TO CAFFA. 
133 
are encouraged to do so all over the Crimea, CI ™ P - 
even in the houses of the best families, because ' — v — 
these birds destroy flies. The roads, although 
excellent in dry weather, now became, in con- 
sequence of rain, almost impassable for our 
carriage ; the turf upon the steppes peeling off 
in large flakes, and adhering to the wheels 
with such weight, that they were often entirely 
clogged, and we could not proceed without 
frequently cleansing them. We passed several 
ruined mosques. A few Turkish and Tahtar 
tombs appeared also occasionally near the 
road : these were distinguished by small stone 
pillars, with a turban sculptured upon the top, 
and sometimes also by inscriptions in the 
Turkish, or in the Tahtarian, language. 
We now began to perceive the truth of those Locusm, 
surprising relations we had often heard and 
read concerning locusts. The steppes were 
entirely covered with the bodies o( those 
insects ; their numbers, in falling, resembled 
flakes of snow driven obliquely by the wind, 
and spreading a thick mist over the sun. My- 
riads fell upon the carriage, upon the horses, 
and upon the drivers. The stories told us of 
these animals, by the Tahtars, were more 
marvellous than any we had before heard. 
They relate, that instances have occurred of 
