The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-09-24

y,
now about TO be the theatre of important warlike
operations. In order to enhance the value of
this map to subscribers and purchasers, we sab
join q few particulars as to the history climate,
natural productions population, &c, of this
interesting region. A remarkable feature on
its northeast coast is the Putrid Sea. in reali-
| ty but an extensive marsh, which renders
almost all that level part of the peninsula I'M.
wholesome as h9btation for men. The mar.
row strip which divides the Putrid Sea from
the Sea Of Anew is one Of the most singular
sand formations in the world. 1t is seventy
miles long, and over the greater part is but
three hundred yards broad. 1t lis entirely sand
covered generally with stunted sea grass
This sea road is used by the Russians in their
trade with the Crimea. Their wagons cross
the shallow water at the entrance near Perecop
and traverse the road which is the drectest to
kaffa, where they exchange Russian for Cri-
mean produce. The d. scription which follows
is collected from various sources
The mountains are well covered with woods,
fit for the purpose Of shipbuilding and contain
plenty of wild beasts The valleys consist of
fine srable land on the sides OF the hills grow
corn and vines in great abundance, and the
earth is rich in mines. But these mountaineers
are as careless and negligent as the inhabitants
o. the deserts, sighting all these advantages,
and, like their brethren of the lowlands, are
sufficiently happy if they are in possession of
q fat sheep and as much bread as serves them to
eat.
The houses in the towns as we'll as in the
villages, are, for the most part, of square tim
bers having the interstices filed with brick
work. If the possessor can afford it, and those
of the poorer sort with turf. The chinks and
crannies are made tight with clay, and then
plastered within and without. The covering is
commonly either Of brick or turf Only the
medscheds, minarets, and baths, are of stone,
and few extremely handsome, Of marble.
| They have chimneys in the chambers at which
they likewise dress their victuals but stoves
in the Russian manner, none. In extreme
frosts great iron pan Of charcoal is brought
into tn room for making it comfortable.
Their custom is to sit upon low sofas, with
seat, somewhat raised above the earth, and
spread with carpet In these rooms are cup-
boards and chests often covered with cushions,
to serve as seats, in which they keep their gold,
silver, and valuablcs. Such are the inner
apartments or harems, in which the women
generally live; the others are not so fine. These
! contain only sofa, or bank Of clay covered
with carpet; as in the chimney rooms.
The residence of the Khans Of the Crimea was
| formerly Bachtschi Sarai, in which city they
held their seat for upwards of two hundred
| years. They went thither from Eski-Krim, or
Old Krim, the capital city OF the Genoese, upon
Bengli Ghireikhan's plundering the seaports
Before Eski-Krim, and indeed upon the first
coming OF the Tartars into this peninsular, the
sovereign residence was OF Koslof, but here
| they remained not long, Under the late Khan
Schagin Ghirei it was held at Keifa, the ancient
Tbeodosia, which is fifteen versts distant from
Eski-Krim, said to he the Cimmerium of the
apcents.
Bachtschi- Sarai is an extensive and wealthy
city, lying in vale between two high noun
tains, and surrounded by a number of gardens.
From this circumstance it has its name !; Bacht-
schi signifying, in the Tartarian language, a
garden, and Sarai palace. It formerly con-
tanned 5000 houses, and many sumptnous med
scheds. The palace of the Khans, with its gar
dens and ponds, were much improved under the
government Of Khan Kerim Ghirei, under whose
government the last Turkish war took its rise.
In this palace is the burial place of all the
Khans Of Crimea, wherein all the Khans that
have reigned here lie inferred. The fine Krim-
skoi vines, with their large clusters of grapes,
| grow in great plenty all about this town, and
q profusion OF other delicious fruits, from
whence the neighboring parts Of Russia are
supplied.
The Krim was heretofore divided into twenty
four kaduliks, or districts, namely, Yenikali,
| Kertsch, Arabat, ski-Krim, Keffa, Karasubas-
sar, Sudak, Administered, Yalof, Bachtschi-
Sarai, Balaklava, Mangup, Inkerman. Koslof,
Or, Aansur, Tarkan. Sivasch, Tschongar, Sarub-
ulat, Barun, Argun, Sidschugut, and Schirin.
| Several Of these districts are named after the
town or village wherein the murza, their Gov
ernor, dwells and many of them are ct present
] in o state of total decay.
The winters are cold, and the summers hot.
In very severe winters the mercury sometimes
sinks deg. below zero, and not only the whole
Sea OF Azof, together with the straits Of Yeni-
kale, but also great part Of the bay of Kaffa
is covered with ice strong enough to support
men on foot and on horseback. The climate is
| so unsettled that it often varies six or eight
times in twenty-four hours. The winds are
very variable, and bring rain from the west and
! southwest, mild air and frequent mists from the
south, serene dry weather from the east, and
| cold from the north. In spring the weather is
settled, the heat moderate aud refreshing aud
| the nights cold and serene; there is seldom any
rain, especially during the prevalence of vio-
! lent east winds; and unless a considerable fall
| OF rain happens in April and May, an uuproduc-
| tive harveet frequently follows. In summer the
| Thermometer frequently rises to SO deg; 100
| deg, and even l02 deg: On the same day,
| however, it falls sometimes 20 deg or even
80 deg Droughts frequently prevail for sew
eral successive years, and dry up the wells and
| brooks
| Few summers pass in which the verdure on
the bills is not parched up. Thunder storms
| rarely occur, bat they are tremendous, and
sometimes accompanied by hailstones and de-
| structive waterspouts. In summer and spring
rainy weather seldom continues for twelve or
| twenty.f four hours. In autumn bilious fevers
prevail. Cold days occur in the middle of Oc-
tober, and are geRerally accompanied with
night frosts, but afterwards the weather again
becomes pleasaDt ana frequently continues mild
| gill December and January.
/ The crops cultivated in open fields are wheat,
| rye, barley. oats, maize, spclt, m'llet. chick
peas, fax, and tobacco. In the gardens are
raised melons, watsrmelons, cucumbers, & Mrds,
aJfichokes, cabbsges, onions, garlic, leek', bro
coli, celery, parsley, carrots, and red beets.
Tie numerous and extensive orchards IN the
valleys produce pears, apples, ounces, plums,
cherries, peaches, apricoss, almonds, me liars,
pom' granates, mulberIies, and nuts Some OF
these trees grow also wild on the declivsics of