images lie around. Half a mile away lies a village where many pagan priests live. They live off the passers-by, whom they teach the ancient paganism of these places.which they teach the ancient paganism of these places.which they teach the ancient paganism of these places.
Somewhat east of here, in the sand dunes, there is a low mountain. Neighboring and passing tartars consider it a holy place, without knowing the reasons. They leave here - out of piety, for good luck on the road or for health - their thing: a hat, underwear, wallet, boots, pants, etc. - like a sacrifice that is hung on an old birch tree, on the top. Nobody steals these things; it would be a huge shame and dishonor. So it all hangs and rots.
Another message sent to me says the following about these destroyed cities:
“Not far from the Naunda River there are three small lakes with salt water, not drinkable. The water is white, almost like milk. To the west there are high mountains, and to the east and south there are low sand dunes. Drinking water is taken from the well, but it is bad here. There are no rivers. Four days' journey to the east, where no dwellings are found, there is an ancient ruined city with a rectangular rampart more than a German mile long.
Interestingly, these ruined cities are in deserts, where there are not even rivers and no vegetation, with water that is not drinkable …
“In six days' journey to the west, we come across another ruined city of Trimingzin, surrounded by a rectangular earthen rampart, fortified with good bolvers. It has two towers: one is very high, the other is lower. The largest, octahedral, is built of bricks on the outside. In eight places, on both sides, at a height of about ten fathoms, images of historical subjects are visible, carved out of stone. Statues of human height are visible, depicting, obviously, a prince or a king; they sit cross-legged. Around them people: they stand like servants with folded hands. One statue of a woman is apparently a queen, for on her head there is a crown with bright rays.
The Xing warriors are also depicted. Among them, one stands in the middle, obviously a king: he holds a scepter; many of those standing around look like terrible devils. The statues are very skillful and can put a shame on European art. The largest tower had no stairs outside, everything was walled up.
In this town there were many large ruins made of bricks, a lot of sculptural, life-size, work carved out of stone: people, idols, stone lions, turtles, toads - of an unusual size. Obviously, a noble khan or king once ruled here. The Bolverki of this city are of unusual size and height, and the city itself is partially surrounded by an earthen rampart. This city has four entrances; there are many hares running in the grass. Now there are no people living near this city. Mughal and Xin travelers say that many hundreds of years ago, the Tartar king Utaikhan lived on this place and that it was destroyed by a certain Chinese king. Not far from here you can see in some places in the mountains ruined mounds of stone in the form of towers, previously built by the Tartars. There are many beautiful places here. The message ends there.
Second report:
“There is a tower in the center of the destroyed Mugal city (some called it Ikiburkhan Koton). From below it is flat, from the inside it has completely retained its previous appearance. It shows an image of gray stone. The entire tower is built of this kind of stone. It depicts lions and animals larger than natural in the form of decoration, although there are no lions in these lands. The image of the turtle also had its own meaning, unknown to me. It is carved from solid stone at two cubits. There are stone cemeteries and mounds, hewn and painted. There are many holes at the base of the tower. Round and other stones lay in them. There is only one room in the tower, which can only be entered by bending over. They also found letters there. The city walls are lined with bricks. It is impossible to climb the tower from the outside. From the side of the shrine on the tower to the right there is a man with a bow in his hands, and on the other side - a man,blessing someone. On the back right is an image of a saint; the statues are like that; but on the side of it are two statues of people with a different appearance. One of them is a woman.
Several hundred bells hanging here are made of iron; they sound when the wind blows. You can climb the inner staircase to the tower and find there the letters and drawings of idols. There are many holes in the wall, two or three spans long, in which these letters were stuck in whole bundles. There were also many silk scarves and clothes lying there, obviously they were sacrificed. They lay on the floor and hung on the walls, and it was forbidden to touch or take them. A serpent and a crescent, skillfully crafted from copper, stand on the tower. There are earthen ramparts around this ruined city."
This is where the message ends.
A traveler I know on his way to Sina saw this ruined city and told me how he drove off the road and entered the village. In one house, he saw on the wall an image of an ugly idol, near him was a priest. At this time, a man entered: he fell in front of the images, making ugly movements at the same time. Then the priest, as it were, blessed the man, placing his folded hands on his forehead. Here my friend was treated to tea brewed with horse milk and vodka made from the same milk.
Mr. Adam Brand, a noble merchant from Lübeck who saw this temple, writes to me the following: “Near the Kazumur River, which flows into the Naum and has good drinking water, there are ruined cities, where the figures of men, women and wild animals carved from stone are still visible real size. More elaborate sculptures are rarely found in Europe. These are, obviously, images from ancient history: men with bows - and they say that this area was destroyed by Alexander the Great. We saw here huge columns, skillfully carved out of stone; some of them have many bells. They make a lot of noise in the wind.
Driving past ancient ruined buildings and approaching the Great Wall, we found that the closer the area to the wall, the more populated it is. Three days' journey from the wall, we came across large rocks, and through them a paved road. Here you need to beware and not deviate to the side, fearing fierce animals: tigers, leopards, etc. In these rocks is the town of Shorn, or Korakoton. It is less than a day away from the wall. There is a lot of game in this area: deer, wild sheep and very small hares. This is where Adam Brunt's message to me ends.
According to an eyewitness, the Greek traveler Spatarius, who sent me a written message, there are ruins of large ruined cities between Amur and the wall."
And so, not one, not two, but many destroyed cities. But, apparently, these ruins have not survived to this day, in any case, I have not heard anything about it.
Author: i_mar_a