Karoliinien sotavankeusoloista

Googlen kirjahaku tuotti taasen aarteen. Englantilainen (?) John Bell oli matkustanut 1700-luvun alussa pitkin ja poikin Siperiaa ja loppujen lopuksi julkaissut teoksen Travels from St. Petersburgh in Russia, to Various Parts of Asia. Hänen matkansa aikana käytiin Suurta Pohjan sotaa ja Bell kohtasi monella paikkakunnalla ruotsalaisia sotavankeja. Myös Tobolskissa, jossa esi-isäni Gabriel Sarén oli vankina.

Aikalaiskuvaus kielellä, jota ymmärtää... pelastaa meikäläisen päivän. Bell kirjoittaa Tobolskin maisemista ja oloista:

The 16th, about noon, we were in sight of the city of Tobolsky, though distant from us about twenty English miles. It stands upon a very high bank of the Tobol. The walls are white, and the crosses and cupolas of the churches guilded, and make a very fine appearance. About two o'clock we arrived safe at the city of Tobolsky, the capital of this mighty province, and the residence of the governour. We lodged in the broad-street, leading to the governour's palace, and the courts of justice.
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Tobolsky is fortified with a strong brickwall, having square towers and bastions at proper distances, and is well furnished with military stores. Within the town stand the governour's palace, courts of justice, several churches built of brick, particularly a large cathedral, and the palace of the archbishop. From the walls you have a very extensive prospect of a fine country, especially to the south. To the west the land is also flat, and overgrown with tall woods. The inhabitants are chiefly Russians, of different professions ; many of them are merchants, and very rich, by the profitable trade they carry on to the borders of China, and many places of their own country.

These live mostly upon the hill. Under the hill, in the suburbs, along the banks of the river, are several large streets, called the Tartar-streets, occupied by the remains of the ancient inhabitants of these parts, as at other places, these people enjoy the free exercise of their religion, and the privileges of trade. They resemble, in their persons, religion, language, and manners, the Tartars of Cazan and Astrachan. Their houses are very cleanly. They are very courteous to strangers, and esteemed honest ; on which account they get great credit in their commercial affairs. Besides the fortification formerly mentioned about the town, the whole suburbs are surrounded with a ditch and pallisades.
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As, in most other towns through which we passed, we found here many Swedish officers of distinction. Among others, Monfieur Dittmar, formerly secretary to Charles XII. King of Sweden. He was a native of Livonia, and equally esteemed for his probity and capacity. He was much respected by the late governour, who, indeed, was a friend to all these unfortunate gentlemen. They were allowed to walk about at large, a-hunting or fishing, and even permitted to travel to other places, to visit their countrymen. For my part, I think the greatest favour his Majesty shewed these prisoners, was the cantoning them in these parts, where they may live well at a small expence, and enjoy all the liberty that persons in their circumstances can expect.

I cannot but observe, that the Swedish prisoners, dispersed in most of the towns in this country, contributed not a little to the civilizing the inhabitants of these distant regions, as they were the means of introducing several useful arts, which were almost unknown before their arrival.

Many of the officers, being gentlemen of liberal education, the better to support their tedious capitivity, devoted their time to the study of the more agreeable and entertaining parts of science, particularly music and painting ; wherein some of them attained to great perfection. I was present at several of their concerts, and was not a little surprised to find such harmony, and variety of musical instruments, in this part of the world.

They sometimes amused themselves with teaching young gentlemen and ladies the French and German languages, music, dancing, and other similar accomplishments; whereby they gained many friends among the people of distinction ; a circumstance, to men in their situation, both honourable and useful.