26o JOURNEY THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF THE CRIMEA,

In order to continue my narrative, wkhout farther Inter-ruption, I (hall return to the principal road.—Although Efki-Krym is, by the ufual mode of travelling, not lefs than twenty-four verfts diftant from the laft ftage of Burundfhuk, yetthere is a more direct road from Elbufly, by the way of Shakh-Murfa, which does not exceed fifteen verfts. We proceededfrom the laft mentioned place to Efki-Krym, along a ridge,extending between two vallies that interfe£t it from the woodedand more elevated mountains. Thefe confift, to the left, ofthe lofty and protracted calcareous hüls of Agermifh, the chainof which terminates towards the piain country with a lefs con-fiderable hill advancing to the Eaft, and called the Barren orTafh-agermifh, that lies in the vicinity of Karagos. To theleft are the thickly wooded eminences, which join the loftymountains ftretching towards Koos and Otuus. On attainingthe fummit of this ridge, we defcried an Armenian convent,fituated in a high foreft; and which is the refidence of anArchimandrite of that nation.

The Efki-Krym, or Old Crimea, properly fo called, and inthe Ruffian language, Staroi-Krym, is fituated, together with itsextenfive ruins, in a fertile piain imperceptibly declining fromthe lofty ridge, and is probably the ancient Cimmerium. Ourattention was firft excited by the remains of two Tartar metfhetslying near the road. In their vicinity, we noticed a buildingere&ed over a confiderable and excellent fpring; for the re-ftoration of which, as well as for the conftru£tion of an Upperroom appropriated to the reception of vifitors, we are indebtedto the brave and refpected General de Schütz. Next followthe remains of a more capacious Armenian church, the walls

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