4 KUBAN TAHTARY. 
chap. or Cossacks of the Black Sea ; more dreadful tales 
y — v — j of whom are told to intimidate travellers, than 
toTmach even the misrepresentations circulated in Russia 
concerning their brethren, the Cossacks of the 
Don. We had been directed to augment our 
escort, and consequently were always preceded 
by a troop of armed Cossack cavalry. It is 
true, the figures of those who composed the 
body of our own guard did not appear very 
conciliating ; but we never had reason to com- 
plain, either of their conduct, or of their dis- 
honesty. 
The Tchernomorski are a brave, but rude 
and warlike people ; possessing little of the re- 
finements of civilized society, although much 
inward goodness of heart. They are ready 
to shew the greatest hospitality to strangers 
Cause of who solicit their aid. Their original appella- 
gration. tion was Zaporogztzsi, according to the most 
exact orthography given to us by Mr. Kova- 
lensky of Taganrog; a term alluding to their 
former situation, “ beyond, the cataracts ” of the 
Dnieper. From the banks of this river they 
were removed, by the late Empress Catherine, 
to those of the Kuban, in order to repel the 
incursions of the Circassians and Tahtars from 
the Turkish frontier. Their removal was ori- 
ginally planned by Potemkin, but did not take 
