340 CRIMEAN SERVICES OP “ I ” TROOP, NOW 0 ” BATTERY, R.H.A. 
about 12 miles off to tbe S.W. lay Shumla with its forts, and its 
great white hospital could be distinctly seen. The plain was deeply 
fissured in various directions through which the little rills flowed 
sluggishly on, in one was the village of Yeeni bazaar, above was our 
encampment, here we first felt the want of water, the horses had to go 
twice a-day nearly a mile to get a drink, whilst the men had to carry 
it up a steep hill, and this under a burning sun. In Turkey, fountains 
are numerous, yet the only one within half-a-mile of our camp, 
and that, too, only 50 yards from the Troop tents, we were not per¬ 
mitted to use for the first three weeks, as Lord Cardigan placed a 
guard over it, and retained it for his own use. However, the restriction 
was withdrawn afterwards, when one-third of the troops were in 
hospital. Much of the sickness at this place must undoubtedly be 
charged to the locality, but still, from its form and intensity I 
consider a great deal to have been produced by excessive exposure to 
the sun during the drills of from four to five hours, the time occupied 
in watering the horses by day, and heavy cold dews at night. All 
rejoiced when we left for Varna on the 25th of August, halting at 
Jasitipe that night, went on next day to Devna, where we halted for a 
day, and reached Varna on the 28th of August, from whence we 
embarked for the Crimea on the 30th of August, 1854. 
Bulgaria is a rich field for the botanist, and would well repay any 
personal discomforts he might suffer in the varied treat spread out 
before him, the brushwood is principally composed of the Christ thorn 
(j valiums Australis ), stunted oaks, the. hazel, elm, ash, and a great 
variety of flowery shrubs, whilst the wild vine, clematis, bind them 
together. In the vineyards and orchards, which are very extensive, 
the cherry, plum, peach, almond-apple and pear trees are numerous, 
but there is very little of what may be called garden cultivation, 
onions, garlic, cucumbers, and melons being the vegetables principally 
met with. Fowls, ducks and geese were very plentiful. I saw very 
few wild animals or birds, but may name the eagle, vulture, hawks, 
crows, magpies, doves, larks and storks. Hares were occasionally 
seen, and numbers of ground squirrels. Serpents and lizards were 
numerous, while the croaking of the frogs was unceasing. I had 
neither means nor time for collecting specimens, as living under 
canvas, and a very limited transport, were complete bars to my taste 
in that way. However, I made a collection of seeds, both there and 
in the Crimea, which I sent to the Royal Botanical Gardens, Glas- 
nevin, Dublin. 
Previous to embarkation for the Crimea, the sick (of whom there 
were 25), and those who were not likely to be fit for immediate duty, 
were ordered to be left at Varna. I therefore sent 13 to the General 
Hospital, and the remainder accompanied their divisions. On the 30th 
of August the troop embarked in four ships. In transport No. 1, the 
“ Pyrenees,” Lieut. Vandaleur and the right division, with a portion of 
the 95th Regiment and their medical officer. No. 61, the “HarbingS,” 
with Lieut. Dashwood and the left division, they had a strong infantry 
detachment, very crowded, much sickness on board, no medical officer 
at first, but one was obtained at Baltschick Bay. No. 85, the “ Burmah,” 
