CRIMEAN SERVICES OF “ 1” TROOP, NOW 0 33 BATTERY, R.H A. 339 
surrounded by fortification, of which the principal are directed inland. 
From the town to the northern extremity of the Bay the shore is flat for 
about a mile inland, when it rises abruptly and forms a range of low 
flat-topped mountains that extend to the north of Yeeni bazaar, 
short ridges pass southwards towards the lesser Balkans, and are 
separated from them by the upper and lower Devna Lakes. Varna is 
thus almost surrounded by high land. Passing along the northern shore 
of the lower lake, which is low and cultivated, we arrive at Aladyn, a 
small and beautiful valley, terminating at a small stream that connects 
the upper and lower lakes, having burst as it were through a cleft in 
the mountains. Here the mountains again diverge, and we see the 
upper lake, which is about five miles in length by three in breadth, 
whilst the lower one is about eight miles long by five broad. They are 
both fresh water, shallow, but navigable. The south shore of both 
lakes are high mountains covered with wood, and the scenery very 
beautiful from its park-like appearance, only wanting some signs of 
life to make it perfect. But no homestead breaks the solitude, and 
all, as far as man is concerned, is utter solitude. The northern 
shore of the upper lake is more marshy, and at its head there is an 
extensive swamp, which formed one of the boundaries of the camp 
at Devna, and must always, unless reclaimed, tend to the production 
of disease in its neighbourhood. We remained at Varna from the 
16th to 26th of June, 1854, whence we marched to join the Light 
Cavalry Brigade at Devna. The encampment there was pleasantly 
situated in a small valley surrounded by an amphitheatre of hills, 
a short deep and rapid stream ran through its centre, on its banks 
and within one mile of its source were 13 mills. The village of 
Devna was situated on the side of one of the hills to the east, and, 
like all Turkish villages or towns, was extremely picturesque at a dis¬ 
tance, but ruined and filthy when entered. The valleys were covered 
with barley, some few patches of wheat and oats, and the southern 
aspects of the mountains were covered with vineyards. Beyond the 
hills to the north were extensive plains, where large herds of cattle and 
flocks of sheep and goats roamed in search of a scanty herbage. 
The stream was very remarkable, its length was about three miles. 
Then it joined the upper lake, but appeared to spring at its full size 
from the earth, its head was a shallow pond about 20 yards in diameter, 
and the water could be seen rushing up through its sandy bottom, 
whence it flowed on, a stream of about six yards in width, and from 
four to five in depth. I found plenty of chub in it. After spending a 
month there we were moved to Yeeni bazaar, in consequence of cholera 
breaking out among the other troops. We marched with the Light 
Cavalry Brigade on the 26th of July, halting at Jasitipe that evening 
and arriving on the 27th July. The change was not beneficial to us, 
as we suffered from both cholera and fever there, arising principally 
from exposure to the sun and fatigue in obtaining water. 
Yeeni bazaar is situated at the angle of that vast triangular plain 
which has the Danube for its base, behind us lay the mountains of the 
greater and lesser Balkans, in front a vast undulating arid plain, 
across which whirlwinds laden with dust were constantly sweeping, 
