THE CRIMEA. 447 



a reaction which histed till the fourth century of the vulg-ar era. Then the 

 general westward movement of the peoples caused at least a partial change in the 

 population of the Crimea, Avhose communications with the tribes of the mainland 

 were now also interrupted for centuries. 



Amongst the new arrivals were the Alans, who, under the name of As, Yas, 

 Akias, or Akas, were able to maintain their independence in this secluded corner 

 for over six hundred years. Marino Sanudo mentions them in 13-34, a time when 

 they had long disappeared from the rest of Europe. A small detachment of Goths 

 also preserved their nationality and their speech for over a thousand years in these 

 highlands. In the middle of the thirteenth century the Fleming Rubruquis states 

 expressly that the Goths were then numerous in the district called Gothland, on 

 the south coast, and that their language was of Teutonic origin. 



In mediaeval times some Russian settlers also found a firm footing in the 

 Crimea, and the Nogai Tatars were able to hold their ground in the Taurida 

 highlands much longer than elsewhere. Here they traded with Europe through 

 the Italian, and especially the Genoese stations on the coast, and when the Golden 

 Horde was overthrown by Tamerlane on the Volga, a regular Tatar kingdom was 

 organized in the Crimea, where the famous Ghirei dynasty ruled for over three 

 hundred years from the beginning of the fifteenth century. The early period of this 

 dynasty was one of the happiest for the peninsula, thanks to the universal toleration 

 granted to all strangers wishing to settle or trade in the country. But all was 

 changed when the Turks seized Kaffa, and reduced the Crimean Khans to a state 

 of vassalage, obliging them to provide slaves for the sultans of Stambul. In 1774 

 Catherine IL compelled Turkey, in its turn, to recognise the independence of 

 the Crimea, which thus became virtually dependent on Russia, in whose favour the 

 last of the Ghirei dynasty abdicated in 1787. 



Under Russian rule the population of the Crimea fell from about half a million 

 to 140,000 in 1804, but has since increased to over 250,000. After the Crimean 

 war of 1854-5, and again from 1860 to 1863, large numbers of Tatars migrated 

 to Turkey, leaving over 500 villages and hamlets completely depopulated. The 

 abandoned territory was afterwards occupied by Bulgarians and other Christians 

 from the Balkan peninsula. In consequence of these movements and the vexa- 

 tious measures introduced in 1874 regarding the obligation to military service, 

 the adoption of Russian in the schools, and official intermeddling, the Tatar 

 element has continued to decline, while the other races increase. In 1864 the 

 Tatars were still more numerous than all the rest together, but at present they 

 form scarcely one-third of the entire population of the peninsula.* They have 

 ceased to be polygamists, and all agree in praising their uprightness, love of 

 work and order, temperance, and self-respect. In them the Crimea loses its 

 best citizens. 



The Crimean Jews, belonging to the Kam'itic sect, are also m-ich respected for 



* Approximative population of the Crimea : — 



Tatars in 186.4 100,000 in 1874 (according to Rittich) 80,000 



Russians, Great, Little, and White . „ 55,700 „ 130,000 



Greeks, Jews, Bulgarians, and others „ 39,200 „ 58,000 



