400 
CHAP. 
XIV. 
' y 1 
VOYAGE DOWN THE DON, 
apartment stood a vase, containing blossoms of 
the large Iris, called, in England, Flower de luce. 
It served as a kind of sign to the box whereon 
it was placed, in the lid of which was a small 
hole to receive the contributions of those who 
had received refreshments in the house. Some 
Turks, who were present, seemed really to be 
breathing fumes of tobacco. They inhaled 
large quantities of smoke upon their lungs, 
and, after retaining it there until their features 
became distended with suppressed respiration, 
yielded back curling volumes, as from a chim- 
ney, through their nostrils, their mouth, and 
their ears 1 2 . 
According to Pallas' the origin of the Arme- 
nian establishment at Nahhtshivan was the emi- 
gration of the inhabitants of the Crimea, when 
Suvorof withdrew with the Russian troops, and 
peace was concluded with the Tahtars. At 
that time the most opulent Armenian mechanics 
and merchants, together with the major part of 
the Christian inhabitants, upon whom the whole 
of the productive industry and commerce ol 
the Peninsula depended, left the Crimea late in 
(1) The Chinese , and other Oriental nations, perforate the drum of 
their cars for this purpose. It is not however common for Turks to 
undergo that operation. 
(2) Travels through the Southern Provinces, &c. Vol. I. p. 476, 
