ITS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS. 171 tinni Dvor, built in the form of a square. Under these colonnades sea-faring men from every country on the Mediterranean mingle with Armenians, Tartars, and Cossacks; while the most extraordinary variety of goods are exposed for sale in the crowded shops. Every other part of the town is of course lifeless and dull; and the tall white houses, baked by the broiling sun, render the streets so intolerably hot during the day, that nobody walks in them who can help it. There are shady gardens, however, where the band plays in the afternoons, and pleasant grass-grown ramparts overhanging the sea and smaller shipping, which afford an agreeable lounge; and from hence, in clear weather, the old Turkish fortress of Azov is distinctly visible. In former days these were the outposts of Russia and Turkey; hence the extensive fortifications of Taganrog, which now, no longer necessary, are fast falling into decay. There are few historical associations of any interest connected with Taganrog. Founded by Peter the Great in 1706, apparently for military purposes, he evidently foresaw that it would rise to a position of some mercantile importance, and bestowed more than ordinary care and attention on that account on a town of his own creation, and where his sojourn is commemorated by an oak wood of his own planting. It was here that the Emperor Alexander died. There is nothing whatever to interest, apart from this consideration, in the house where that event occurred, but which, nevertheless, all travellers are expected to visit. The environs of Taganrog are extremely fertile, and there can be no doubt that the surrounding steppe is favourable to the growth of forest trees. In winter, of course, trade is at a stand-still, communication being alike impracticable by sea or land, except in sledges. The passage across the gulf to Azov upon the ice is then quite feasible. The population of Taganrog amounts to about twenty-two thousand inhabitants. The trade consists chiefly in caviare, leather, tallow, corn, wool, iron, and other Siberian produce which descends the Don. Great quantities of sturgeon are caught in the Sea of Azov, which has been famous for this fish since the days of the Greek colonies. Tallow and leather are likely always to remain important items in the exports of Taganrog; but the wool seems to hold a more precarious place in the European market. About one-third of the wool which is exported from Russia comes to England; but the increasing favour with which Australian wool is regarded, has already produced an effect upon the pastoral provinces of Russia. The quantity of wool exported from Russia to this country has steadily decreased since the year 1845, when this trade had reached its most flourishing point; and notwithstanding the exertions of the sheep-proprietors to compete with Australia, that colony has gradually monopolised the lion's share of the trade with England, while the disposition lately manifested in that quarter to extend its transactions to the Continent is causing some uneasiness to Russia. Indeed, it seems impossible that any other result can be anticipated, from the late experiences of sheep-farming in these provinces, than the decline of the wool trade. Some years ago large quantities of merinos were introduced upon the steppes, and at first it was hoped that they would thrive, despite the inclemency of the climate. Perhaps had they been properly cared for, they would have succeeded; but Russian energy and perseverance have proved insufficient in obviating the effects of the severe snow-storms of winter and the droughts of summer, and the merinos are fast vanishing off the face of the earth. In 1849 a vast mortality prevailed; and through utter want of management on the part of the proprietors, and careless indolence on the part of the shepherds, thousands of these valuable animals were sacrificed. Unless merinos be properly housed and fed during winter, it is absurd to think of rearing them on the steppes of Russia; indeed, the fact seems pretty well established, that to have fine wool you must have a fine climate. Those hardy flocks which can endure a Russian winter, yield a wool that is barely worth exporting. In Taurida, and the country of the Don Cossacks, the flocks are more numerous than in any other part of the empire, and they are proportionably ill cared for, the whole object being to increase the quantity of sheep, not the quality of the wool; and thus it goes on deteriorating in proportion as the flock multiplies. To add to which, the wool, being badly cleaned, and worse packed, does not realise much more than half the price of German wool in the London market, while it is being altogether superseded by that from Australia. A steamer leaves Taganrog twice a-month for Odessa, performing the voyage in ten days. A glance at the map will show that in any other country the passage would not occupy three. Owing to the numerous detentions we had experienced at post-huts during the latter part of our journey, we missed the boat by two days. As we proposed exploring the Crimea, we found, to attain. this object, three courses open to us;-either a long journey by land to Simpheropol, a prospect which was particularly unpleasant, after all we had just undergone, a residence in Taganrog until the next steamer, involving a delay of twelve days, and an extremely hot, uninteresting time,—or a passage in a merchantman to Kertch, if we should be fortunate enough to find a ship ready to sail. We chose the latter alternative, and forthwith made our wants known to the sea-faring community. Through the kindness and hospitality of the English consul, we had less difficulty than might have been anticipated in passing our time agreeably in a town destitute in itself of more than a limited supply of novelty and amuse ment. СНАРТЕR XIII. TAGANROG AS A PORT THE WHEAT TRADE- WANT OF LABOUR- THE PROHIBITIVE SYSTEM-ITS EFFECTS NOTWITHSTANDING the present increasing trade and population of Taganrog, I do not think that its prosperity is at all of a permanent character. The harbour is one of the most inconvenient in Europe, and has by degrees become so shallow that ships are obliged to anchor at a distance of twelve or fifteen miles from the shore. There seems no doubt that it is rapidly filling up. So recently as the year 1793, Professor Pallas records the launch of a large frigate upon waters that lighters can now with difficulty navigate. As if nature were not doing enough to ruin Taganrog as a port, almost every ship that arrives contributes something to the same end. The Russian government has strictly prohibited the throwing overboard of ballast, with which the majority of the vessels that annually visit it are laden; and the custom-house officials are enjoined to see that this order is complied with, by measuring the draught of water of every ship at Kertch, and comparing it |