We staid one day and two nights, for the gentlemen to see some flocks of Spanish sheep, and taboons of horses, in the neighbourhood. The proprietors of esates here, keep large flocks of sheep and herds of cattle on their land, as the easiest and most profitable way of consuming its produce. Two, three, or five hundred horses are kept by one individual, and flocks and herds in proportion. There is one proprietor in this country, who possesses an estate of 50,000 desaiteens, and a flock of 50,000 sheep. He is a Frenchman, by name Reuvere, and is the original introducer of the Spanish sheep into South Russia. The Government promised to give him a desaiteen of land for every Spanish sheep he imported, and he agreed to bring 100,000, but completed only the half of what he engaged to do. This flock was out of our present route, but they saw that of a Mr. Pictet, a Swiss gentleman, living near Coblevka, who had 6000 or 7000 Spanish sheep. Mr. Renard's flock, at Karaneeka, was said to be 5000. The common flocks, or, as they are called, the Tsegaiskie sheep, are from Moldavia, and generally from 1000 to 2000 in a flock. The management of these sheep is very different from the system pursued in England. They require being housed through the severe cold of the winter ; and are kept within high walled yards, to prevent the depredations of the wolf, which is here a frequent ravager.
The Bog, at the place we crossed, was three versts over. Our stay at Odessa had been prolonged, in consequence of its being considered unsafe to pass, and it was only the return of frost two nights before we left that place, that encouraged us to hope it might now be practicable ; but when we reached the usual passage, wewere told it was impossible; that the ice was so broken up, no men would venture to take us. Mr. Renard's village, where we slept, was five versts from this place ; and not having had an equal number of passengers, the, pass there appeared more likely to be safe. Having ascertained this the preceding night, after an early breakfast we set out for that part of our expedition, which, from the variable state of the weather, and the account of accidents that had reached us at Odessa, I had looked forward to with much dread. The carriages were got to the river-side, and drawn over by a number of men ; myself and the children, and servant, went G2 over in sledges, with eight or ten men to each, to draw us, and the gentlemen walked. The ice was thawing fast, and inmany places cracked, and very thin ; but in other parts, where they had cut holes for the purpose of fishing, the pieces of ice taken out were nine inches thick. I satin silent terror the whole way; yet feeling fully confident that the power of God was allsufficient to protect us, if in his mercy he saw fit to do so.
Divested of the danger, it was a beautiful scene; but the greatest pleasure I experienced from it, was reaching the opposite side in safety ; and much reason had we to rejoice, as was immediately after proved. We were compelled to leave part ofour carriages behind, until we could send post-horses from Nicolayeff for them, and we learnt from the servants, that in one hour after we passed, two carriages going over with horses, broke the ice ; the carriages fell in, and the horses narrowly escaped ; this happened a second time, and again they had the good fortune to get out. After these, no carriages ventured to attempt passing there ; and the breaking up of the rivers unavoidably caused some days' stoppage of the communication.
Sometimes a passage is cut through the ice for the ferry-boat, if the thaw be not rapid enough to prevent the necessity of doing it.
Nicolayeff is five versts beyond this passage of the Bog ; the road thither, a heavy sand. There is a good trade carried on in fish, of which a great profusion is brought fresh to market, which is bought extremely cheap ; salt fish is likewise sold in large quantities. We purchased a sudac, weighing twelvepounds, for one rubleand twenty kopeeks, which in Englishmoney is one shilling; or, one penny per pound.
Here are a large navalacademy, and an hospital, both occupying a great space of ground, and having a very good appearance. There is also a small dock-yard, in which an eighty-four gun ship was then building. We staid for horses one night at Nicolayeff, and then proceeded. There are three stations between that place and Cherson, where we arrived late in the evening ; but finding horses, we determined to go forward, and the next stage brought us to the side of the river Ingul, a branch ofthe Dnieper. The wind blew hard, and the rain ( the first we had seen since we left Riga), fell heavily. As there was a considerable quantity of ice in the river, and the night was so stormy, (the wind driving against the passage), the men refused to take us over ; which compelled us to remain until the following day.