TO AZOF AND TAGANROG, 
417 
Mouths of the River. The place to which we 
would particularly direct his attention is now 
called Sinuvka; but he will in vain look for 
Sinovka, or even for this branch of the river, 
in any of the maps which were before pub- 
lished. 
The inhabitants of Azof amount to a small condition 
number, including the garrison. There are not rlon'vi^ 
more than fifty houses in the whole settlement. /,zuJ - 
The officers quartered there complained, and 
with reason, of their solitary and secluded 
state of life. Exiled from all intercourse with 
the rest of mankind, because avoided even by 
the tribes around them, and without a single 
comfort to render human existence support- 
able, the joy our arrival diffused may be easily 
imagined. “ Englishmen said the old Com- 
mandant, as he approached the shore, to wel- 
come our arrival, “ are the only travellers who 
would come to Azof, if it could he avoided." 
Nothing could be more insupportable, however, 
than the manner of their hospitality. No other 
amusement was devised, but that of drinking, 
shouting, and dancing. Some symptoms, at the 
same time, of using compulsory measures to 
prevent our departure, were manifested. Half 
a century might pass, during all which period 
VOL. I. “2 E 
CHAP. 
XIV. 
