The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-22 00:00:00

THE CRIACIA.

Crimea, the Chersonesus Taurica of the ancients, a
peninsula of Russia in Europe, Government of Tauricla,
between 44.28 deg. and 48 deg. N. lat., and 32.33
deg. and 36.22 deg. E. long. It is united on the
north to the mainland by the Isthmus of Perekop, five
miles in width, and has on its east the Sivache, or Putrid
Sea, the Sea of Azoff, and the Straits of Yenicahi, by
which it is separated from the Isle of Taman, being every-
where else surrounded by the Black Sea. It is estimated
to contain about 15,000 square miles. Population un-
known. The Crimea is divided into two distinct parts,
one lying north and the other south of the river Sal-
ghir, which flows from west to east, and is the only
stream of any importance in the peninsula. The for-
mer consists almost entirely of vast plains, or steppes,
destitute of trees, but covered with luxuriant pasture,
except where they are interspersed with heaths, salt
lakes, and marshes. The climate of this region is far
from good, being cold and damp in winter, and oppres-
sively hot and very unhealthy in summer, particularly
along the Putrid Sea. The aspect and climate of the other
or south portion of the peninsula are entirely different. It
presents a succession of lofty mountains, picturesque
ravines, chasms, and the moat beautiful slopes and val-
leys. The mountains, formed of strata of calcareous
rocks, stretch along the south coast from Caffa on the
east to Balakiava on the west. The Tchadyadag, or tent
mountain, the highest in the chain, rises to the height of
about 5,110 ft. above the level of the sea, and several of
the other summits attain to a considerable elevation. The
climate of the valleys and of the slopes between the moun-
tains and the sea is said to be the most delicious that can /
be imagined; and besides the common products, such as
corn, flax, hemp, and tobacco, vines, olives, fig-trees,
mulberry-trees, pomegranates, oranges, &c., flourish in
the greatest profusion. Pallas, Dr. Clarke, and others,
have given the most glowing descriptions of this inter-
esting region. According to Clarke, "If there
exist a terrestrial paradise, it is to be found in the
district intervening between Kutchukoy and Sudak,
on the south coast of the Crimea. Protected by en-
circling alps, from every cold and blighting wind,
and only open to those breezes which are wafted from
the south, the inhabitants enjoy every advantage
of climate and of situation. Continual streams of
crystal water pour down from the mountains upon their
gardens, where every species of fruit known in the rest
of Europe, and many that are not, attain the highest
perfection. Neither unwholesome exhalations, nor
chilling winds, nor venomous insects, nor poisonous
reptiles, nor hostile neighbours, infest their blessed ter-
ritory. The life of its inhabitants resembles that of the
golden age. The soil, like a hotbed, rapidly puts forth
such a variety of spontaneous produce that labour be-
comes merely an amusing exercise. Peace and plenty
crown their board ; while the repose they so much ad-
mire is only interrupted by harmless thunder, reverberat-
ing on rocks above them, or by the murmur of the wave
on the beach below." (Clarke, ii., p. 252, Bvo. ed.)
But if this description be as faithful as it is eloquent, it
will'not certainly apply to any other portion of the
Crimea, not even to the famous Valley of Baidar. At
certain seasons of the year the finest parts of the penin-
sula are infested with swarms of locusts, which frequently
commit the most dreadful devastations, nothing escaping
them, from the leaves of the forest to the herbs of th-3
plain. Tarantulas, centipedes, scorpions, and other
venomous insects are also met with in most parts ; and
even to the south of the mountains the air in autumn is
not every Where salubrious, and malignant fevers are not
uncommon.

Owing to the thinness of the population, and their
want of industry, the CriMea, which in antiquity was
the granary of Athens, and whose natural fertility is no.
wise diminished, does not produce a tenth. part of what it
miht do. The steppe, or north portion, is in general
more suitable for grazing than for tillage, and is depas-
tured by immense numbers of sheep, horses, and black
cattle. Some of the rich Nogai Tartars are said to have
as many as 50,000 sheep, and 1,000 horses ; and the
peorer, classes have 100 of the former and ten of the
latter. Thousands of cattle often belong to a single in-
dividual ; camels also are abundant. Breed of horses
improved by crossing with Arabs. Sheep, mostly of the
large-tailed species peculiar to the Kirghises. The buf-
falo is domesticated, and yields a rich milk ; and the
culture of bees is a good deal attended to. Though!
they have renounced their migratory habits, the Tar-
tars, who constitute the bulk of the population, have
little liking to' or skill in husbandry. Exclusive of
milk and other animal food, they subsist chiefly ou
millet, producing, however, in some years, as much
as 150,000 chetwerts of wheat for exportation.
The mountainous or south portion of the peninsula
Ifurnishes a large quantity of indifferent wines, with flax
fruits, timber, honey and wax, &e. ; but the cultivation
of corn is so little attended to that even in the best years
! its inhabitants have to import a large proportion of their
supplies. The most important and valuable product of
the Crimea is the salt derived from the salt lakes in the
vicinity of Perekop, Caffa, Koslow, and Kertsoh. It is
monopolised by the Government, and yields a con-
siderable revenue. The quantity exported from the
lakes near Kertsch amounts to from 1,500,000 to
2,000,000 ponds a year ; the lakes of Perekop are eve!, 1
more productive. At Koslow there is only a single
lake. In 1833 'the different lakes of the Crimea pro-
duced the immense quantity of 15,065,000 poods
(242,000 tons), of which 8,514,885 poet's were sold in
1