of the Kryneka and Sevérny Donetse, at a distance of about 80 miles." m

The greatest depth of the basin of Taganrok is 10, 11, and 18 feet; but all measurements are very uncertain, and sometimes there is no water at all in the bay, and vessels stick in the mud for a length of time. At all the ports of the Sea of Azof the water is too shallow to admit loaded vessels to approach near the shore, and cargoes are, therefore, taken in with the aid of lighters in the manner that has been described. At the extremity of Cape Taganrok exist the remains of a port, 570 yards in length and 220 in breadth, constructed by Peter the Great it offers at present only 2 feet water. The water which runs from the rivulet of Sambek, four miles beyond, into the bay of Taganrok, gives at its extremity a depth of 7 feet, and sometimes more, during high water.

:

Mariopol is situated on the shore of the Azof at 80 miles south-west of Taganrok, on the right bank of the river Kalmiousse, and at 2 miles from the shore is an anchoring ground, in 15 feet water, with a muddy bottom. The mouth of the Kalmiousse forms a port for the lighters, which load and discharge the vessels in the roads. The port might be made a few feet deeper, if measures were taken for dredging the bar which obstructs the mouth of the river. At present the water is so shallow, that the wheat that is shipped from shore has to undergo two transhipments before it reaches the vessel that is to convey it abroad. Mariopol is exclusively a Greek town, and was founded for the Greeks of the Crimea, who were induced to emigrate by the Russians in 1778, five years before its conquest. It is difficult to conceive how the Russian Government could ever have induced them to leave their beautiful seats for this dreary and comfortless town, or why since that period they have not made an effort to return to their old haunts, which they have never ceased to m Dictionnaire Géograph. Historique de l'Empire Russe. 1823. Art. Taganrok.

regret. The wheat exported hence is the finest Russian wheat that comes to the English market, and bears the highest price.

With other produce, such as linseed, it is very ill supplied, and neither the town nor trade is progressing, which must be attributed to its close vicinity to Berdiansk, from which it is but 50 miles distant. At two miles from Mariopol is situated, on an eminence, an ugly wooden church, containing a shrine of the Virgin Mary, possessed of miraculous powers, and which yearly draws to it crowds of devotees. These pilgrimages are frequently performed on foot by persons of the highest classes. It is stated that about 50,000 quarters of wheat belonging to foreign merchants were destroyed by the Allies when they landed at Mariopol.

Beyond Mariopol the coast for nearly 10 miles is bold, until it reaches Cape Bielo-Serái," which forms one side of the entrance to the Gulf of the Don; there is the whole way about 14 feet water at one mile distance from the shore. At Cape Bielo-Serái there are a number of fishing huts, and previous to arriving at the point, there is a light-house 81 feet above the level of the sea, and 72 feet above the level of the ground. Its light is fixed, and seen at 14 miles distance. At 23 miles south-west of Cape Bielo-Serái, the river Berda empties itself into the sea, but its mouth is barred by a strip of sand two miles long, called the tongue of Berdiansk, at the extremity of which, jutting out into the sea, is a lighthouse 85 feet above the level of the sea, with a light which is seen from minute to minute, and which is visible at a distance of 15 miles.

The town of Berdiansk is situated near the right bank of the Berda, at seven miles from the light-house, and at the foot of the bold table-land which backs it. It was founded about 1840 by Prince Woronzof, and

n

Cape Bielo-Scrái is called Cape Bilestav by the Greeks and Italians.

has gone on increasing in population and commercial prosperity. I can find no account of its population, but its exports were upwards of a million, and its imports about 70007., in the year 1853. This is the port where there is the best anchorage in the Sea of Azof, and there are 12 or 14 feet of water at a quarter of a mile from the landing place. The Bay of Obitochnia close by, with a river of the same name, is still more favourable for shipping, but no town has been founded on its shores. The land, however, gains ground every day in the roadstead of Berdiansk, which fills up, on account of the sea winds depositing great quantities of sand. A jetty, which was constructed some five or six years ago, is now completely useless, from being surrounded with sand, and a second, that has been constructed 220 yards in length, will evidently be soon in the same predicament. The commercial community of Berdiansk proposes to construct a barrier of 700 or 800 yards to protect it, and at the same time shelter coasting crafts of low draught. This will be useless, unless they previously concert means for dredging it, as the sands will accumulate all round it, and form a lagoon. At four miles to the south of Berdiansk, a large point running to the north forms a port which is the resort of coasters for wintering, where there is shelter from all winds, and 7 or 8 feet of water. Shallows extend to the west and north, and these are increasing, so that in time this port will become a salt lake, like many others that are found in the vicinity. Berdiansk is the port of shipment for the produce of the neighbouring wealthy German colonies of the Moloshna.

At 33 miles from the mouth of the Berda, there is a lagoon, called Lake Moloshenska, into which the waters of the river Moloshnia Vodi have their issue. Cape Fedotov, on which several houses and windmills stand, is near

See Blue Book, p. 73. The exact numbers are, 1853, Imports, S. R. 48,110; Exports, S. R. 6,243,774.

it to the south. Here commences the Isthmus of the Peninsula of Berútchi, which, intercepted by a small table-land, detached from the mainland, runs to the S.S.W. for 12 miles, with a breadth of several yards. The peninsula of Berútchi, called also the tongue of Yedotov, turning to the west towards the Tonka, is 11 miles in length. At three quarters of a mile from the shore of this isthmus and peninsula, there are 18 feet of water, but much less towards the extremity of the peninsula opposite the Tonka. Between Berútchi and Vizariónov is a strong current running to the east, formed by the waters of the Shivashe, which flow into the Sea of Azof by the narrow strait of Yénitchi. This strait is 129 yards wide, and 18 feet deep, but at the entrance there is only 4 feet water. On its northern shore is the village of Yénitchi, which is eight miles from Point Berútchi, the last bold table-land which borders the Sea of Azof. There is a very good roadstead between Berútchi and the Tonka, exposed only to the S.S.E. wind. The depth between the two shores at one and two miles is 18 and 21 feet, muddy bottom. Behind the peninsula of Berútchi, and commencing just opposite the straits of Yénitchi, there is a vast gulf 20 miles long, but of its depth there are no accounts. At the bottom of the gulf there is a great lagoon, and on its western shore the Lake of Atsuanai.P

› See Appendix, on the country between Yénitchi and Perecop.

CHAPTER XVIII.

ON THE COMMERCE OF THE SEA OF AZOF.

Import trade

Articles of export

Wheat Linseed

Rye - Military stores sent hence to Sevastopol, &c. Salt-fish - Caviare TallowWool - Iron Iron founderies of Lugan produce-Made through agents at Pavlosk

The system of advances on - Exports paid for, not by imports, but by cash Political reasons for high tariff- Attempt to make Kertch the emporium for the Sea of Azof-Failure of itLighters of the Azof Passage of exports from the great producing countries of the North By the Don and the Volga Dubofka and Katchálin Commerce of Rostof Loss to Russia from high tariff · Commercial and peaceable disposition of Russian people — Advantages of free trade to them.

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GREAT Russia, as the governments around Moscow are called, is the most thickly peopled and most productive part of the Russian empire, containing an industrious and active population, and the principal seats of agriculture and manufactures. It formerly sent its produce almost entirely to the Baltic for exportation, but of late years there has been a tendency in growers to avail themselves of the great arteries of the Don and the Volga, and, stimulated by the increased influx of foreign capital, shipments from the Azof and the other ports of southern Russia have much increased.

The ports of the Azof are those I have described in the precedent chapter-Taganrok, which is so intimately connected with Rostof, Mariopol, Berdiansk, and the nominal port of Yeisk. The import trade carried on in them is principally limited to produce of the Levant, such as wines, oil, and dried fruit, because of the high duties of the Russian tariff. The total amount of the imports at all the ports of the Sea of Azof was only 300,000l.