IN THE CRIMEA. 
itself, abstracting all consideration of the moun- 
tains around, may be compared to many parts 
of Britain ; particularly to the vales of Kent 
and of Surrey. It is rather more than ten miles 
in length, and six in breadth; beautifully cul- 
tivated, so that the eye roams over meadows, 
woods, and rich corn-fields, inclosed and inter- 
sected by green hedges and garden plantations 3 . 
The villages are neat, and the inhabitants are 
healthy. Their fields, protected from violent 
(3) “ This famous valley belongs to Admiral Mordvinnf ; but his 
possession was contested when we were there, and the rents were 
paid to Government, in deposit. Many of the Russian proprietors of 
the Crimea were in the same condition, owing to the following circum- 
stances, as they were represented to me by a young man, named the 
Count de Rochfort, who was nephew to the Duke of Richelieu. 
Under the terrors of conquest, the Tahtar proprietors malic little 
opposition to the grants which were made of their lands; but now 
that they are again in some measure restored to their rights, such as 
did not come properly under the description of emigrants have com- 
menced processes to obtain a reversion of their forfeitures, which was 
a very unexpected blow to their mas tees. The Russians, since the 
conquest, have established their abominable code of slavery ; but not 
on so rigid a fooling as in their own country. Two days a week, we 
understood from Pallas, is all the work a Tahtar is obliged to do gratis 
for his lord ; and the Russians complain heavily of their idleness. 
The mountaineers are almost all either entirely freeholders, or on the 
footing of peasants of the crown. The number of Russian residents 
m the Crimea is reduced greatly. Some have taken alarm at the 
tenure of their lands ; others have sustained great losses by their 
slaves running away, some of whom are received and concealed by 
the Kuban Cossacks ; which however is now prevented by the Duke 
of Richelieu’s government, which includes the whole country up to 
Caucasus and the Caspian.” Huber’s MS. Journal. 
233 
CHAP. 
VI. 
