188 
BAKTCHESERAI, 
chap. Farther up the defile, a very remarkable 
v — v — / result of human labour is exhibited, in a Greek 
Exfava- monastery, or chapel, which has been hewn in 
the very side of the precipice ; and in such a 
manner, that nothing of it is visible but the 
small perforated cavities whereby light was 
communicated to the interior. The Greeks of 
the Crimea were forbidden by the Tahtars the 
use of any public church ; nor were they allowed 
to exercise publickly the functions of their reli- 
gion: in consequence of this, like the persecuted 
Brians, they fled to rocks and precipices, secretly 
excavating almost inaccessible caverns, and 
ascending to their subterraneous shrines by 
small winding staircases concealed from obser- 
vation. This example of their labour and their 
piety remains among the few things the Russians 
have not found it easy to destroy : it is one of 
the most singular curiosities in the Crimea ; and 
it seems to be suspended, like a marten's nest, 
upon the face of a lofty precipice, beneath stu- 
pendous rocks. 
jewhh We now came to the lower verge of some 
Ccemetcry. g j. ee p an( j beheld upon the summit the 
walls of Dschoufoutkale. In a recess upon 
our right hand appeared the coernetery, or 
“field of dead,” belonging to the Karaite Jews. 
Nothing can be imagined more calculated to 
