284 RUSSIAN SENTRIES. 



lows, in long brown great-coats, with pouch-belts 

 and swords, and posted within hail of each other, 

 indicated pretty clearly how effectually this en- 

 trance, at all times a difficult one, is guarded ; and 

 how incalculable is the injury which it is in the 

 power of Russia to inflict upon the trade in this 

 part of the world were she disposed to close the 

 toll-gate, of which she has been unluckily allowed 

 to become the keeper, of this commercial high- 

 road to the centre of Europe. 



The difficulty of piloting a vessel into the Da- 

 nube is, I believe, considerable, sand-banks being 

 very numerous at the mouth, and the current of 

 the river itself being, particularly at some sea- 

 sons, of considerable rapidity. 



An anecdote is told of a Genoese, who now 

 holds the rank of a commander in the Ionian 

 packet service, that, when young, daring and 

 desperate, he undertook to pilot a Turkish vessel 

 into this river, although he had never before en- 

 tered it. 



The circumstances were as follows, and whilst 

 admiring the man who could undertake so peri- 

 lous an adventure, we should not omit to profit 

 by the lesson which it teaches us, that, however 



