ODESSA. 
380 
CHAP, the mountainous district through which it leads, 
■ in parts where snow is said to remain during 
the whole year; and also from the circum- 
stance of crossing the Danube so near to its 
embouchure. Almost immediately after leaving 
Silistria, that ridge of mountains intervenes, 
which Avas antiently called Hjemus; hence the 
descent is seldom interrupted the whole way to 
Adrianople, from which place there is an excellent 
road to Constantinople. A shorter route, but 
less frequented, and less convenient, conducts 
the traveller, along the coast of the Black Sea, 
to the Thracian Bosporus. These considerations 
strongly instigated us to pursue our intended 
expedition by land. Circumstances however 
occurred to induce a different determination ; 
and, although we narrowly escaped the pas- 
sage of the Black Sea with our lives, we had 
ultimately reason to rejoice ; for we were after- 
wards informed, that an order from the Russian 
Government was actually expedited to Dubosar, 
with instructions for our apprehension, and a 
more particular examination of our papers and 
baggage than the nature of them would have 
rendered desirable '. By one of those fortunate 
accidents which sometimes befal adventurers, 
(1) Among these were the surveys of the Russian Ports and Arsenal*) 
■which are now safely deposited in the Admiralty, 
