We passed on our road several caravans of Tchumaks, or Little Russians, with their fourwheeled carriages drawn by oxen. The particular construction of the Tchumak waggon is worthy of notice. The wheels are young trees, (elm, ash, oak, &c.), which being cut down, are stripped of the bark, split, and cut into proper lengths ; these are put over a strong fire, till they are bent sufficiently for the two ends to meet. This operation is effected by fixing them around a solid post, shaped for the purpose, which stands three or four feet above the ground. This work is often done in the woods, when the rim of the wheel is bent around one of the trees, and there they are shaped and burnt. Broad pieces of the bark of the lime tree, fastened to the frame of the body of the waggon, serve to hold the contents, such as salt and corn. Each waggon holds from one to two, and even two and a half tons weight of salt or corn. The Tchumaks travel in caravans oftwenty or forty waggons, or even more, together; and whenever they unyoke their oxen to feed them, they previously draw up the caravan to the side, ^r out of the main road, forming a square, or rather an oblong, with the waggons, placingthem close together in rows, and leaving only a sufficient interval between the rows to permit the drivers to pass, The extraordinary journies which these Tchumaks undertake with their loaded waggons is very remarkable setting out from Riga, or other post-towns of the Baltic, in the spring, when the snow is dissolved, and travelling to Moscow, Kaluga, Tula, &c. and then to the Black Sea, with corn, and returning laden with salt in the autumn.
For the conveyance of lighter goods, the telega, a cart drawn by one horse, is used; and the transport of goods in Russia by either of these means, is very cheap.
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We staid here only a few hours, and it was a cold snowy day, which prevented my going into the town. The gentlemen went to call on the Governor, Mr. Beresdina, who has established some manufactures on his property, and with whom Mr. Y. was previously acquainted. One of them, a fabric for blue broad-cloth, of a very fine and good quality, at fifteen rubles the archeen, which is two-thirds of an English yard.
From Sympheropol we soon journeyed on to Karasubazar. This is the first Tatar town, and is much more singular than pleasing:
narrow and irregular streets, presenting a most extraordinary number of shops, occupied by Tatars, Jews, Armenians, Russians, and Greeks. For the sale of fruit alone, there are said to be two hundred shops : here are dried fruits of all kinds ; apples in profusion ; nuts in great abundance, and so well preserved, that they are quite unlike, and much superior to the walnuts in England at this time ofyear. There seems about the same number of shops for the sale of Tatar shoes. Every article of sale brought into the Crimea, is to be had cheaper here than elsewhere. We staid a day and two nights, and made purchases of provisions, &c. to carry with us to Karagoss, and reached that place in the afternoon of the third ofFebruary, most thankful to have completed our undertaking, and arrived at our long-wished-for destination.