CAPITAL OF THE CRIMEA. 
19 ?, 
It began, like all the others, with the Book of chap. 
Joshua. i . j 
The character of the Karaite Jews is directly Account of 
opposite to that generally attributed to their Karat. 
brethren in other countries, being altogether 
without reproach. Their honesty is proverbial 
in the Crimea ; and the word of a Karaite is 
considered equal to a bond. Almost all of them 
are engaged in trade or manufacture. They 
observe their fasts with the most scrupulous 
rigour, abstaining even from snuff and from 
smoking for twenty- four hours together. In 
the very earliest periods of Jewish history, this 
sect separated from the main stem : such, at 
least, is their own account ; and nothing 
concerning them ought to be received from 
Rabbinists, who hold them in detestation. For 
this reason, the relations of Leo of Modena, a 
Rabbi of Venice, are not to be admitted. Their 
schism is said to be as old as the return from 
the Babylonish Captivity. They observe ex- 
traordinary care in the education of their 
children, who are publickly instructed in the 
synagogues; and in this respect the Tahtars 
are not deficient. We rarely entered any Tahtar 
village in the day-time without seeing children 
assembled in some public place, receiving their 
instruction from persons appointed to super- 
