268 SOUTH COAST OF THE CRIMEA. ’ 
chap, bride, accompanied by the priest and by her 
■ ¥ — ■> own relations, was led, blindfolded, to the river 
Salgir, flowing at the bottom of a small valley 
in the front of Professor Pallas's house : here 
she was undressed by women who were stark- 
naked; and being destitute of any other covering 
than the handkerchief by which her eyes were 
concealed, she was plunged three times in the 
river. After this, being again clothed, she was 
conducted, blindfolded as before, to the house 
of her parents, accompanied by all her friends, 
who were singing, dancing, and performing 
music, before her. In the evening, the bridegroom 
was brought to her ; but, as long as the feast 
continued, she remained with her eyes bound. 
The garrison of Ahmetchet paraded every 
morning, from seven o'clock until ten; but 
troops in a worse state of discipline, or more 
unfit for service, were perhaps never seen. 
Military The whole military force of the Crimea then 
the Crimea, amounted to fifteen thousand men: of this 
number, fifteen hundred were in garrison at 
Ahmetchet. There were seven complete regi- 
ments in the Peninsula, besides two companies 
of invalids, and a Greek battalion at Balaclava. 
At Perecop there was a garrison of invalids; 
and garrisons were also established at Yenikale, 
Kertchy, Caffa, Karasuhazar, Ahmetchet, Bahtche- 
