3©4 JOURNEY THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF THE CRIMEA,

had taken place to the depth of a foot: the whole trench,which at length interfe&s the ridge, has a ftrong faline incrufta-tion.—In the deep hollow appears a marly fchiftus, breakingin plates, and nearly refembling that of Pappenheim, with im-preffions of fragments of fea-weeds. From this muddy fourceprobably arofe the great volcanic eruption in the year 1782,which was accompanied with a loud explofion; and whichis ftill remembered by the inhabitants of Taman and Yeni-kale. I was much furprized at finding a neft of young hornedowls, not perfedly fledged, in this hollow, which is totallydeftitute of wood; as thefe birds generally frequent the thickeftforefts and lofty rocks.

Lower down, in an oblique North-eaftern direcYion towardsthe bay of Taman, on a grafly piain, there are two deepwells of foft water, lined with mafonry-work. Beyondthefe, the Temruk road crofles a deep rain-water trench,over a good ftone bridge. After paffing feveral fmall con-nected eminences, near one of which a falt-fpring iffuesfrom a hollow, we noticed, on the right, a hill fimilar tothat already defcribed, and in the middle of which arelikewife three protuberances: the diftance from. each otheris equal to about one third-part of the bafe; and theyconfift of a blackiih tenacious clay. Being thickly coveredwith vegetables, it is probable that they were occafioned bymore ancient eruptions. This hill, which has received thename of Aflodagh, terminates the fmall chain of hülocks ; and,between the Tamanfkoi and Kubanfkoi Leemans, there occuronly fome inconfiderable elevations, proceeding towards theSouth-eaft.

Along