TO THE CIMMERIAN BOSPORUS. 61 
found their way to his hiding-place : when he < 
opened his mouth, it was filled with them. ' - 4 
His head was bound in handkerchiefs ; yet 
they forced their way into his ears and nostrils. 
In the midst of this torment, he succeeded in 
kindling a large lamp which was over the 
sword-case ; this was instantly extinguished by 
such a prodigious number of mosquitoes, that 
their dead bodies actually remained heaped in 
a cone over the burner for several days after- 
wards ; and perhaps there is no method of 
describing the nature of such an afflicting 
visitation better than by the simple statement 
of this fact. To the truth of it, those who 
travelled with him will bear indisputable 
testimony. 
The northern bank of the Kuban, being every- General 
. appearance 
where elevated, presents a very extensive view, 0 f the cu- 
across those marshy plains of Circassia lying Territory . 
towards the river, of the mountainous ridges of 
Caucasus. As morning dawned, we had a 
delightful prospect of a rich country upon the 
Circassian side, something like South Wales, or 
the finest parts of Kent ; pleasing hills, covered 
with wood ; and fertile valleys, cultivated like 
gardens. A rich Circassian Prince, the pro- 
prietor of this beautiful territory, frequently 
ventured across the Kuban, as we were 
