42 
STAVRAPOL. 
ment and line of the Caucasus, though the mountains themselves 
were still out of sight. A quarantine is established here for 
travellers coming from Georgia, or any of the countries near the 
Terek and Kuban rivers. Arriving under suspicion only, they 
are too likely to go out accompanied by some real evil, for a 
more pestilential looking spot I never beheld. An earthen 
embankment hems in the miserable wooden habitations destined 
for the suspected of the plague, and a noisome and unhealthy 
stream called the Egorlick (which name literally means stinking ), 
runs close to the bank. A post, and guard of Cossacks, enforce 
the quarantine regulations, and see that nothing passes these 
frontiers without purification. The country from hence is of 
the same flat, shrubless, uninteresting character, till we reach 
the village of Donskoy. There it becomes varied by some high 
ground, on which is scattered a few trees ; and this undulating 
line continued on our left, to the distance of fifteen wersts, till 
we reached a valley, at whose extremity were situated the fort 
and village of Moscofskoy. This little strong-hold commands, to 
the right and to the left, two other valleys which run far into 
the country, and it is the last post before we arrive at the city 
of Stavrapol. On entering the town, we found it finely situated 
on the side of a hill overlooking the extensive plain between 
it and Moscofskoy, which we had just traversed. Its houses, 
being appendaged with gardens, have an air of external conse¬ 
quence and convenience which I fear few within would verify ; 
at least, if I may judge by my own experience. I was quartered 
in one of the most imposing looking habitations in the place, 
and yet found it impossible to get the common comfort of 
hot water, or to rest at night for the vermin, &c. that infested 
every corner. Indeed, while on these tracts, for the above 
