OF THE CRIMEAN PENINSULA.

39

form of a cupola; its doors and Windows had uniformly beenframed with cornices of white marble veined with grey, tracesöfwhich may ftill be difcovered; but unprincipled perfons haveprofaned this fanduary of the dead, broken out the ornaments,and bafely converted tbem into chimney-pieces. Between thefeedifices, we obferved a number of funeral-pillars and tomb-ftones, many of which are elegantly hewn of marble, and em-bellifhed with foliage in bafs-relief. At prefent, the neighbour-ing Tartars are more attentive to thefe relics, and endeavour, asmuch as poffible, to prevent their farther demolition. On com-paring the conftruction of thefe fepulchral edifices with that Ihave formerly noticed at Madfhor, Tatartup, andBolgary*, therecan be no doubt refpe&ing the origin of the latter, as well asthe people by whom they have been erected.

At the diftance of about fix verfts from Bakhtfhifarai, aftertravelling over level but elevated trac~ls, between feveral moun-tains compofed of lime and marl, we reached the rivulet Katfha,flowing through an agreeable Valley well-clothed with verdure,though unfavourable to health, on account of its humidity. Hereis fituated the village Egis-Oba, which has received its name fromtwo hillocks appearing on the high road oppofite the Katfha;and which are either defigned for fepulchres, or for markingthe boundary.—Admiral Nicolai Semenovitfh Mordvinof is oneof thofe few noblemen who pofTefs the talent of employingtheir fortunes to the advantage of their native country and theirfellow-fubje&s. Having evinced this excellent difpofition onmany occafions, and in various fituations, both in public ferviceand during his philofophical retirement, he has likewife facri-

* The author, in this place, refers the reader to his former Travels (in German),Vol.I. p. 122. PlatesVI. and VII.

ficed