Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-05-12


When the lunch appeared, the Grand Duke
went round from table 10 table, sitting few
moments at each, and talking 10 the differ
ent groups Of ladies and gentlemen. The
Grand Duchess, also, by her presence and
charmed the company. A more
cordial and elegant hospitality than the
American tourists met with at Orlando that
day, it would be impossible to hnd-on that
point all were agreed.
Yalta, which is the chief town on the Cri-
mean coast, has grown very fast within the
last three years. Nestled down close TO the
foot Of the mountains and on the very shore,
IL looks very cosy from the sea. All about
on the hill-sides are villas and gardens. Dur
ing the past winter an excellent hotel was
opened, 30 the traveller may find all the com
forts of civilized life in this Crimean Nice
During the few hours that the steamer ree
inained in port, we were able TO take drive
in the environs the road was sort Of wind
ing labyrinth. going uphill all the time, and
affording new views at every turn. The
change Of temperature could be easily felt
we seemed TO be passing different layers or
strata of air, each cooler than the one imne-
diately below. When We had arrived at such
n height that the town and the bay, with two
or three ships and cur steamer floating on It's
surface, seemed spread out like great pic
ture far beneath Us, the air had become 80 cool,
that an extra wrapping was quito grateful
to the feelings. We enjoyed, for few mo,
ments, the varied and interesting panorama
then requested our Tartar TO turn his horses
heads homeward. As the carriage rolled on
rapidly, the air grew milder and milder with
the descent. When we arrived in Yalta, the
air was sultry; the little town was bustling
with life, and the last rays Of the sun gilded
the mountain-top,. There is great mixture
II population at Yalta Tartars were the
only inhabitants before the Russian occupa-
tion, which took place about one hundred
years ago, under the auspices of Prince Po-
tempkin, the most powerful amongst the
favorites Of Catherine H.
Since those days the country has become
well Russianized The Tartars are to be
found only as ooachmen, fruit-venders,
guides, laborers aud cottagers, The upper
class of Tartars have either become Russian,
in name, language and religion, or have gone
TO Turkey. There is still enough left in the
Crimea Of the Tartar modes Of living, 10
show what an immense change Russian do
minion has wrought In Tartar times the
only roads were bride paths; now you have
a splendid macadamizod road along the
whole coast, with ever-changing views Of sea
and shore. On one side towering cliffs, two
or three thousand feet high on the other, the
blue sea, with strip Of gardens and vine
Yards on the slope below, between the road
and the water At long intervals small
Tartar village is seen with low and dingy
one-.tory houses. You look at this monoso-
nous clump of huts, and then at the elegant
villas which dot the land on every side, aud
cannot help seeing that in this country two
races Of unequal power hava met and that
the weaker is being absorbed by the stronger.
At little village inst outside Of Yalta, the
following incident took place, which |
thought significant at the time: Two little
boys began a wrestling match-one Russian,
the other Tartar They seemed to be OF
equal strength, and struggled 50 stubbonlly
that they soon drew large crowd which
naturally formed into two parties-a Russian
and a Tartar one--each anxious for the
success OF its representative, and leaving
nothing undone to encourage its little cham
pion to put forth al the strength aud skill
he possessed. Blood at length told, and little
Ivan, for that was the Russian boys name,
after tough struggle, whirled his opponent
around and landed him safely on the ground !
in a moment he had his knees on his breast,
and the battle was fought and won. This
wrestling match between the boys, is to a
certain degree picture OF Russia's history,
in regard to the races about her. Though
the struggle was long and obstinate, in most
cases, and in some desperate, Russia has al
ways succeeded in having thu last word to say,
A little after dark We left Yalta, and OF
the remainder Of the coast have not much
to say, for passed it in the night. Toward
the sea OF Azoff, the coast is monotonous,
presenting little of interest, except in the
neighborhood of kertch. There is rock
between Kertch and Feodosia, a considerable
distance from the shore. and in the ordinary
path Of navigation, which at distance might
easily be mistaken for a ship. In fact the
resemblance is so striking, that it is known
as the stone-ship."
At two o'clock, in the afternoon, we ar
rived at Kertch, town Of great age, and, il
some respects, interesting even now. Itwa
founded by the Greeks before the Christian
era, and later became fourishing city, a.
the capital of the kingdom OF Pontus, whos'
last king was the celebrated Mithridates
who struggled stubbornly with the power o
Rome, but in vain. The town at presen
has about ten thousand inhabitants F; has on,
hotel that is barely passable, and two o
three others that should not like TO live in
As railroad is to be built to connect kertcl
with the line now open TO Sebastopol, all tn
passengers for the Caucasus and the Eas
will go to Kertoh by rail instead Of Sebasto
pol or Odessa, as at present. No doubt the ~
| tufe Will give tnc toWH COUstucrdDie III
portance as q point Of transit between th
East and the West. One of the most anu,
ing points in Kerteh is the marketplac,
where everything is sold either in the ope
air, or under temporary booths. Old wome
are sitting in rows on the ground-some wit
pitchers of cream or milk, others with egg
chickens, frnt or vegetables, for sale. A
these commodities are sold at reasonabl
prices, and living isquite cheap, A particr
lar part OF the market Is devoted 10 waite
melons, OF which there are an immense nun
bef in the season. They are celebrated Q
being the finest in Southern Russia. / al
my share OF large one II was of del
cious flavor and taste-thc best have ev,
eaten. On returning from the market, sa
what was TO me great noyelty--a lars
drove Of sheep, with goats assisting the shel
herds instead OF dogs. One old goat, VIII
seemed to bear the chief responsibility fc
the good eonduet Of the flock, was ruDnin
around continually, keeping the sheep +
gether, and seemed 10 perform his dati'
} with great intelligence, On inquiry, WI
told that it was quite common to train goa
| L., tl.ta v,au al That faxu exnata xrara a