The banks are high and steep, and in the centre of the stream there is a channel, about nine feet deep, all the way from Genitchi to the bridge of Tchongar. The use of the word " stream" may be objected to by those who are not aware that this sea presents the curious phenomenon of a steady current running from Genitchi west to Perekop, where there is no outlet whatever, so that there must be an under current out again, or, as the natives believe, a prodigious evaporation on the shoals at the extremity of the sea. Another interesting point our friends visited was the Fortress of Arabat, which, it may be recollected, was bombarded for several hours by the allied squadron of light steamers and gun-boats immediately after they entered the Sea of Azofl".
This bombardment was made much of at the time, and figures perhaps as one of those glorious achievements in that sea of which we have been recently astonished to hear. The fact is, however, that not only was little or no harm done to the fortress, but that the Russians claim it as a victory, and have promoted the officer who commanded for " beating oft' the allied fleet." Such will always be the result of an attack by sea on any land defences so long as the enemy retain one gun to five when the attack has ceased; and it appears bad policy to bombard any fortress, unless it is done with the determination of smashing and silencing every piece within its walls.
The Spit of Arabat was very little used at any time by 471 OUR GRAA^ES IN THE CRIMEA. the enemy, and a curious instance of the ignoi'ance of our chartmakers was discovered on referring to the sites of wells marked on the maps. There were no wells on the Spit at all, and that for the simple reason that they were not required. The water of the Sea of Azoff close to the Spit is quite fresh, and can be drimk with safety by man or beast. The salt lakes are very conspicuous features in the desolate scenery of northern Crimea. They are surrounded by very high precipitous banks; and the waters seem black from their great depth. One of these, Lake Veliki, is connected with Perekop by the line of redoubts, seven in number, recently constructed.
Wherever these abound, fresh water is rare, and the ^vells are deep. Each village has about two wells, and the supply is so small that it would take a day at any one station to water a regiment of cavalry. In the south there is abundance of fresh water, of blooming valleys, of fruit, corn, vines, and forest trees; but for the cultivation and growth of these, Russia is mainly indebted to the industrious German colonists. Kronthal, Neusatz, Friedenthal, Eosenthal, Zurichthai,, Heilbronn, and other villages founded by these industrious people, are patterns of neatness and frugal comfort. Most of the emigrants came from Wurtemburg, and they still think and speak fondly of " fatherland," but the Russians give them small ground for complaint. They are exempt from all military service for 100 years, and their only tribute to the State is a capitation tax of twenty silver roubles, which they are in general well able to pay.
It is now proposed to extend those settlements, and to introduce on a very large scale the system of military colonies, to be peopled by pure Russians. Vast as the population of Russia is in the aggregate, the extent of her territory is such that, in the present state of internal communication, it is difficult for her to concentrate troops, notwithstanding the ruthless system of conscription, compulsory levies, and percentage enlistments. Towards the end of the war, Sebastopol swallowed up her armies by whole divisions, and a battalion a-day was engulfed in the yawning craters of our shells. The march of a regiment through a country such as has been described was as fatal as a battle, and it was customary to estimate the reduction in strength caused by moving from Odessa to Sebastopol at 35 per cent, hors de combat.
During the worst days of its trials the Russian army in the Crimea lost 500 men a-day! This does not include casualties caused in the siege. The attention of theii" medical men has been directed to the enormous losses of their army, and to its extreme miliealthiness in campaigns; and a Board, consisting of a few of their most eminent men, has made minute inquiries into the medical administration of the allied armies. Tliey were greatly impressed with what they saw at Bahiklava, and one of them exclaimed, " We heard you were prepared for a three years' war; we lind j-^ou are ready for twenty." Throughout their long and interesting tour of fortytwo days on horseback, the little party, whose course I have briefly indicated, were received with the greatest kindness and hospitality by all the Russians except on one occasion.