Natural Productions, and History of the Crimea. 231 



Bouroultz empty themselves ; the Souya, the three Indals 

 or A'.idales, the Soubacke and the eastern Boulgonak. 

 Among the latter the most considerable are the Alma, the 

 Catcha, the Belbek and the Cobarda. The waters of these 

 different rivers are in general pure, agreeable, and contain 

 no noxious qualities. The most salubrious are in the cantons 

 of Koslof and Kertch. 



The salt lakes form the principal riches of the Crimea; 

 those of Perecope are regarded as the most important, parti- 

 cularly those known by the names of Staroe-Ozero, (Old 

 Lake) and Krasno^-Ozero (Red Lake). 



There are no considerable forests. The trees and shrubs 

 are nearly the same as in Europe. 



The soil of the Crimea is rich in pot-herbs, medicinal 

 plants, and many others proper for dyeing and tanning. 

 Wheat is every where cultivated, as also rye, barley, oats, 

 millet and maze, viithout mentioning an infinity of useful 

 or agreeable objects appropriated to the different places, 

 such as lint, madder, agnus castus, shumac, turpentine, 

 &c. &c. There are only two chestnut-trees in the whole 

 Crimea, which are to be seen near Derekoi. 



The aniniial kingdom is not very populous in this country, 

 and consequently presents little variety. Among the do- 

 mestic animals, we distinguish a race of greyhounds, in great 

 estimation for hunting. M. de Reuilly received one of very 

 great beauty, as a present, which he brought to France. 

 The birds of the Crimea present nothing remarkable or rare ; 

 the same may be said of the fish also, with which the seas 

 abound. One fish peculiar to the Black Sea, and the sea of 

 Azof, "is a kind of turbot of a large size. 



Heptiles are very rare in the Crimea, and there is nol a 

 great variety of insects; the bee itself has been only in- 

 creased in consequence of unwearied exertions. One oi tiiC 

 plagues, which this country shares in common with a part 

 of Africa and Asia, is the locust. It is besides subjected t^ 

 the ravages of a small grasshopper with red wiugs, which 

 has made its appearance within these few years. 



As to the temperature, it is extremely variable. Ncvir 

 thcless the air is pure and healthy, but autumn brings m 



reuiiUfiit 



