England,' he said, 'because unlike my first collection now at St. Petersburg, placed beyond the reach of students, the English will render this easy of access; but it may perhaps go to Austria, for I do not forget the condescension of the Emperor, who sent for me when I passed through Vienna, and showed by his conversation that he took the deepest interest in the people I am so proud to represent' ' The first collection of ancient MSS.,
which it had taken the Rabbi a long life-time to get together, is at the Imperial library, St. Petersburg, and bears his name; it is unique of its kind, many MSS. being anterior to the ninth centur>-. The Imperial Government paid loo.ooo roubles for its acquisition. ' Since ihe Jenlh of Ihc Rabbi PhyrkovJleli in 1874, al Ihe age of 84, M. Halciy of St. Petersburg, and Dr. Struck oflterlin, liavelKcn sent toTchyfoul-Katehto etitoinc and report upon the lateE^l collection made by the Kabbi, uith ■ view to its being purchased from his heirs by the State.
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of which sum the Rabbi is stated to have received 60,000 roubles only!
The Rabbi Phyrkovitch told us, that he was doing his utmost to induce his co-religionists to return to their forlorn homes on the ' rock,' and reinstate themselves in their ancient properties and positions. They hesitated to answer his summons, and although there were three families only in Kyrkyer besides his own, the old custom of closing the gates at sunset was strictly observed.
The Rabbi conducted us to the crypts on the north side of the rock; they are provided with reclining niches, corn pits, and other conveniences, and were originally, in all probability, the dwellings of Tauro-Scj'thians. He next directed us to the entek, or 'Valley' of Jehoshaphat, the burial-place, for many ages, of the descendants of the Tsadykym. In a dense grove of splendid oaks are the white tomb-stones and monuments of the Karalms, lying thickly together, except in one small space, where is pointed out the grave of Isaac Sangaris (and that of his wife), who converted the Khozars to Judaism, and died 767 a.d. (See Illustration.)
The most ancient inscription discovered in this interesting cemetery, is believed to be of the year 30 A.D.; it" runs thus: 'The rabbi Moses Levi, died in the year 726 after our exile' That is to say, 726 years after the carrying away of the ten tribes out of Samaria, 696 years before the birth of our Lord.' Another inscription of antiquity records that 'Zadok the Levite, son of Moses, died 4,000 years after the creation, 785 after our exile.' (89A.D.)' A third inscription of interest, deciphered by the late
' Sm 3 Kings xvii. 6, and xviil. 10, for the taking of Samaria by Shalman- «er(7Ji B.C.).
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Kabbi and quoted by Chwolson, records the death of Elihu (iz6i), who perished in a conflict with the Genoese!
The tomb-stones are very varied in form, some being in the shape of a sarcophagus, others like coffins or kystes, but the more remarkable are finished off with upper head and foot-stones.
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CHAPTER XLVI.
EIGHTY-FOURTH DAY.
ValleyofKaraless-Maneoup-Kaleh— Ancient Remains — A Royal Crypt— The Goths — The Khozars— Mangoup or Teodoro— A Night at a Tatar Residence— Hospitality.
At eight in the morning of our second day at BaghtchasaraT, we left the town with an old guide named Said, whom we engaged at 3 roubles for the day, 3 roubles being paid for each horse. Said conducted us by the Empress Catherine road, over the dried beds of the rivers Katcha and Belbeck, to the vineyards and rich orchards in the Souryenn valley, where we turned off the main road to enter the Karal&skaya dalj-na. A charming forest track beneath the nigged Kalbash cliffs, leads past Kabardah on the Belbeck (at one time the chief village of the Tcherkess), to the village of Orto Karaless, ' middle Karaless,' the estate of the Tatar princess Balatoukoff, at whose residence, Assanaza, we presented a card of introduction. The princess's husband, the motirza Abdouramantchykoff, came out to meet us, and we followed him into the harem, apartments, as he informed us, reserved ' for friends of the family,' when koursous were immediately brought in, and coffee and sweets served. The princess appeared shortly after, attended by half-a-dozen young girls, and entered freely into conversation, the mourza, who spoke Russian fluently, acting as interpreter.
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