The New York herald., 1870-07-29
Russian Aristocracy Amusements, Reli-
gion, Penance and the Army.


From Russia and Turkey, and by mail from Eng
land, we have the following special correspond
ence from West Asia reporting tho tour Of a
HERALD special writer In the Caucasus. It is un-
necessary to particularize tho many and most
useful points of interest embraced In the commu-
nication. The letter Is q complete triumph in the
way of newspaper correspondence enlightenment,
and will consequently be read universally, coming
Europe spread"
TIrLIs, Georgia. May 2s, 1870.
The last letter Of your tlnesating special was
written from Constantinople. From Constantine
pie to Tilis is long stretch of journey. 1t In
cudes voyaging by sea, by river, riding on horse
back and long drive in troick over 200 miles
Of ground. Though an interesting country and
one not much known to Americans, it is one which
imposes upon me task of some magnitude
as think of the many things have to write
about, and / wonder as I am about to begin
whether shall be able to recite all l have seen:
whether shall be able to remember all the SUBJ
jects that had or have relation to the sea, the
land and the people I saw; whether shall be
able to do do justice to my theme.
IN THE EUxINE
When left COnstantinople the good people Of
Pera were inquiring of one another what time
good weather, bright sun and early summer were
due on the Bosphorus; for they were much in
doubt whether the wet days Of spring and the
chilly thin frost would ever cease. But the very
next morning, when the steamer which bore me
was out at sea, riding the pellucid waves of the
Euxine, close inland, with the northern coast of
Bithynia towering above its pebbly beach, if the
people OF Constantinople experienced the same
warmth and glow of that bright day which we
did their surmises must have been laid at rest
Early summer had dawned with that day
1t is at all times pleasant and agreeable
to contemplate, especially in view of verdurous
heights, slopes and hooks, with white cottages
cleaning through lemon and orange and mild
greenuess of olive foliage. Just such picture
as have described the coast of Bithynia, laved
by the pargent surf of the Black Sea, presented :;
and as looked and regarded the long, winding
culving frontage of the Bithynian Mountains,
and cast my eyes aloag the white line to
get views of snug little bends in the shore and
the little villages. low and whitewashed, fiat
rooted and minareted here and there, and read
the everyday life of the present inhabitants, and
mentally sketcbed the capabilities of the happy
land before us, which was just as near to us and
as difficult to reach as the Paradise Of the Chris
tian, / tried to think and bring out of the
classical recesses of memory something of it's
past history; something that should add
reverence-the reverence of student to
my admiration of it. We steamed past
ruins of colonies planted by tho Milesii;
OF which you can only trace but slight history
and that of not much Importance, for the coast
towns Of Northern Bithynia were never very much
celebrated. Close to the boundary line between
Paphlagonia and Bithynia lived the Caucones,
originally of Arcadia. Between the modern Ereglo
and Oufe Kilmole lived the Tyndaridac In the
modern Tilias river you recognize the Billaens Of
the ancients.
few hours after and we were gliding past the
coast of Paphlagonia and came to Ineboli, where
we landed a score of the natives and were both
cred for the time we stayed in port by the hope
less confusion of score of barbarous voices.
Ineboli is the ancient Iouopolis of the Iones
Leaving lnebol we continued eastward, the same
range of lofty mountains continuing on our right,
which sometimes approached close to the sea and
then reached q few miles inland. Sinope is the
next stopping place of the Russian Steam Navga-
ton Companys steamers. 1t is built near the
site of the ancient Sipope, which is cee-
brated in history as being the birth
place of the cynic philosopher, Diogenes.
The modern Sinope has of late years been cele-
brated for being the scene of the descent of the
Russian fleet against the Turkish which was as
sudden aud certain as death in its destruction of
the Turkish ships and fort. Sinope has good
harbor, but is open to Improvement. 1t has quite
recovered the blow Russia gave it and NAV be
said to be prospering.
From Sinope to SAMSON is but few hours
distance by steamer 1t lies at the base of and on
the slopes of hill, forming wide arc A por-
tion of the town, or old SAMSON, is constructed
on square platform projecting from the hill
behind it, and is surrounded by wall, turreted
and lowered. The houses of the new town stretch.
suburban-like, either flank far up the hill and
along the beach. Some very fine houses are seen.
with perpendicular fronts, surrounded by gardens
and orchards. The great road to Lirvas and
Diarbekir-brown and dusty--is seen shooting
up the slope and far over the tumble of
nils beyond. To its right and left are
lofty mountains. Through those to the right the
kayzil lrmak the ancient Hays, makes its way,
pouring into the Black Sea and muddying its
waters for miles around its mouth. The Hays
as many OF your readers will remember, is the
scene OF Cr9sus' defeat who misinterpreted the
oracle words eff CrGsus passes over the
nalyS he snail destroy great empire !" which
proved 10 De no other than his own, which. on his
oeieat, was reduced to a Persian province. Two
small oatteries OF six guns each are all that pro-
tect this important harbor, which is the entrepot
Tor the rich grain fields of the interior of Asia
Minor. SAMSON has not what may be exactly
called harbor, it being nothing but an open bay
probably two miles from end to end. The sbina