munion vessels. The priest having tied their hands together CHAP. XXI. with bands of the same coloured satin, and placed a chaplet of flowers upon their heads, administered the Sacrament; and afterwards led them, thus bound together, three times round the communion-table, followed by the bride's father and the bride-maid. During this ceremony the choristers chaunted a hymn; and, after it was concluded, a scene of general kissing took place among all present, and the parties returned to the house of the bride's father; here tea and other refreshments were served to all who came to congratulate the married couple. We remained a month at Akmetchet before my health was again established; during this time I had an opportunity of seeing so remarkable a ceremony at a Jew's wedding, that a short account of it will perhaps be thought not out of place at the conclusion of this Chapter. Wedding. For two or three days prior to the wedding, all the neigh- Jewish bours and friends of the betrothed couple assembled together, to testify their joy by the most tumultuous rioting, dancing, and feasting. On the day of marriage, the girl, accompanied by the priest, and her relations, was led blindfolded to the river Salgir, which flowed at the bottom of a small valley in front of Professor Pallas's house; here she was undressed by women who were stark naked, and, destitute of any other covering except the handkerchief by which her eyes were concealed, was plunged three times in the river. After this, being again dressed, she was led, blindfolded as before, to the house of her parents, accompanied by all her friends, who were singing, dancing, and performing music before her. CHAP. XXI. Military Force of the Crimea. her. In the evening her intended husband was brought to her; but, as long as the feast continued, she remained with her eyes bound. The garrison of Akmetchet paraded every morning from seven o'clock until ten; but troops in a worse state of discipline, or more unfit for service, were perhaps never seen. The whole military force of the Crimea amounted at this time to fifteen thousand men, of which number fifteen hundred were in garrison at Akmetchet. There were seven complete regiments in the peninsula, besides two companies of invalids, and a Greek battalion at Balaclava. At Perecop there was a garrison of invalids; and garrisons were also established at Yenikalé, Kertchy, Caffa, Karasubazar, Akmetchet, Baktcheserai, Koslof, and Aktiar; where there were two regiments. Yet notwithstanding the reputed rigour of the Emperor, his attention to the minutiae of discipline, and his passion for military pursuits, a system of somnolency and stupidity existed in all public affairs, which rendered the force of the Russian Empire a mere puppetshow. It was Punch with all his family; or a herd of swine in armour, who endured hard blows, kicks, and canes, with perfect patience, but were incapable of activity or effect'. Such was the disposition of the guard along the coast, and such the nature of the country, that an army might have been landed, and marched up to the centinels at Akmetchet before they were observed. Detested as the (1) See the Vignette to this Chapter for an accurate representation of the abject, although usual appearance of the Russian soldier, acting as centinel. Russians are by every description of inhabitant in the Crimea, their expulsion from the peninsula, if it had pleased Great Britain to restore it to the Turks, would have been a work of ease and amusement. The harbour of Nymphæum was entirely open, and unguarded both by sea and land. Το the West, at Sudack, Alusta, or Yourzuf, invaders would have found the Tartars greeting their arrival with tears of joy. A small band of Morean Greeks upon the coast, would be ready to join the invaders, or to fly at their approach'. Arriving in the garrisoned towns, a few snoring soldiers, hardly out of drill, or a party of bloated officers labouring under indigestion and ague, could not offer even a semblance of opposition. Any experienced General, from the armies of England, France, or Germany, might pledge his reputation for the capture of the Crimea with a thousand men 3. Such an event throughout the peninsula would be celebrated as a signal delivery from the worst of tyrants, and every honest heart would participate in the transports of an injured people thus emancipated. CHAP. XXI. This account may not seem to accord with the descriptions Suvarof. which were published of the conduct of the Russian troops in Italy, under Field-Marshal Count Suvarof. But where will Russia find another Suvarof? He was created to be a Russian General; possessing all the qualifications, and the only qualifications (2) Though some years have elapsed since this Journal was written, the changes which have taken place in Russia, rather tend to facilitate than to obstruct the capture of the Crimea. (3) A survey of the ports of Aktiar, with all the soundings, we had the satisfaction to bring to England; and it is engraved for this Work. 1 qualifications which can entitle a Russian chief to the hope of victory. Among his troops, he was generally their commander; individually, their comrade and their friend. To the highest military rank in Russia, he joined the manners and the taste of a private soldier; one moment closeted with his Sovereign, the next drinking quass with his troops, eating raw turnips, divesting himself of vermin, or sleeping upon straw. He partook every interest of the privates; entered into all their little histories; mediated in their disputes; shared in their amusements; was at once their counsellor and example; in short the hero who planned, and then led the way to victory. The Catechism, as he strangely termed that extraordinary composition, which he drew up for the instruction of every soldier in his army, will shew more of his real character, than the most studied description. It possesses a portion of all his characteristics; somewhat of his buffoonery, inconsistency, barbarity, military skill, his knowledge of the disposition of his countrymen, and of his anxiety and precaution for the welfare of his troops, as well as of his remarkable talent for directing even their vices to advantage: in a word, it offers a key to those counsels which directed all his military operations. This singular document fell into my hands; itwas sent by order of the Crown, while we were in the country, to every regiment in the Russian service, in order that each soldier might learn to repeat it from memory, and is presented to the English reader in the Appendix', literally translated, word for word, from the original Russian, as faithfully as the idioms of the two languages will admit. J (1) See the Appendix, No. II. 13 135 D 14. A Wall running obliquely from the city towards the Fortres 15. The outer Wall of the City towards the neck of land at 16 having a Road er Street endlosed by two Walls 10. A neck of land or second Isthmus of the Peninsula of Phanaris, separating the old Chersonesus into two distinct parts. 17 The Salt Lakes 18. Indistinct Ruans, on the second Isthmus as of Garden Walls 19. The Walls of the outer City on the ultimate Peninsula. 20. The Point of Phanari. Here are the kuns & a very antient Baldmo The archal Door & Walls of which is still entire 21. Smaller Salt Lakes almost dry 22. Two Moles. The southern one is of Sand, the northern of large Stones covered with Rock Samphire. 23 In this Area are Tunauli of Stones & apparatly the Foundation or a Temple 24 Ruins from the Wall at g to the Point, an Extent of 3000 Yards from a to y Professor Pallas accompanies the Author-Mankoop-Ruins of F |