The southern coast of the Crimea is lofty and precipitous ; the mountains beginning at Balaclara, Symboli, and extending to Caffa, Theodosia. Some of these are celebrated in antiquity, and are no less remarkable for their formation and appearance. The mountain Tchedirdagh, Trapezus, rises rapidly from the coast about Allude to the height of 1200 or 1300 feet; it exhibits a mass of limestone very compact, of a grey colour, and according to Pallas, upon friction, slightly foetid. The remarkable head lands of the Crimea are Cape Tarcbanskoi, called by the Tartars Aya-Burun, or the Sacred Promon tory, probably the Parthenium of Strabo ; one of the loftiest mountains in the Crimea, terminating ab ruptly in the sea, and forming the west point of the Peninsula. It consists of marble. On the south point is Cape Aria, Criu-Metopon, formerly no. ticed.
The first port of note on the west coast of the Crimea is Kosloff, or Eupatoria, from which, in 1793,' 176 vessels were freighted with corn, salt, and lea ther; but at present, its commerce is nearly annihi lated. Sevastopel, formerly Actiar, Ctenus, is the chief station of the Russian Black Sea fleet, no mer chant ship being allowed to enter it, except in dis tress. The natural advantages of this harbour are very great. The largest vessels lie within a cable's length of the shore. The harbour is divided into three coves, something resembling that of Malta. The principal branch runs east, and is terminated by the valley and little river of Inkerman. the fleets of the world might ride secure, and have con venient anchorage ; and in any of the ports, vessels find from 21 to 70 feet depth of water, and good anchorage. On a tongue of high land between the two southern creeks stands the Admiralty and store houses. The great bay of Actiar also bears the name of the Roads, and here the Russian fleet is fre quently at anchor. The port of Balaclara is rated from that of Actiar by a narrow peninsula. It is one of the most remarkable in the Crimea, ap pearing from the town landlocked' by high precipi tous mountains. Its entrance is so extremely nar row, that only one ship can pass at a time ; but within the port, it is three quarters of a mile long, and 400 yards brad ; it is secure in all weather from storms; and ships of war of any burden may find in it suffi cient depth of water. The mountains which sur round it are of red and white marble, and the shore in some parts is covered with gold coloured mica, in a state of extreme division. This port is closed against the vessels of all nations, not excepting Prussians, to prevent smuggling. Caffa lies on a bay, capable of containing several hundred mer chant vessels, but exposed to the east and south west. It formerly carried on the most extensive trade in the Black Sea; but it is now of very little consequence. Kertchi, Ponticapiunt, on a peninsula, Chersonesus Cimmeria, stretching into the strait of Taman, and Yenikale, at the extremity of the same peninsula, are small ports chiefly inhabited by fisher men.
The coast of Anatolia, on the Black Sea, extends to the Kesil-Irmak, which falls into this sea a little to the west of the Gulf of Sansoun. It is lined by high mountains, terminating in lofty promontories. It is steep and clean, with numerous little coves, into most of which small rivulets fall. The most remark able headlands are Cape Kili-Mili, east of Erekli ; Cape Kerenipe, the north point of Asia Minor, very high land, with breakers off it; and Cape Indjee, a low point to the west of Sinope. The prmcipal rivers • on this coast, besides the Kisil-Irmak, Belays, and the Sakaria, Sangarius, already noticed, are the Ethos, Bettaws, and the Barthin, Parthenius. The only port of consequence is Sinope, strongly situate on the narrow and low isthmus of a rocky peninsula. The mole which formed its port is nearly in ruins. The depth of water is 12 feet. There is, however, a good road for the largest ships ; and Turkish ves sels of war are built here. Sinope is the nearest port on the Black Sea to Angora, the only place hitherto known that supplies the fine goats' hair.
The coast from the Kisil-Irmalc to Vona is named Roum by the Turks. The chief places are Sansoun, Amisus, on the Jekyl lrmak, which falls into the deep Gulf of Sansoun. Fatsa, Polemonium, at the mouth of the Sidemus, Budjiah and Vona, Boone, on the Cape of the same name.
From-Vona, the coast takes the name of the tribes that inhabit it. The Laziens, Lazi, occupy the coast from Vona to the Batouni. principal port on this coast is Trebizond. Though it can receive only small vessels, it has a considerable trade. One hundred and fifty or two hundred small craft annually sail to Taganrock, with nar dek, a marmalade of grapes,• and beckmiss, a sy rup made for the use of the distilleries there. to the Laziens, the Gurions occupy the coast, as far as the Rioni, flask. At its mouth this river is 60 fathoms deep, and half a league broad;. but a small island lies in the midst of its channel. The only port in the country of the Gu rions is Poti, to which the merchants of Georgia re sort ; the Mingrelians occupying the country of the ancient Cokki. In this tract there is no port of consequence. The Abatises occupy the coast from Isgarur to the Strait of Yenikale, as far as Anaffa. This coast is very elevated, the Caucassian moun tains approaching close to the sea. Near Sondjuk is a• very lofty promontory called Verde. From Ana& to the Straits, the coast is low. Some small vessels are built at Anaffa by the Turks. The Ku ban, ifypanis, receives most of the waters of the western side of Caucasus. Near its mouth it di vides into two branches, one of which falls into the Sea of Azoph, and the other into the Black Sea. The marshy isle of Taman is formed by it. On this island is Rum Jona, a place of some trade.