[32 FROM THE CIMMERIAN BOSPORUS, 
chap, dwellings than Tahiar huts, with earthen floors, 
nL . and an entrance so low that we could scarcely 
gain admittance, unless by creeping upon our 
hands and knees. The post here is worse 
regulated than in any other part of the empire ; 
but when we hired the horses of the peasants, 
we found them to be strong, fleet, and beautiful 
as Arabian coursers. Martens build their nests 
in the little chambers of the Tahtars, and 
KafTa, and finally to arrange the intercourse with the Don, hy w ay of 
Arabat. The merchants of KafTa were, as usual, excessively sanguine, 
and confident of the success of their scheme ; and we heard a direct con- 
trary story to the one we were taught at Taganrog. We could not learn 
whether Arabat had a safe harbour : the road from Katra thither is level, 
and, if necessary, a rail-road might be put up at no great expense, as it 
would come by water from Lugan. The bay of KafTa is rather exposed to 
the south- east, but we were assured they had very seldomhigh winds from 
that quarter, and that accidents had been never known to happen. A small 
vessel, of the kind which Russia fitted out in numbers during the Turkish 
war, with one mast and a vast lateen sail, was lying in the harbour, to 
take a Scotchman, named Macmaster, to Immeretta, where, and at Trebi- 
zond, he was to act as a sort of Consul to an association which had just 
opened a trade there. At Kalla we obtained an order from the Govern- 
ment for horses from the Tab tar villages, at the rate of two copeeks a verst, 
per horse. The order was in Turkish: the date was explained to us, 
* From our healthy city of KafTa which I conclude was its antient 
distinction. The elder, or constable, of each village is named 4 Ombaska 
but I write the Tahtar words from ear only. The road is not interesting 
till after you have past Old Krim ; though there is a gradual improve- 
ment in the cultivation. Old Krim, we were told, is so called, because the 
Tahtars believe it to have been the antient capital of the Peninsula. It is 
now avillage of fifty houses at most, inhabited entirely by Armenians ; but 
the Mohammedan ruins are extensive : there are three mosques, and what 
appears to have been a bath. The neighbouring peasants are all Tahtars.” 
Huber's MU. Journal 
