On the coast of Bulgaria is Varna, at the mouth of a river, which forms a large lake and exten sive marshes; hence provisions are sent to Con stantinople. Istropolis, is a large village on the beach ; several shoals lie off it, which oblige vessels to anchor a league to the south. Its principal export is corn.
From Kara-Kerman to Actiar, in the Crimea, the coast is very low, and the shoals farmed by the ri vers run off a considerable distance. The Danube empties itself into the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Bossarabia, by seven mouths, among swampy islands and shifting banks. The most frequented mouth is 100 fathoms wide and S fathoms deep ; its stream runs out at the rate of three miles an hour. So great is the extent over which the waters of this river diffuse themselves, from the shallowness of the sea, that at the distance of three leagues from its mouth the water is almost sweet, and within one league it is perfectly fit for use. A very singular appearance takes place in the mouths of the Da nube ;—.the porpoise, which every whore else exhi bits a dark colour, is there perfectly white • hence, as soon as the Greek mariners descry the white pot.
poise, they have no doubt that they are in the cur. rent of the Danube, although in 30 fathoms water, and many leagues distant from its mouth. Oppo site the mouths of this river, is Serpents Island, al ready noticed. Kilia-nova, belonging to Austria, is a port of small consequence, at one of the mouths ; it might, however, be rendered highly important, by vending the productions of Hungary, if the na vigation of the river were not obstructed by the jealousy of the Turks.
The Russian province of Cherson is divided from Bossarabia by the Dniester Tyres. A bank before it. forms two channels ; that on the west, called the channel of Constantinople, is 150 fathoms broad ; and that on the east, called the channel of Ockzakoff, 80; neither have more than eight feet water. Akerman, on the south bank of this river, has some export trade in corn, wool, wine, wood, hides, and butter. Between the Dniester and Dnieper stands Odessa, the most flourishing port in the Black Sea. It owes its prosperity, not so much to any natural advantages, as to the wise administration of the Duke of Riche lieu, while he was governor of this province. It is situate close to the coast, which is here very lofty, and much exposed to the winds, especially to the east. In order to render it a safe and commodious port, the Duke caused a harbour to be formed, in which ships of no small burden may ride secure from every storm. He also built a large mole, extending half a werst into the sea ; several smaller ones, and a handsome quay, one werst and a half long. The roads without the port are safe in summer, and the anchorage good. Odessa labours under the want of navigable river, and a great scarcity of fresh wa ter. In the year 1805, 595 vessels were entered at
this port, of which 27 were under the English flag ; 264 were Austrians, owned by the merchants of Trieste, but employed as the carriers of Spain and Portugal. In the year 1816, up to the 28th of June, 498 ships had entered Odessa, bringing merchan dize to the value of one and a half million of rubles, besides a very large quantity of specie. During the same period, there sailed 246 ships laden with Rus sian produce, to the amount of 15,220,000 rubles, including above 324,000 quarters of wheat. The principal imports are wine, chiefly French, some rum, raw silk, coffee, sugar, oil, soap, sulphur, fruit, linen cloth, &c. but all in very limited quantities. The great article of export is wheat, which, however, in the opinion of Mr Macgill, is very far inferior to that of Taganrock, being soft, and apt to heat ; be sides this, grain, rye, barley, oats, tallow, and tallow candles, beeswax, iron, hemp, &c. are exported.
The Dnieper, Borysthenes, which separates the Russian provinces of Cherson and Taurida, forms, near its mouth, a shallow and marshy lake, two and a half miles broad, abreast of Ockzakoff, but more at the confluence of the Bog. The entrance is al most closed by shifting sand banks, between which, there is seldom more than five feet water. The Bog, Hypanis, falls into the gulf of Leman, or estuary of the Dnieper. There is a very small island opposite the mouth of the latter river, almost inaccessible on account of its perpendicular cliffs of rock and clay. Ocksakoff is a small port, lying at the junction of these rivers ; its harbour is perfectly secure, but the little trade it formerly possessed, has been drawn away to Odessa. Opposite to Ockzakoff is Kilburn, which, before the building of Cherson, was intended by the Russians as the principal depot for the mer chandize sent from the provinces bordering on the Dnieper. The extension of the Russian dominions on the west, bas caused even. Cherson, on the right bank of the Dnieper, to be superseded by Odessa. Yet corn, hemp, and other articles of exportation, are so much cheaper, and more plentiful here, that many foreign vessels still prefer this port, though they are obliged first to perform quarantine, and un load their cargoes at Odessa. The is five . miles wide at Cherson, but only vessels that draw six feet can ascend to it. The Russians, however, have a large arsenal here, and build line-of-bat tle ships, which are floated down the river on machines, and afterwards conveyed to Ockzakoff to be equipped. Nicolaef, on the Bog, a fine river, without bar or cataract, with deep, still water, is the station for vessels when built, and here they are laid up to be repaired. It has extensive marine arsenals, being the sent of the Russian marine admi. nistration on the Black Sea.