248 
SOUTH COAST OF THE CRIMEA. 
chap. Beneath the precipices, and extending to the 
— > — -> water’s edge, appears a bold and broken de- 
clivity, covered with villages, gardens, woods, 
and cultivated spots. Laurels flourished in 
several places ; and these were formerly more 
abundant, but the Tahtars have destroyed 
many of them, believing that strangers came 
only to see these trees, and dreading a visit 
from the Russians. 
Aluupka. In the evening we arrived at Aloupkai The 
inhabitants flocked to visit us, and overwhelmed 
us with their hospitality. Each person entering 
our little chamber deposited his offering ; either 
of fresh filberts, walnuts, mulberries, figs, pears, 
or other fruit. “ Brandy,” they said, “ they could 
not offer us : abstaining from its use, they had 
it not.” Less addicted to opium than the Turks, 
they are less slothful : yet they deem it their 
greatest happiness to sit still, to smoke, or to 
sleep; having nothing to employ their thoughts, 
and as little as possible to do. They sow only 
as much corn as may be necessary for their 
own consumption. Their pipes and their horses 
are, perhaps, objects of as great affection as 
their wives. We found them usually stretched 
upon the flat roofs of their cottages, lying upon 
thick mats, beneath the shade of their favourite 
trees, either asleep, or inhaling fumes of tobacco. 
