The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-06-14

Dehlnos considerably to the Rmuse.
ment of some passers- by. The Turks
use stiff curb bits, and always
ride with peaked saddle, and stir
rup almost like an open slipper. not
unlike those of the Arabs.
On this trip we saw them blowing.
Gas Ia parts of Mexico), with the old
Roman ploW. crooked stick. turning
the loose earth about as much as a
shovel-ploW would; it is guided by
a single handle. which forms part Of
the original limb selected, and is
drawn by two or four oxen. The cat
tie are usually attached by traces,
20 Ing from single separate yokes,
connected by q chain, The soil,
where the peasant was blowing. con-
sisted chiefly of disintegrated basalt,
which prevails in the hills around
Pera and Scutari. In conclusion I
may say the Turks seem good temp
cred, strong. especially the porters,
and not indolent; and, considering
the climate, not SO dirty as I had ex-
peeted from description.
RUSSIAN STEAMERS AND THE BLACK
SEA.
Converting our twenty -piastre pieces
and our single piastres and paras "a
piastre is about equal to about four
and half cents) into rubles and
copecs, each ruble being worth from
sixty five to eighty cents, depending
partly upon the value of their paper
and rate of exchange, we took our
passage for Odessa, in the after cabin
of Russian steamer. The fare was
good and abundant, the wine Cri-
mean, the company nearly all Rus
sian, and the accommodations fair.
Some quite respectable persons we're
In the second or forward cabin, one
man OF science, another an official
in the English Company's employ at
kertsch, and their cabin and births
seemed tolerably comfortable. The
deck passengers, Americans, Turks,
Tartars, men and women, with large
/ bundles Of bedding and provisions,
made themselves as comfortable as
the space would admit Of.
At Odessa, after a good toss
through the surf, IN a small boat, to
the Custom House, early in the day,
and stroll about town, exchanging
some Rapoleons for paper rubles with
street broker, we took, in the even
ing, larger Russian steamer, bound
for Sevastopel. Upon this the meals
and accommodations were about as
before, the Russians usually begin
ming with a small glass of liquor,
some caviar. olives, anchovies and
the like, as appetizers. Then came
many courses, changing plates, knives
and forks. every time; then dessert,
fruit, ETC., there being usually, be-
sides the fine grapes of the Crimea,
peaches, apples and pears, sometimes,
also, a white muskmelon.
The voyage from Constantinople to
Odessa was made over a smooth sea.
although the vessel rolled and made
a geed many persons seasick; but this
larger vessel, although we met some
equinoctial wind. plowed through
waves, high for the Black Sea, and
rode so we'll that scarcely any one
seemed affected by the motion. The
engines were powerful. the officers at
tentive to their duty (although some
of them lack the politeness of the
French and Germans) so that alto
gether the Black Sea was more pleas
ant than We anticipated, considering
the season. 1t was, however, quite
cool, and we should have suffered at
night, as the Russian custom is only
to furnish linen bed clothing, had we
not been provided with a heavy trav-
cling shawl and overcoats.
/ ought to have mentioned that on
arriving at Odessa, previous to en-
barking for the Crimea, before we
were permitted to land. all the pas
eengers were assembled in the second
cabin, except the ladies. and after
presenting their passports te two oth
GERS. seated at the table with large
books before them, had rigid inves.
tigation made through the books to see
that no one was on the list of those
prohibited to enter. At least such I
gathered from the questions about
our having been in Russia before, and
the time it took to examine the
alphabetical lists. These officers were,
however, very polite, and on fading
as interested in science, had two
channel. ons brought ro-nd for our
inspection. which they had in a
basket. We were informed that in /
two or three hours we would find our |
passports at the Police Headquarters, |
in Odessa. and meantime were fur |
nished with small slip of paper,
which permitted our landing and |
having our baggage examined at the |
Custom House. [ may also add that |
the town of Odessa still keeps mp its
commercial reputation, as great /
shipping mart for the reception of
grain. hides, tallow, wool and fruit,
from the Lower Danube, Southern
Russia, the Crimea ard Caucasus
region, for expectation to various
parts of the world, by way of the
Mediterranean.
Finding tais letter, however. al
ready sufficiently long, I will defer all
details regarding the Crimea, which
will be my next subject, until a
80 bsequent communication.
Verv 4r4rlu va41ro