Kėdainiai in Aubry de La Motraye’s travel description (autumn of 1726)
We went to lay at Keydany or Kiedamjey as the people of the country call it; it is a pretty large town but was much larger and better inhabited before the Swedes and the Russians passed thereby; it is seated on a small river which it is divided by into two parts; this river is deep enough to bear great boats loaded with goods and falls in the Niemen 3 or 4 miles below.
There are here 6 Churches for the exercise of four sorts of Christian Religions, besides a Synagogue for Jews, but half that number would be more than sufficient for the present inhabitants… We lay 3 nights at Keydany and spent there two days and a half; we were lodged at Mr. David Anderson, a Scotchman and the Post-Master. Mr. Meyer had some business with him which furnished me with time enough to see the place. He trades besides in linseed, flax, and other commodities which the country affords, in company with other merchants of his nation. They send their goods in great boats by the rivers Newiaz and the Niemen. We did set out the 3rd day after dinner and went to lay at a Jew's in one hamlet, about 3 miles from thence. We dined the next day at another Jew's in Bopt. After, we crossed the River Wilia at a short distance above Kowno, where we arrived between four and five o'clock.
Sources: Voyages en Anglois et et François d‘a de la Montraye, en diverses provinces et places de la Prusse Ducale et Royale, de la Russie, de la Pologne etc. Londres: Chez Messieurs Round et Meighan, 1732, p. 307; 311