350 



APPENDIX. 



almost sure to heat during the voyage, especially if it has not 

 been shipped in the best order. Sometimes this heating has 

 gone to such an extent, that the wheat has been dug from the 

 hold of the vessel with pickaxes. The winter voyages usually 

 commence before the end of October, for, in autumn and 

 winter, the navigation of the Black Sea becomes dangerous. 

 From the vast quantity of fresh water poured into this sea, the 

 saltness is so much diminished, that, with a slight frost, the 



surface of the water becomes covered with ice. Thus we find 

 that winter voyages are dangerous to the ships, and summer 

 voyages to their cargoes of corn ; and, unless these risks can 

 be lessened, it is not probable that we shall ever import very 

 largely from Odessa. 



But were the voyage less uncertain, there is very little pro- 

 spect of an increase in the exports of corn from Odessa, for the 

 following reasons: 1. In Podolia and Kievy, whence Odessa 

 obtains its principal supplies, the greatest possible quantity of 

 grain is already produced without regard to price or demand, 

 in consequence of capital being invested in slave-labour, which 

 is not otherwise to be employed. 2. Because the plains, called 



