i8

TRAVELS IN THE CRIMEA.

flags, but breaks in irregulär maffes; and in which are ob-fervable many of thofe petrifactions, that are known by thename of lenticular ftones. When the inhabitants employ thisfoffil in building, they moftly ufe it in a rough ftate, exceptingthofe pieces intended for the corners, or for framing the Windowsand doors of their dwellings. In all the Tartar towns of thispeninfula, the mortar is made of clay, more or lefs combinedwith lime, to which a certain proportion of fand is added, inorder to render it more durable. Out-buildings, or offices, aregenerally conftructed of plaftered wicker-work; but the roofsare covered with light hollow tiles difpofed on a ftratum of in-terwoven ofiers, and placed upon clay. Thefe roofs, however,unlefs they be fecured with lime, require frequent repair, inconfequence of the prevailing tempefts.

Befide the governor's houfe already mentioned, which wasformerly embellimed with a fine garden, and is now convertedinto barracks, there are at Akmetfhet only the followingpublic edifices; namely, three Tartar metfhets, or houfes ofprayer*, with their fteeples (mifgir); from the top of which theprieft (mulla) calls the faithful to prayers, four times in twenty-four hours; a very indifferent Grasco-Ruffian church, whichferves for a cathedral; and another of fome confideration, builton the market place by a fociety of Greeks who fettled here inI 797> an Armenian chapel; a Tartar bath, fince convertedinto a public prifon; and a number of barracks fituated in thehigher, or South-eaftern, part of the town, Near the city,on the left bank of the Salgir, four mills are turned by a canal

* Formerly there were five in this place, but two of thefe metfhets have been demo-lifhed.

proceeding