EUROPEAN AND ASIATIC SHORES 
but, like all wandering tribes, particularly Lap- 
landers and Gipsies, they are so much accustomed 
to an uncontrolled and vagrant life, that no- 
thing but extreme indigence can compel them 
to cultivate land, and to reside in any fixed 
habitation. 
The country near Taganrog is a continuation 
of those steppes which have been so often de- 
scribed, and which afford pasture to several 
thousand cattle. It abounds with swarms of 
the little quadrupeds before mentioned, under 
the name of suslic. Near to the town are small 
plantations of trees, and particularly some fine 
oaks : these the late Commandant planted, and 
they flourish with other large trees near the 
shore. We also observed crab-trees, and the 
plant from which the Spanish Liquorice' is 
obtained, in full bloom : the root of this was full 
of juice, and had a very high flavour. The 
inhabitants of Taganrog avoid planting trees 
close to their dwellings, on account of the 
swarms of mosquitoes which would thereby 
be harboured. 
The diversity of nations observable in the 
various inhabitants of Taganrog is altogether 
without example. Every street resembles a 
(l) Glycyrrhiza glabra. 
