VOYAGE DOWN THE DON, 
at intervals, our carriage tossed about in the 
boat, as if in a gale at sea. We succeeded, 
however, in getting on board ; and presently 
such a deluge of rain ensued, that we were glad 
to seek shelter with the bobacs, whose natural 
somnolency was not proof against such violent 
concussions, and who were thrusting their noses 
between the blinds of the windows. We never 
experienced such a tempest. During all the 
rest of the night, the water seemed to descend 
as from a cataract, beating through the very 
roof of the carriage, and entering by every 
crevice. As the day dawned, the rain ceased 
to fall : but the wind continued as before. Our 
servant arrived from the fortress, having suc- 
ceeded in mustering the soldiers. We encou- 
raged them by liberal offers; and soon after- 
wards we had the satisfaction to find, that, 
although our boat’s motion was hardly progres- 
sive against the united force of wind and tide, 
we were actually leaving Azof. 
After a long and very obstinate struggle, 
during which our boatmen were nearly ex- 
hausted, we at last reached that branch of the 
river along which we were to steer with the 
tide towards the sea. It is called the Kalancha. 
Here we rewarded and dismissed our assistants 
from the garrison, hoisted our canvas, and. 
