154 
FROM CAFFA, 
CHAP. 
IV. 
Starci 
Crim . 
Ruined 
Baths. 
After we had travelled for some time over 
this kind of territory, the road gradually drew 
nearer to the mountains. The appearance of 
antient tumuli, increasing as we advanced, de- 
noted the vicinity of some antient city. This 
was Stara Crim : the approach to it is by a 
bold valley, or defile, formed by a mountain 
detached from the southern ridge. A variety 
of beautiful shrubs and trees appeared among 
the ruins : the mountains were covered with 
brushwood. Passing a bridge, whose massive 
masonry resembled the style of labour used by 
antient Etrurians in the walls of Crotona, we 
were surrounded by the remains of mosques, 
baths, and other mouldering edifices : some of 
these still retained marks of great magnificence '. 
We entered a building which yet remained 
entire. It consisted of one large area, sur- 
mounted by a beautiful dome, and surrounded 
by eight smaller chambers : its walls were 
(1) According to an observation in the 17th book o£ Strabo's Geo- 
graphy, concerning the mountainous territory extending from the harbour 
of the Symbolic or Balaclava , to Theodosia , hereabouts ought to be the 
situation of the latter; for here the mountainous district terminates. 
And that there is good reason to believe Stara Crim was antiently 
Theodosia , will appear from the following citation : ° Atque nunc etiam 
urbes ibi nonnulke quamvis pessundata?, amplitudine tamen ambituum 
suorum et ruinarum, superb® oliin fuissc apparent, et pra»sertim quae a 
nobis Solhollh, a Moscis Krym, a Crsecis Theodosia appellabatur quon-* 
dam.” Excerpta e Michalonis Lituani Fragmenlis. L. Bat, 1630* 
