5*2 
FROM THE CIRCASSIAN FRONTIER, 
the Cossacks, is transacted without contract; 
the wares of the Circassians being placed on the 
ground where they find the salt ready stationed 
for barter. But, owing to the very great prox- 
imity of the parties during all this intercourse, 
and to the danger of communicating inlection 
by handling the different articles for sale while 
they are bartering, the plague, if it existed in 
Circassia, might very readily be communicated 
to the Tchemomorski. It is true, that, except 
at Ekaterinedara, they seldom cross the river to 
each other's territory, during the profoundest 
peace; for so great is their mutual jealousy 
and their hatred of each other, that quarrels 
and skirmishes would be the inevitable conse- 
quence of more general communication. Whe- 
ther it be owing to their frequent hostilities, 
to the great rapidity of the Kuban, or to the 
domestic habits of the Cossacks, is uncertain, 
but fishing seemed to be entirely neglected, 
notwithstanding their favourable situation. Th e 
only boats used upon the river are those 
canoes before mentioned; each consisting °f 
one entire piece of wood, being scooped out of 
a single tree. 
Second On the evening of the last day of our resi- 
Excursion 0 • • J r> 
into cir- dence in Ekaterinedara, we again obtamed pe 
cassia . 
mission from the Commander-in-chief to make 
