1686] DIARY OF PATEICK GOKDON. 115 miles. Here toll is gathered by these Jewes

Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"

1686] DIARY OF PATEICK GOKDON. 115

miles. Here toll is gathered by these Jewes, who pay a yearly summe for
it. Here I caused tell and said I was a Polnish colonell, yet was forced, ac-
cording to the custome, to give a discretion, videlicet^ a dollcr and twelve
pence to the two toluers, twelve pence to each of their assistants ; and it
cost, for brandy and white bread, eighteen pence. Wee went on to Memell,
three miles, two and a half whereof are on the Elector of Brandeburgs ter-
ritories. Here, all along, the sea, especially in a storme, throwcth out amber,
which, on the Polnish coast, every body hath frccdome to gather that live
there ; but, on the Brandeburgish coast, none but these ordained to gather
it. At the mouth of the river Heiligen Aagh, the English have obtained a
priviledg of trading free for ten yeares, they promiseing to make a safe har-
bour there, whereof litle hopes as yet ; there lying great banks of sand befor
that river, and it being an open, sandy coast, can hardly be gotten kept
clear. In Memell, being required to tell what I was, I told the guards that
I should satisfy them in my quarters ; whither being come, I did writt a
note and sealed it, addressing it to the Coramendant, Liewtennant Collouell
Krygher, giveing notice what I was, and desireing not to be kuownc. The
Commendant sent me immediately notice by an officer that he would give
me a visitt, and came accordingly about an houre thereafter, welcoming me
with great respect, and invited me to take a part of a sojors dinner the next
day. At his going away, there was a pikeman from the maine guard sent
to stand sentry at my doore.

The Commendant, haveing sent a officer in the morning to invite me to February 2
dinner at eleven aclock, sent his coach for me, and a captaine liewtennant
called Chappell, an Englishman, to conduct, there being also halfe a dozen
of well cloathed fellowes, besides my owne, about the coach. I was well en-
tertained, and reconducted in his coach to my lodging, but without other
attendants as the captaine liewtennant. I gave to the coachman halfe a
doller, and a doller to the watch on the coach, and caused feed those who
stood sentry at my doore, and gave them halfe a doller drink money when
T went away. I payed off the Bigaes fuirmen, they haveing received in all
twenty seven hard dollers for six horses and three waggons, besides beer on
the way. I hired a waggon, with fyve horses, for ten dollers ; Yury Powl-
son and the apothecary being to bear a share, I haveing but one servant
thereon and my baggage. I hired two rldeing horses for my self and a
servant, paying three dollers for each, and feeding them and the guide with