34°

OBSERVATIONS MADE DURING A

Severnoi, and protect Georgiefsk againft the North wind. Not-withftanding this protection, the turbid waters of the Pod-kuma, the fudden viciffitudes of heat and cold, efpecially thebleak night-winds from the lofty mountains, the want of pre-caution in the Ruffian foldier to preferve himfelf from thofenoclurnal blafts, and the frequent exhalations and fogs whicharife from the moift and low country, all contribute to renderthis place extremely unwholefome ; fo that intermittent andbilious fevers are endemic and very obftinate.

On the day when we arrived at Georgiefsk, the ridge of theblack mountain along the Caucafus was covered with new fallenfnow, which, however, melted in a few days. Some fnow feilat the fame time on the mountains of Taurida, which alfo foondifappeared. From Georgiefsk we had a magnificent view ofthe Caucafian mountains, in their whole extent from the Caf-pian to the Black Sea. The exacl: reprefentation of this profpeclin Plate 15, which doubtlefs will be a gratification to thofe whowifh to obtain a knowledge of the lituation of thefe mountains,was taken from the baftion of the fortrefs adjacent to the bankof the Podkuma, towards the South. From this high bank theeye commands the whole low country on the oppofite fide, aswell as the open and projeöing piain, which, as it extends tothe foot of the principal mountains, renders the view ftill moremajeftic.

The country in the environs of Georgiefsk confifts of arableland of an excellent quality, meadows, paftures, fire-wood,and plenty of game: the whole trac~t from this place to themountains, bounded by the banks of the Kuban and the Kaiaus,has every requifite for the fubfiftence of a confiderable popu-

lation.