JOURNEY THROUGH THE SOUTH-WESTERN QUARTER, &c. 25

near the Salgir; and they alfo produce petrifaclions fcattered inthe manner already noticed. In fome of them we foundpetrified crefted oyfters, in a complete ftate of prefervation.At the diftance of three verfts from die town, we crofled, neara clayey hill, the very fource of the fpring which formerlyfupplied the town with water; and which, after joining witha fmall muddy rivulet, fiows into the Salgir. Three verftsfarther, in a level Valley, we paffed the brook of Bulganakjwhich, though inconfiderable near its fource, and dried upduring hot fummers, is neverthelefs confidered to be one of theprincipal rivers of the Peninfula, as it difcharges itfelf directlyinto the fea. Sixteen verfts from Akmetfhet, we at lengtharrived at the banks of the Alma, in an open, pleafant, anduncommonly fertile country, which is richly embellifhed withvillages. Along the banks of this rivulet are thofe extenfivepaftures, which the Khans of the Crimea ufually appropriatedto the fupport of their ftuds. On the right, we obferved thevillage of Khaneli; and fome others, among which that ofHadüSirbecke, with its numerous Lombardy poplars, prefenteda beautiful profpect.

The river Alma rifes from the woody dales, fituated betweenthe Tfhatyrdag, or Tent-mount, and the oppofite lofty Babu-gan-Yaila towards the South-weft. It receives in its courfe,befide feveral fmaller ftreams, two confiderable brooks, namely,the Kuifu and Menei, the fource of which is at the foot of theformer mount. When the fnow on the mountains is fuddenlydiflblved, or after heavy rains, the Alma fometimes becomesmore formidable and dangerous than the Salgir. Scarcely ayear elapfes, in which fome perfons are not either drowned, or

vol. 11. e obliged