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- TO THE CIMMERIAN BOSPORUS. 
Leaving Ekaterinedara, to pass along the chap. 
Russian line, we crossed the steppes to Vydnia , ' 
a military station. Notwithstanding the nu- ^weTZ 
merous videites and garrisoned places guarding UTin " l,,T,t - 
the frontier, we were desired to increase the 
number of our escort. A post route is esta- 
blished throughout this boundary of the empire, 
and, in general, it is well conducted. The 
Russian line from the Black Sea towards the 
east, continues along the north side of the 
Kuban, and from that river to the Kuma, which 
is swallowed in mounds of drift-sand before it 
can reach the Caspian ; thence by the north 
of the Caspian, through the country of the 
Kirgissians *, and by the river Ural, on to the lake 
Baikal, the river Jmour, and, by the frontier of 
China, to the Oriental Ocean. Afterwards it is 
continued to the north, as far as Kamtchatka. 
Throughout this vast boundary, a regular post, 
and military stations, may be found : but the 
traveller, in the more northern part of it, instead 
of horses for his conveyance, would be supplied 
with large dogs. 
(S) The country of Kirgiss is divided into three parts; Little 
Kirgiss, Middle Kirgiss, and the Grand Kirgiss. The two first only, 
with a few villages south of the Buihal, are subject to Russia. But 
the greater part of the country of the Kirgissians is entirely inde- 
pendent; and its inhabitants are vagrants, living wholly in waggons. 
The people of Rochard, or Itucharia, lead a better mode of life. They 
have several considerable towns. Their capital is Sahmacanu. 
