46 ODESSA AND MISKITCHEE. 



without considerable trouble and expense. I be- 

 lieve he and two or three hired comrades spent the 

 night on the steppe looking for the stray horse. 



After this I bade adieu to my kind friends in 

 Odessa, receiving as a last kindness from Mr. 

 Stanley an introduction to Prince Yorontzoflf, who, 

 luckily for me, happened to be travelling by the 

 boat in which I had embarked. This introduction 

 stood me in good stead, as his Highness, who 

 speaks English like an Englishman, gave me letters 

 of introduction at Tifiis, by exhibiting the address 

 and external signature of which I was able to allay 

 the suspicions of the Cossacks on the Black Sea, 

 and otherwise help myself. I owe Prince Vo- 

 rontzoff many thanks for his ready kindness to 

 a stranger, and repeat them with the same sincerity 

 with which 1 tendered them when he left the boat 

 for his lovely place at Aloupka. 



Aloupka, is to my mind the finest castle in 

 Russia, in the most picturesque position. It is a 

 strange mixture of the half fortress, half castle, of 

 early feudal times, Moorish m.-ignificence, Russian 

 luxury, and English comfort, hi the distance it 

 looks massive and glorious, with magnificent 

 timber, gardens, and vineyards stretching down to 

 the sea at its feet, the grey summit of Aie Petri 

 towering over it from behind, and away to the 

 right the Bear Mountain, couched with his head 

 on his paws, looking ever seaward. 



