In vain did the Sardinian engineers throw out gentle hints about the propriety of erecting a couple of epaulements, and point out divers hills and heights peculiarly suited for a redoubt; they turned a deaf ear to all these suggestions, and, except the works which had been previously thrown up by the Piedmontese, when they held some of the positions which are now guarded by the Turks, not a shovelful of earth has been turned up on this side towards the enemy. This would seem so much the more surprising, as the Turks had become notorious by their mania for fortification, which the works on the Danube, at Kalafat, Giurgevo, and Eupatoria show, if we did not remember that every abuse is followed by a reaction.
I suppose the Turks are now under the influence of this. Perhaps they will get an opportunity of showing to the world that they can tight as well without f alias, as witli them. I should not be in the least degree surprised at sucli a result were the threatened attadc of the Russians to take place. If the Russians came down in force to the valley of Eaidar, they would not only liave the WoronzoH" and the upper road to advance by, but they could besides move infantry as well as artillery over a bye path which leads from Euyuk IMiskomia over the Tirkakaiari mountain ridge skirting the left bank of the Tchernaya. This route would bring them on the flank of the Turks.
In spite of the continued absence of Omar Pasha, I think they would be well received, for the game would be simply to stick to the position without manoeuvring, and in such a case, even Osman Pasha, the commander ad interim, could scarcely fail sf success. Yesterday the Turks celebrated their Korban Bairam, and there was no end of sweetmeats and visiting. The solemnity of the occasion seems to have acted powerfully on their religious feelings: for in passing through their camp at the hours of praver whole battalions might be seen going through their prayers and prostrations. Each battalion has a space cleared for prayer, which is provided with the few arrangements which their simple worship requires. Some of them have only a stick planted in a south-easterly direction; but others have gone much further, and have made enclosures of earth or wiclcerwork pulpits, and in one place even a minaret has been erected in a most primitive way — it consists of nothing but slender poles interwoven with branches of brushwood.
By coming in contact with Europeans the Turks do not seem to have lost any of then* zeal for their religion, and although no one is forced to take part in the prayers, there are but few absentees from service, particularly in the evening. I mentioned in my last letter, that the French cavalry division and the two battalions of infantry which had quitted the valley of Baidar during the day of the attack, had returned the same evening, and occupied their old position. As the Englisli cavalry, which had previously held the post, did not return, the French had to guard not only the road leading down from Ozenbash, but likewise the Woi'onzoff road towards the sea. The infantry made several reconnaiysances on the heights around as far as the plateau leading to the Upper Belbek, but the}' did not remain, in consequence of the want of water.
They likewise made excursions along the sea-shore, which is entirely deserted nearly up to Yalta. However, there must be some apprehension of an attack on this side, for I saw a portion of the Dragoons returning this evening by the Woronzoff-road. The infantry has very likely retired to the ridge separating the Baidar Yalley from that of Varnutka, as they did last time. Two companies of the English 89th Regiment are stationed in the Varnutka valley, making gabions, for which there is abundance of brushwood in the vicinity. They had been "before near the Turkish camp, but were withdrawn a day or two previous to the late attack; the day after they went again to Varnutka. Besides these English troops, there are the men of three French batteries and a part of the French 62nd Regiment of Infantry also emploj^ed preparing gabions.
Moreover, every day the Piedmontese and Turks furnish a number of gabions to the French and English. The demand seems I'abulous. Every day, rows of artillery waggons come to carry them away. I hear the intention is to replace all the sandbags which had been employed in the trenches by gabions, as the former are quite rotten; the works, which are daily extending, absorb a great many of them, as it has been thought necessary, on account of the proximity of the enemy's guns, to give the trenches the breadth of three gabions. The gabions being aboiit half a metre in diameter, six gabions are required for each metre by which the trenches are advanced. August 25. Notwithstanding all the predictions and preparations, the night has passed tranquilly, and without the slightest interruption.