MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS.

their brethren of the low-lands, are fufficiently happy if the _are in poffefiion ofa fat fheep and as much bread as ferves them to eat.

About 18 years ago, this penin- fula was uncommonly full of inha- bitants and wealth. They reckoned at that time at lealt 1200 villages ; but, from the late troubles in the Krim, it has lofi more than a third part of its inhabitants; and now, wherever we turn, we meet with the ruins of large villages and dwel- lings. The people was compofed of various nations, who lived to- gether under the Tartars in the molt unbounded freedom; but, in the late Turkilh war, they either put themfelves under the Ruflian

’ government, and were transferred

to that empire, or fled to Abcafia and the Tfchirkaflian hills. Thehoufes in the towns, as well as the villages, are, for the molt part, of fquare timbers, having the interfiices filled with brick work, if the poffeifor can afford it, and thofe of the poorer fort with turf. The chinks and crannies are made tight with clay, and then plaltered within and without. The covering is commonly either of brick or of turfs. Only the med- fcheds, minarets, and baths, are of Itone, and a few extremely hand- fome, of marble. They have chim- nies in the chambers, at which they likewife drefs their viftuals; but fioves in the Ruflian manner none. In extreme frolls a great iron pan of charcoal is brought into the room, for making it comfortable. Their cuftom is, to {it upon low lb- fas, with Turkiih coverings and culhions, or-upon a clay feat, {ome- what raifed above the earth, and fpread with a carpet. In thefe rooms are cupboards and chefis, of-

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ten covered with cufhions, to ferve as feats, in which they keep their gold, filver, and valuables. Such are the inner apartments, or harems, in which the women generally live ; the others are not f0 fine. Thefe contain only a fofa, or a bank of clay, covered with a carpet, as in the chimney rooms.

The cloathing of the Tartars is f0 well known, thatI {hall not give myfelf or your readers the trouble of going through its defcription.

The rich Tartars, and their no- bility, or murzas (excepting only fuch as are about the perfon of the khan) commonly dwell, all the year round, in the country, coming only to town when they have butiner? there. There are but few towns in the Krim, at leaf} in compariion of its former population. The Krim- ikoi Tartars have n0 tribunal of jufiice, controverfies and qtiarrcis being feldom heard ofamong them : and if a difpute {hould ariic, it i; immediately fettled by an appeal to the Koran. Little differences in the villages inevitably happening. about property, or other nttttt-er; not taken notice of in that code. are amicably adjulled by the elder- men, or abeles; but in the towns all weighty concerns, excepting the fingle cafe of murder or homicide, are brought before the kaimakan, or commandant, who fettles them ab"- folutely, without appeal.

The relidence of the khans of the Krimea was formerly Bachtlichifarai, in which city they held their {eat for upwards of zco years. They went thither from Efki-liriru, or Old Krim, the capital city of the Genpefe, upon Bengii Ghireikhaifs plundering the fen-ports, and driv- ing all the Genoefe from their lla- tions. Before Eflai-llrim, 2nd in-

K z dated