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shafts, without any level, or even inclined plane. CHAP. There are also in the vicinity of Udgino, upon the eastern banks of the DoN, mines of iron which are now worked; but as they have hitherto neglected the analysis of their ores, and, instead of making any selection, mix the whole together without the smallest attention to quality, the metal turns out to be brittle, defective, and altogether bad. In the forges of Tula, where more caution is used in this respect, the iron is of a very superior nature.

In the streets of Eletz we observed large heaps of stone, for the purpose of building, whereof the substance was porous, and perforated in all directions by a deposit of marine animals. It resembled the kind of limestone found on the banks of the Moscva, but was more marked by impressions of organized bodies. Visiting the high banks of the river near the town, we found large masses of a similar deposit, lying in regular strata'. Hereafter we shall take occasion to shew, that such appearances may be observed in all the great Oriental Plain, inclined from the Aral, the Caspian, and the Sea

(1) We found here the Veronica Serpyllifolia, a Cineraria, which we believed to be the Sibirica; and a new species of Gypsophila, growing with Geum Rivale and Ranunculus Auricomus.

CHAP.

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of Azof, towards the Black Sea; authentic monuments of a vast ocean, once covering the whole of TAHTARY, whose diminished waters are still effecting a further retreat, by the channels of Constantinople and the Dardanelles.

A musical instrument, more common among antient than modern nations, amused us in the streets of Eletz: it consisted of two reeds, put together into the mouth. The performer was a blacksmith's boy, who played several tunes. The reeds were each about six inches in length, and not thicker than a quill. Such were the tibiæ used in processions, as represented upon antient bas-reliefs, in the fresco paintings of Herculaneum and Pompeii, and upon terra-cotta vases found in Grecian tombs.

From Eletz we continued our journey, through Zadonetz, the village of Ezvoly, to Zadonetz. In all this route we were continually met by caravans from the DoN, the CRIMEA, and other parts of the South of Russia. These caravans formed a train of waggons, thirty or forty in number, laden with dried fish, brandy, wool, corn, &c. Sometimes they consisted of cattle only; cows of an ash colour, horses, goats, sheep, and hogs, all moving in the same promiscuous herd, accompanied by MaloRussians, Cossacks, and by other inhabitants of

MALO-RUSSIA and the UKRAINE. At a short distance from Zadonetz, we crossed the DoN by a ferry. This river exhibited a broad, clear, and rapid current. The town stands upon a hill above it, and originally formed one of a line of forts, erected from this place to Zaritzin, to prevent the incursions of the Tahtars and Cossacks. It has now a superintendant, or Gorodnitch; and appears, like the other towns through which we passed, to be in a thriving condition. In all of them new houses were building, and the appearance of activity promised improvement.

From Zadonetz, our journey conducted us through the sweetest country imaginable, covered with woods full of flowers, fruit-trees, and a number of plants, plainly indicating an approach to warmer climates. Apple and other fruit trees sprouted wild, among young oaks, and other vegetable productions not found nearer to the North Pole. The modern name of the Tanaïs will perhaps not meet the Reader's attention so readily, in the compound word Zadonetz, as if written Zadonsk; in which manner it appears in the best maps. We have imitated the mode of pronunciation as nearly as possible. Donetz and Donsk are both names of the DON. Farther to the south, and nearer to the mouths of the river, an appellation given to a tributary stream

CHAP.

X.

Celo
Chlebnoy.

is sometimes Danaetz or Danaets, and Tdanaets; hence the transition to Tanaïs is not very equivocal; nor can much doubt be entertained concerning the origin of the appellation bestowed by the Antients upon the river. In what a variety of languages has this word Don, with its roots and ramifications, been used to signify a river, a lake, or cities near the mouths of rivers! Don, Donets, Dun, Den, Dan, Danau, Tan, Tane, Ain, An, En, &c. &c. Thus we have Jordan; Tanis, a name of SAïs, on the NILE; Tan y bwlch, in Wales; Danube; Thames; Ain, and Colerain, in the north of Ireland; Eden, in the same country; Tyne; and many others.

As we advanced through Celo Chlebnoy, we beheld, at a distance upon our right hand, the DON, rolling in a very majestic and devious course, while the full moon cast her light upon its waters. We halted for the night at a place Bestuzevka. called Bestuzevka, almost a solitary hut in the midst of wide plains; and we were somewhat struck by the singular manner in which a peasant cautioned us not to sleep there, but by all means to proceed another stage. Trifling circumstances of this kind often excite the suspicious fear of travellers; and in this lonely situation we were puzzled by conjectures,

X.

whether an attempt were made to lead us into, CHAP, or out of, a snare: it ended, however, like many such adventures, in nothing.

The next morning, June the seventh, we travelled very expeditiously through Celo Staroy Ivotinskoy,

to the town of WORONETZ, Situate upon a river. Woronetz. of the same name, near to the spot where it falls into the DoN.