^■MHHH

16

TRAVELS IN THE CRIMEA.

Crimea. lt was farther intended to raife, on this fpot, a moderntown, with a beautiful cathedral. Hitherto, however, a fewhoufes only have been built according to fuch defign; fo that,fince the year 1798, the Tartar name of the old town hasagain prevailed.

The fituation of Akmetfhet is delightful; as the elevatedpiain, on which it ftands, rifes ftill higher towards the South-eaft; is furrounded on almoft every fide, at irregulär diftances,by mountains and hüls of calcareous marl; and it is interfe&ed,on its eaftern fide, by the rapid courfe of the Salgir ; the oppo-fite right bank of which, being confiderably lower, prefents apleafing view of meadows and gardens. This peculiar fite,however, expofes the town of Akmetfhet in a remarkable degreeto the tempefts that are fo frequent in this country, but efpeciallyto thofe from the South-eaft, which penetrate through thedales interfeöing the oppofite mountains; as likewife to theEaft and North-eaft winds which, like the northern gales, blowover the plains; and alfo to thofe proceeding from the South-weft, or from Sevaftopol, that are ufually accompanied withrain; while thofe from the Eaft are attended with a ferene fkyand dry weather. On the piain formerly defigned for enlarg-ing the town of Sympheropol, there has been ere&ed an elegantrefidence for the Governor ; which, fince the tranüation of thefeat of government, has been converted into barracks; and, atthe diftance of about half a verft, there are feveral edificesintended for courts of juftice. Befide thefe, we met only witha few fcattered habitations, among which, the School-houfedeferves to be mentioned. Between the original palace of thegovernor and the old town, or the bank of the Salgir, Suwarof

(whofe