' 



CRIMEA. 



CiUMKA. 



r . 



ad 85 fet deep, and of a double will built of freestone, 

 howerer KM been somewhat injured by the effects of time. Fire 

 batteriw are erected along this line. Perekop aUndi on or near the 

 aite of the ancient Tapkrot, which took iU name from the ' trench ' or 

 foa*e which in the remotest times formed part of the defences of the 

 isthmus. 



The isthmui of Perekop and three-fourtlis of the peninsula (being 

 the northern part) form an arid plain or steppe, which is occasionally 

 diversified with deeper ipota of ground or hollows. The soil for the 

 most part consists of sand or aand combined with clay. Towards 

 both seas there are numerous salt-lakes, some of which are from 15 to 

 SO miles in circuit The plain declines imperceptibly towards the 

 lake*, and is destitute of water and wood ; but in some parts it is 

 covered with a grass sward. There are here very few inhabitant*. 



Along the south-eastern shores a mountainous tract extends from 

 Cape Khenonese to Kafla ; hence to the Strait of Yenikale' it is hilly. 

 The mean width of this tract is about 20 miles, and its whole extent 

 probably about 2000 square miles. That portion of this region which 

 is to the west of the harbours of Sevastopol and Balaclava forma a 

 ~mln.nl called by the Greeks the Heracleotic Chersonesus, from 

 having been colonised by settlers from Heracleia in Asia Minor. 

 From Cape Kbrrsonese the country gradually rises in a sloping plain, 

 oocssionsJly diversified with hills. The coast presents an interesting 

 appearance, the hill-slopes being occupied by numerous Tartar Tillages, 

 vineyards, and country seats. Among the mansions scattered along 

 this coast the principal are Livadia, the seat of Count Potocki ; and 

 Alupka, the residence of Count Woronzoff. Alupka is a mansion of 

 P..I.H.I splendour, built under the superintendence of Mr. Hunt, an 

 Englishman, from the designs of Mr. Blore. To the east of Balaclava 

 the heights attain the elevation of mountains, which run like an 

 immense wall from that town to Alushta. The coast here consists of 

 cliffi generally several hundred feet in height, and forming numerous 

 headlands and dreadful precipices. At a distance of from one to two 

 miles from the coast the mountains attain a height of 2000 feet and 

 upwards. From thU rapid slope a few torrents descend, the beds of 

 which are filled by heavy rains or the melting of the snow. The 

 summit of the mountains consists of extensive flats, which sometimes 

 extend several miles. These mountain table-lands, called by the 

 Tartars ' Yailas,' are only visited by them during hot summers on 

 account of the rich pastures which they supply for cattle ; some of 

 them are covered with snow till the hitter end of May. North of the 

 Yailas the mountains gradually descend, forming numerous but narrow 

 lateral ridges, which inclose delicious and sometimes wide valleys. 

 The ridges by degrees sink down into hills, which terminate in the 

 northern plain. 



West of Alushta is the Babugan Yaila, which is nearly as high as 

 the Chstyr-Dsg, or Tent Mountain, which stands to the north-east of 

 it and is separated from it by a considerable depression. A like 

 depression occurs on the east, and divides the Cbatyr-Dag from 

 Teminlshi Yaila, which is much less elevated. Thus the Chatyr-Dag 

 with its flat summit appears like an immense table, and on that 

 account is probably called by Strabo Trapezia (vii. 309, Casaub). 

 On its flat summit rise several eminences like tents, from which the 

 name is derived which is given to the mountain by the Tartars. 

 These summits, which rue 5040 feet above the level of the sea, ore 

 the highest mountains in the Crimea. The Chatyr-Dag and the 

 eastern chain, which extends to Kaffa from the Temirdshi Yaila, are 

 more distant from the coast than the western chain, and a number of 

 small streamlets descend from the heights and drain some fine volleys 

 along the sea-coast. Towards Kafla the mountains decrease in eleva- 

 tion, and terminate about a mile from the western shores of the open 

 bay on which that town is built. 



The country between the Bay of Kafla and the Siwash or Putrid 

 Sea U a plain very slightly undulating, but eastward of Kafl'.i the 

 surface presents considerable variety of elevation ; near the shore of 

 the Strait of Yenikale' at Kertah the country is traversed by several 

 ridges running nearly south and north, on which numerous craggy 

 points rise to 300 or 400 feet above the sea. Near Kerteh, and between 

 it and Yenikall, the peninsula terminates with a rocky though not an 

 derated shore. This peninsula between the Black Sea and the Sea 

 of Aof is remarkable for its mud volcanoes, of which Pallas portion- 

 kriaM the hill called D'shtube, situated nearly in its centre. In some 

 parts naphtha or petroleum is found. 



From the western end of this peninsula, at the point where Arabat 

 to situated, extends in a north-north-west direction a narrow strip of 

 land which divides the Siwash or Putrid Sea from the Sea of Azof. 

 It is oo an average hardly 300 yards wide, upwards of 70 miles long, 

 and vary low , it consist* towards the south of shelly sand, in which 

 OHM scattered plants thrive with luxuriance, but farther on the soil 

 exhibiU only common sand, more or less consolidated, and of a saline 

 nature. It contains several small salt-lakes, and along its low beach 

 heaps of salt are thrown out by the sea. This narrow tongue, called 

 the isthmus of Arabat, is divided from the Nogay-Steppe by a narrow 

 strait called the Strait of lenitshe or Tonke, and is inhabited only by 

 a few innkeepers : the peasant* of Eastern Russia bring provisions 

 along this tract to Kafla, and take back fish. 



Numerous rivulets descend from the northern declivity of the 

 mountain* and form several rivers, as the Katshka, Alma, and 



Salghyr, all of which havo very broad beds, though in suium. 

 contain very little water and run slowly ; but when the snow melU 

 on the Yailas they become rapid, broad, and deep rivers. 



The winters are cold and the summers hot In very severe winters 

 the mercury sometimes sinks 9 below zero, and not only the whole 

 Sea of Azof, together with the Strait of Yeuikald, but also a great 

 part of the Bay of Kafla is covered with ice strong enough to support 

 men on foot and on horseback. The climate U so unsettled, that it 

 often varies six or eight times in twenty-four hours. The winds are 

 very variable, and bring rain from the west and south-west, mild air 

 and frequent mists from the south, serene dry weather from the east, 

 and cold from the north. In spring the weather U settled, the heat 

 moderate and refreshing, and the n ighta cold and serene ; there U seldom 

 any rain, especially during the prevalence of violent east winds, in 

 which case, unless a considerable fall of rain happens in April and May, 

 an unproductive harvest frequently follows. In summer the t! 

 meter frequently rises to 100 and even 102. On the same day 

 however it falls sometimes 20 or even 30 degrees. Droughts fre. i 

 prevail for several successive years, and dry up the wells and brooks. 

 Few summers pass in which the verdure on the hills is not ] 

 up. Thunder-storms rarely occur, but when they do they are tremen- 

 dous and sometimes accompanied by hail-stones and destructive 

 water-spouts. In spring and summer rainy weather seldom continue 

 so long (is twenty-four hours. In autumn bilious fevers prevail. 

 Cold days occur in the middle of October, and are generally accom- 

 panied with night frosts, but afterwards the weather again becomes 

 pleasant, and frequently continues mild till December and January. 



The crops cultivated in open fields ore wheat, rye, barley, oats, 

 maize, spelt, millet, chick-peas, flax, and tobacco. In the gardens are 

 raised melons, water-melons, cucumbers, gourds, artichokes, cabbage*, 

 onions, garlic, leeks, broccoli, celery, parsley, carrots, and red beet*. 

 The numerous and extensive orchards in the valleys produce pears, 

 apples, quinces, plums, cherries, peaches, apricots, almonds, medlars, 

 figs, pomegranates, mulberries, and nuts. Some of these trees grow 

 also wild on the declivities of the mountains. The forest-trees, which 

 cover a great portion of the declivities of the mountains, especially on 

 the northern side, are oak, beech, elms, poplars, lime-trees, maples, 

 ash, and pines (I'inut maritima). Honey of excellent quality is 

 obtained. Much attention has been paid to the cultivation of the 

 vine. The wine however is inferior to that produced in Hungary and 

 France. Of the camel with two humps there are several thousand* 

 in the country. Great attention is paid by the Tartar noblemen to 

 the breeding of horses. Those of the mountainous districts are small, 

 but uncommonly hardy and sure-footed. The horned cattle ore of a 

 middling size in the plains, but small in the mountains. There are 

 three varieties of sheep, all of which have a long tail, which for half 

 its length is overgrown with fat and covered with coarse wool, 

 variety, which postures <m tin- pMii lying along the Black Sea tx ' 

 Koslow and Perekop, produces the celebrated Crimean lamb-skins, of 

 which more than 30,000 are sometimes annually exported to Poland 

 and Germany. Of black lamb-skins more than 60,000 or 60,000 are 

 annually exported. The mountain sheep ore smaller, but celebrated 

 for their soft fine wool. 



Sturgeons are taken on the shores of the Sea of Azof, in the 

 of Yenikald, and in the Bay of Kafia. Caviar is made, and a little 

 isinglass. Salt, the only mineral that is abundant, is found at the 

 bottom of the salt lakes during the summer heat Salt in great 

 quantities is exported to Southern Russia, and much is also shipped 

 to Anatolia and Turkey from the ports of Kertsh, Kafia, and Koslow. 



The population of the Crimea is about 200,000. More than two- 

 thirds of ita inhabitants are a mixture of Mongols and Turks, and are 

 called Tartars. Those who live on the plain show in their features 

 their Tartar origin ; but those in the northern valleys display a strong 

 mixture of Turkish blood, especially the noblemen (' niurses '), in 

 whom the Tartar features are entirely obliterated. Besides the Tartars, 

 Russians and Germans are found, who have been transplanted in 

 modern times as colonists; and Greeks, who seem to have always 

 formed a portion of the population, but have considerably increased 

 in latter times. 



In the interior, at the northern extremity of the hilly country, is 

 the town of Simferopol, or Akmnhtd, the capital, not far from the 

 sources of the river Salghyr, with 8000 inhabitants. The town 

 contains a cathedral, several churches, mosques, barracks, an hospital, 

 a Tartar school, and many good dwellings. The houses are in general 

 painted green, and adorned with rows of columns. About 25 miles 

 lvN.lv from Simferopol is the town of Karatttbaiar, with 15,000 

 inhabitants, and some manufactures of morocco leather, candles, soap, 

 pottery, and tiles. It contains a Greek church, two Roman Catholic 

 churches, and a synagogue. Considerable trade is carried on. A 

 weekly market and an annual fair are held. In the mountains is 

 the town of Baktchesarai, the ancient residence of the Khans 

 of the Crimea. [BAKTCHBSABAI.] 



The most frequented harbours are on the south-western coast. 

 Koflow or Evpaloria, with 7000 inhabitants, mostly Tartars and Jew, 

 a fine mosque, a Tartar school, an hospital, and a custom-house ; 

 exports salt to Anatolia and Turkey, finattopol, formerly Ak 

 is the principal station of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea. Only 

 vessels of war are admitted to the port. Including the soldiers and 



