s*°

JOURNEY FROM TAGANROG TO TAURIDA.

and Ekaterinoflav. While waiting for an anfwer at Taganrog,I enjoyed, with the companions of my journey, the moft liberalhofpitality, from the kindnefs of M. Kasparof, Commandantof that place. As the weather was rough, and the ftate of myhealth precarious, I confidered myfelf peculiarly fortunate tomeet with a fire-place and other conveniences, which I couldnot expect to find on the advanced road.

Eighteen days had elapfed before the interpreter arrived,who was directed to accompany me on my journey throughthe country of the Nagais. At length, on the 2ift of October,we left Taganrog, and proceeded firft in a retrograde diredtionacrofs the retrenchment and the fmall rivulet Tfherepakhajthen turned to the Northward, over the ridges of ftratifiedlime-ftone, near the Mius, as far as Korovie-brod, or the cowferry, where we pafTed that river, and thus arrived at the firftftage, nineteen verfts from Taganrog. The diftance from theSambek to this place, in a direct line, is computed to be twentyverfts.

The Valley, which is watered by the Mius, forms an extenfivebafon, with fteep and craggy fhores; a fatisfa&ory proof of theformer exiftence of a bay here, as well as at Miufkoi Liman.On the oppofite fide of the Mius, the ftratified ridge of lime-ftone becomes progreflively higher; and, as we proceededalong the borders of this rifing country, we were gratifiedwith a view of the whole Valley, in which we difcovered theSlobode of Nikolaefsk, a place inhabited by colonifts fromLittle Ruflia. We next defcended to the brook Saramatfkaya,which is formed by waters ifiuing from feveral low Valleys, andempties itfeif into the Mius. Here we met with a common

inn,