New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-01-05

the remnants al their once splehdn COSTUMES, anu
mounted on the small, sorry steeds with which
they had made the journey from Central Asa,
crowded along the shore to catch sight OF the
steamer as she stopped at the pier
SILISTRIA AND THE BASIII-BAZOUKS.
RUsTCHuK, Tue.day, Oct. 3, 1854.
One must descend from the Iron Gate 70 Silis-
tria. in order 10 comprehend thoroughly the i'm
portance of the line Of defense VIII oh the Dan
ube forms for Turkey against en- invasion from
the north. After examining with care the terrain
on both sides Of the river as far down as Giur-
zero | can understand the tremendous efforts
which the Turks bs!e repeatedly made to main
tain tie Bulgarisn shore against the advancing
Russians, in preference to falling back upon the
Balkans, and bo~ the latter during the present
campaign have failed 10 obtain footing on the
right bank above Sllistia From below kalafat
the Waachian plain, raised but a few feet above
the surface Of the Danube stretches away almost
without an elevation as far as the eye can reach,
afordipg q magnificent field for the moving OF
armies. Not 90 the Bulgarian side. Wlddin it.
.elf ir situated vn a small plain, but the barren
hills ia its rear soon sweep round to the Danube,
and from that point form splendid, natural de-
Tense to a considerable distance below Slllstfia,
where the Danube suddenly bends TO the north
ward, and the Dobrodja becomes as low aud
eyampy as the Walacian side. This continuous
bluff 800 miles in length, and varying from thirty
TO one hur bred and fifty feet IN hight rests upon
q calcartOus base. At certain places the rlVer Is
for miles fanked with perpendicular wall of lime.
stone rocks the strata of which exactly even ana
level tell the story Of their geological origin AT
other places the blum retlres from the shore
short distance, giving place 10 delightful litte
,tots grown UP with tall grass IN which drOves OIL
tame bufaloes. or white Bulgarian oxen, can be
seen as the steamer passes by. Inc bulgarian
hills have a barren appearance, but they are GOV,
cred with q rich bumus. which, II cultivated, would
andy reward the labOrs OF the husbandman.
Now and then fe1d Of Indian corn OF luxuraht
growth was almost the only indication OF sgrlcul-
iursl industry observed tor 200 miles along the
shore The action Of water in former times, as
sisted perhaps by other natural causes, has worn
these Bulgarian hills into curious and fantastic
shapes having in many instances the exact reseIn-
blance Of military works.
High walls of earth stretch along the river, or
crown the hills, as exactly and regular as Al they
Lad been artificial while here and there natural
forts and parapets and towers look as if the giants
had been at work in piing up immense iortressesi 70
defend old Danubius from below. The river ltse
from one third to half mile in width, loses all
interest below Wddin, and flows away 70 tie
Euxine. dark and sluggish stream. The swaInps
which line the Wallachian shore, especially al the
d,Iouehsus of the iew rivers flowing down from
the Carpathians, are the resort OF wolves ana
bears. and umense focks Of waterfowl take
fight TO their recesses frightened by the splash Of
an occasional steamer noticed some rare species
and especially many splendid pelicans, when al
lowed Ms 10 approach near without changing their
grQtesque positions.
Owing to the diseases which, at certain seasons,
prevail along the Danube from Pesth TO the Lux
me but more than al else 10 the caamites OF war;
that magnificent river has thus far been the enemy
rattle than the friend Of the nations inbabItlng It's
bspks It's numerous islands which, IN country
like our own. would have long ago become grea'
commercial marts are almost without al excep-
ton. uIinhabittd wastes, while, IN places where
the traveller expects to see smiling towns and
cities lie finds nothing but regions abandoned 70
silence and solitude. This is especially the case
along the lower Danube, where the lever the
plague and TIE mutual fear OF Turks and Chrls-
iiaus. have kept ia desolation one shore and the
other. Ii is only At certain fortified points that
the bulgarian bank appears TO be inhabited; and
these towns known even in the time OF the an
cieuts have. ia consequence Of the late Russian
cauuaicn acquired worldwide celebrity.
The mot important of them below Widdln are
RaLoya. Nicopolis, Sistona, Rustchuk and slll..
tria. As have not yet visited the Latter, l win
attempt 10 description ci it; but the main charac-
teristics Of the towns sbOye can be gwen IN lew
words. Rahoya ID an unimportant town OF 2Ovo
inhabitants. Ncopolis, contain ng IL, OVO inhaol'-
ants and situated about 100 miles below Wlddlnl H.
from its high and commanding position one OF the
strongest turkish posts along the line OF the Dan
ute. Sistora II miles below, is twice as large
az Nicopolis. while Rustchuk, about % miles
lower down has not less than 10000 inhabitants.
These three Turkish towns resemble each other
ain ost perfectly in appearance and position
Ncopolis, built by Trsjsn in honcrlot his We
tory over the Dacisn King Diabolus on the Nights
near the city, is situated upon two barren hills
and defended BY irregular lines of fortlheauon',
requiring a garrison Of 5000 men. The WORKS
on the land side are surrounded by deep moa'
fanked with bsstions. Opposite the town are STU
ated the old forts Eski and Jeni ksla short DIS