VALACHIA PART OF ANCIENT DACIA. 
777 
the roads. I now felt myself indeed approaching the north, and 
at one o’clock, by a gently descending path, reached the city of 
Roustchouk. There I had my first view of the Danube, it being 
built on the southern shore of that mighty stream “ of a thou¬ 
sand battles.” 
Roustchouk appears a considerable place, but we only skirted 
its western suburb, my object being an immediate passage of 
the river. That was the point of embarkation, and there I saw 
an almost interminable line of little vessels laid up for the winter; 
the navigation of the stream ceasing about November, while in 
the severer months the water is generally completely frozen. 
In March, they are usually afloat again. During the warfare of 
1812, the Russians had possession of this city, and on leaving it 
they destroyed the fortifications; but the Grand Seignior is 
leisurely replacing them with the modern works of bastions, &c. 
In stopping for embarkation, we stood up under one of the ancient 
ruined towers, where I had an impressive view of the “ swift¬ 
rolling Danube,” and hired a large boat for twenty piastres, or 
eight rulies, a Turkish gold coin, worth about thirteen pence. 
From the long continuance of the mild weather, Winter having 
only begun to shew herself, the stream was yet clear of ice; and 
having put every thing on board, in less than half an hour we 
arrived at the town of Georga on the opposite bank. We were 
now in Valachia, and here the Grand Seignior’s firman ceased ; 
this country, with Moldavia, its adjoining principality, being pro¬ 
vinces of the Turk, but under certain privileges, guaranteed by 
Russia, which, amongst other exemptions, frees them from this 
kind of impost. 
These two principalities composed the greatest part of the 
ancient Dacia, and are bounded to the north-west by the Austrian 
5 G 
VOL. II. 
