The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-05
JOurneying Through the Southeastern
DOminionS of the Car.
MOUNTS KASBEK AND ELBURZ.
A Rapid Ride Through the Great
Pass of Darlal.
EXTRAORDINARY ENGINEERING fMJMPHS

HEADQUARTERS RUSSIAN ARMY THE CAUCASUS,
TIFLIs, Georgia, June D. 1877.
Alter an exceedingly wearisome journey by rail from
Taganrog, the Sea of Azof ut last reached Vaa-
hicaucas or 1t is spelled, Vadkavkas right at the
foot OF the great Caucasian range on the 23d did
arrive until tho night had and the increas
Ing darkness seemed to bring out in stronger relief the
bold outlines OF the mountains that lay In 'front.' Tho
elect, however, was heightened by the moonlight
which ba,hed the entire landscape with soft svery
glow, cold but incxpressibly Deautful-here softenng
the rugged slopes OF the hills the delicate
shadows and there sharpening into ridges Of
light gray the treeess plateaus that stretch
In succession toward the great mountain wall
Mount Kasbek forty miles distant TO the southwark
lifted its sublime summit 500 feet above the level
and formed the central object OF the magnificent pic
ture Away 40 miles to the west could see IN the
moonlight the mighty snow clad dome Of Mount Eburz,
the king OF the Caucasus piercing the cloud shadows
and glowing above Thorn at height Of seventeen
thousand feet, like knob Of FURNISHED silver AS
foreground to this grand landscape had the Of
vaadcaucas with Its clean white buildings scattered
lights and busy streets thronged with strangers The
Terck flows through the town from the mountain val
leys above US TO the plains Of Stawropo its
to the distant Caspian Sea- The waters come cold and
clear from their elevated sources among the ravines
that corrugate the sides of Mount Kasbek and afford
welcome and refreshing draught thirsty souls the
plains during the hot summer weather.
The hotel at which stayed is quite nne estab-
lshment and is kept by Frenchman The gives
him plenty Of customers. for the town Is constantly
alied with travellers, who are as rule compelled to
remain here several days their journey takes
across the mountains found valadcaucas full of
good looking people, carriages and mud, which curious
combination, however, Goes appear to disturb the
philosophIc self possession OF the Inhabitants in the
least degree.
A GLANCE AT THE COUNTRY.
In our journey TO the base OF the by rail
had good opportunity Of observing the condition Of
the country through which passed, aud deem this
the best place give brief description Of It, On the
last 500 miles Of the railroad which terminates at vala-
dicaucas made the best speed that we
travelled since leaving Vienna. curious sight to
bs witnessed along the road in European Circassia
Is the women in charge of the railroad
switches. Their fathers husbands and away
ut the seat of war; and these poor women take their
places perhaps from necessity than patriotism.
Still they perform their duties very effectively and
the railroad traffic uninterrupted by any serious &C.
lcidents. From Odessa to vaadcaucas noticed tho
immense quantity OF hay that has been saved. 1t
looked as II other crop gathered the coun
try Immediately bordering on the railroad The other
crops said DO the best for ono hundred
years. and, indeed judging from what saw the
ment cannot be considered exaggcrat,on. The land
is like cultivated field all the way tho foot of the
mountains, ard the foothills covered with luxuri
ant grass up TO the edgo OF the timber lands which
tend high up the mountain Sides In parts tho country
is paradise Of beauty and fertility, but where tho
Circassians farms their farming OF the poorest
kind and easily recognized beside the well cultivated
tracts. The general mass of the population is poor
sl.l.
OF the land. Here and there blooming wheat
fields that promise plentiful harvest but other owl
denccs OF agricultural prosperity not so numerous
For instance, horses very scarce, and Of course
this reacts untavorabIy cultivation. But the land
Is so rich that even extraordinary disadvantages In the
matter Of farming facilities cannot affect the people
here as much as tney would in more unfrutiui dis
tricts If the Gear would encourage the cultivation of
small farms and the introduction OF American labor
saving farming implements, he would astonish Europe
with the productiveness Of this part OF his domnion
MINERAL RESOURCES AND MANUFACTURES
The resources oil the amazing country north OF the
Caucasus are scarcely dreamed OF by uropcans. Be-
sides It's agricultural productions and and val
liable forests the mineral wealth Is extraordinary
Iron and coal seem to be most Abundant indeed they
are here in inexhaustbe quantities. The only anthra-
cite coal known on the Continent OF Europe as dis
tnct from that in England, extends In a vast
bed from the Caucasus the Caspian Sea ana
the River Volga to the eastern interior see ndica
lions Of coal everywhere visited IN this country It
Is said to DO equal and In cases superior to the
best English coal But course tho necessity Tor the
development of this vast mineral wealth has not yet
arisen In this country 1t is reservoir Of power,
however, that Will materially assist Russia in strength
enng and extending her dominion in southwestern
Asia. Coal and iron the modern weapons OF con
wit hN md
steamship Russia has already established footing in
the East which no European combination, much less
single Power can new compel her to abandon Among
the manufactures OF this interesting country that of
the finest tempered sword blades. These made by
native cutters away up in the grassy. valleys OF the
mountains and equal to the very best Damas-
Gus blades. They will cold iron and
show no turning OF the edge flaw in the blade itself.
To a warKc people like the Circasslans this "lndus-
try" must have proved very important and useful.
Now that the rao has superseded tho sword the
blade makers have not 80 many customers as for
merly.
INTERESTING INHABITANTS.
The inhabitants OF the Cts Caucasian district are ex-
ccedngly interesting and picturesque. The CircassIan
men dress in long black coats, OF Gne
enough for promenade Broadway or the BouIc-
Yards. Tho boys and girls very bright As to the
Cossacks they line looking lot oil fellows and us
straight cedars. Their style oi riding exactly like
that OF the American Indian, with their knees wei |
drawn up They use padded saddles and very short
stirrups The women look moro and hard |
worked than the men, and tins must b, ascrbed the
fact that in addition their domestic abors they add
the greater part OF the farming work
POPULAR pEgLixG.
Thore s a great deal Of bitter feeling amous
Tho Russians against England for tho part
has taken in the present quarrel Whom tcll the
people here tnat Americans tioy pleased to
nnd we arc not English Tho mass OF the people III
Russia ike everything that Is American Ono cannot
help noIcng TINS popular feeling, even during lin
lted Intercourse with tbem. American goods
fsvorably received everywhere within the Czur's do
miuinns over Two thousand American sewing ma
chimes are sold annually IN ksrKon, a city OF about
Exty thousand Inhabitants. OWING to the manner IN
which Engaud has shown her sympathy ior Inc Turks
II will be almost Impossible hcceortn to soil En- -sh
goods mscnnory OF any kind IN Russia