mantled, and the harbor opened to maritime trade. This, however, has never been very considerable, the inhabitants of the town being chiefly occupied in the raising of salt and in fishing. The ancient town was formerly built round the base of the hill called the Armchair of Mithridates, which rises at a short distance from the shore, and whose summit was once crowned by the Acropolis, of which only the ditches and some parts of the wall may now be traced. The church of Kertch is the oldest Byzantine temple now remaining in the Crimea. One of the columns bears the date of its erection, A.D. 727. The principal gate of the ancient town opened toward the interior of the perinsula on the road leading to Theodosis. About 240 yards from this gate was an av by the savage hordes that then overran | dominion it remained a military station the continent. Its site remained desert- until 1821, when its fortifications were dised until the thirteenth century, when a new town was built by the Genoese, which they called Kaffa. The Tartars having besieged Kaffa in 1343, a crusade was preached in its favor by Pope Clement VI., and the Genoese were thus enabled to come off victorious. After this siege, high and thick walls, flanked with towers and surrounded by a ditch, were built around the town. The most remarkable of these towers, and the one which commands the whole town, was consecrated to the memory of Pope Clement VI., with an inscription stating the timely succor brought by his preaching to the town. At the present day but little remains of this fine tower, as after the conquest of Kaffa by the Russians in 1771 the walls and towers were dismantled and sometimes thrown down, while all the monuments of antiqui-enue of tumuli continuing for two thirds ty were treated with great negligence, and in course of time little remained but masses of ruins. The ancient Genoese citadel is entirely in ruins. In front of these stands an old Armenian church, constructed in the fourteenth century. This has been converted into a warehouse; but the interior still retains the original distribution-an oratory, a nave, dome, choir, and lateral sacristies, similar to all the religious edifices of Armenia. The museum of Theodosia is an ancient Turkish mosque, at the entrance of which are two lions, brought from Phanagoria. It contains many ancient Greek monuments and some interesting Genoese inscriptions. The celebrated marine painter, Avaizowsky, lives at a short distance from the town, to whose studio we should by all means advise a visit. Kertch, eight hours from Theodosia by steamer, contains (with Enikale) 21,000 inhabitants. In the 6th century before Christ the Greeks established here a colony, which they called Panticapæum, which became later the capital of the kingdom of the Bosphorus. This kingdom was destroyed during the great migration of nations; and after having belonged successively to several savage tribes, among others the Khazars and the Tartars, it fell in the 15th century into the hands of the Turks, who made of it a military harbor. In 1771 it was occupied by the Russians, under whose of a mile, and arranged in an irregular manner, several rows deep on each side. These tombs seem to date from the foundstion of the town by the Milesians; they abound in every direction in the neighborhood of Kertch. The tumuli of the kings are to be found in the range of hills which rise beyond Mount Mithridates, which are filled with tombs for a distance of six or seven miles. ROUTE 197.-From Kertch to the Caucasus. Travelers desiring to visit the Caucasus may take the steamer of the Russian Black Sea Navigation Company, which leaves Kerteh on the same day that the steamer arrives from Theodosia, touching at Novorossisk, Tuapsé, Sukhum, Kalé, and reaching Poti sixty hours after leaving Kertch. From Poti he may either return by steamers of the same company by way of Batum, Trebizond, and Constantinople, making the tour of the Black Sea, reaching Constantinople in time to catch the steamer for Marseilles, or he may continue from Poti to Tiflis on his road to Persia. Travelers in the Caucasus should provide themselves with a good outfit before undertaking the journey, as in this country all the modern appliances of civilization are wanting. We should advise him also to carry a supply of napoleons sufficient for the entire journey, which he may exchange for Russian money in the different towns in order to pay for the post-horses | has shops on either side; the most noticeat the stations on the road. These cost 3 copecks a verst (two thirds of a mile) for each horse; and although no charge is made for the cart, the driver expects a present of 20 or 25 copecks at each stage. Having reached Poti by steamer from Kertch, another steamer may be taken at the mouth of the River Rion, on which the town is situated, which takes the traveler to Maran, a military station fifty-seven miles up the river, where post-horses may be obtained for Tiflis. able of these is a square, covered bazar, with shops around it, and the opera-house in the interior. A great variety of costumes is to be seen at Tiflis, of which the Circassian and Daghestan are the most picturesque. A large Persian population occupies the lower part of the town, in which are situated the mineral springs. Tiflis, the seat of government of the Caucasus, and the residence of the imperial lieutenant, has 61,000 inhabitants. Hotels, Caucase and D'Italie. This town is picturesquely situated on the River Kur, and derives its name from the mineral springs which it contains. The principal buildings are situated on a boulevard, which Travelers may either proceed by land from Tiflis to Teheran, via Ararat and Tabreez, or they may take the steamer at Baku or Lenkeran to Resht or Astrabad, on the Caspian. On the 25th of August, 1873, a treaty was concluded between the Russian government and the Khan of Khiva, by which all the land on the right bank of the Amu was ceded to Russia, as well as the exclusive right of free navigation on the river. 1543 UNITED STATES. TO TOURISTS RETURNING FROM EUROPE. [It is the intention of the author of Harper's Hand-books, for the present, to give but a network of tours which the traveler returning from Europe might desire to make before proceeding to his home; consequently, the descriptions will be brief, but perhaps full enough for one tired of sight-seeing, but feeling in duty bound to see a little of his own country.] to visit Quebec by the way of Newport, Boston, White Mountains, etc. This tour will take about six weeks, and cost about $350. Or, continuing from Chicago to San Francisco, via the Northwestern Railway, Omaha, and Salt Lake City, a distance of 2404 miles, occupying five and a half days, and at an expense of $117. (This does not include meals furnished by the railway company at their eating-houses on the route.) From San Francisco excursions are generally made to the famous Yosemite Valley and the Big Tree Grove; also to the celebrated Great Geysers, a series of boiling springs. An excursion will be given from New York to Floril, via Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, Weldon, Wi THE summer resorts in the United States | tour be made, it would be better, perhaps, are numerous, and many of them very delightful places to visit. The natural aspect of our country-its mountains and hills, its valleys and glens, its lakes and rivers - presents scenes of beauty and grandeur which no region in Europe can surpass, and which fully compensate for the want of picture-galleries and churches. In our description of the different watering-places and summer resorts, we shall endeavor to designate in the briefest manner possible the most celebrated sights, how to reach them, the time requisite, the hotels to stop at, and the expense of the tour. Taking New York as a startingpoint, we will conduct the traveler up the Hudson to West Point, then to Saratoga, thence to Lake George, Fort Ticonderoga, Lake Champlain, Montreal, Quebec, back to the White Mountains, Boston, and New-mington, Charleston, and Savannah. port; or, extending the tour from Saratoga Springs to the Falls of Niagara, via Utica, Syracuse, and Rochester, thence to Montreal, via Toronto on Lake Ontario, down the St. Lawrence to Montreal, Quebec, and the Saguenay River, and back by Boston and Newport. This tour will take about three weeks, and cost about $150. Or, still extending the tour from Niagara Falls to the Great Lakes, via Lake Huron, the Straits of Mackinac, Sault de St. Marie, Lake Superior to Superior City, across to St. Anthony's Falls, Falls of Minne-ha-ha, down the Mississippi either to Prairie du Chien and Chicago, passing the lovely town of Madison; or, continuing down through the beautiful scenery of the Upper Mississippi to St. Louis, thence to the Mammoth Cave, Louisville, Cincinnati, Washington, and Philadelphia. Should this Florida has lately become quite a fashionable winter resort both for persons in search of pleasure and health, and many wealthy New-Yorkers have erected villas in St. Augustine. The fare from New York to this city is about $40. The United States comprises thirty-eight states and ten territories, containing a total of 3,611,758 square miles, and, according to the last census (1880), 50,152,559 inhabitants, divided as follows: New England States. 1. Massachusetts. 3. Connecticut 5. New Hampshire. Sq. Miles. Pop. 1881, 1,753,096 32,000 648,945 4,750 622,6-3 10,219 332,996 9.280 346,984 1,306 276,528 65,343 4,010,512 The cost of traveling in the United men. The authorities have lately adopted States is considerably less than in Europe, a system which we consider an insult to the fares both by railway and steamer be- all honest American citizens: they send ing much lower. Hotels kept on the down the harbor, to meet incoming pasEuropean plan are about the same in this senger steamers, a Custom-house officer, country and in Europe; but those conduct- before whom you make an inventory of ed here in the American style are much your effects, and are asked to swear to the lower, especially outside of large cities, truth of your statement, and whether you where the price is about $2 or $2.50 per have any dutiable article; from this perday. Luggage, unless in great excess, is son you receive a number, which you hand hardly ever paid for. Then there is the to an officer on landing, who appoints ancheck system, which all American travelers other one to examine your trunks after you understand, whereby they can take a street- have sworn you have nothing dutiable. The car or omnibus to their destination, and author, in 1880, refused to swear, consider. their luggage is delivered by the baggage- ing it an insult; and when he arrived on express for about one half the coach or the dock, the majordomo in command hav. carriage fares. ing asked him why he refused to swear, and being answered, "What is the use, if you refuse to take my oath?" responded by, "John, go thoroughly through that gentleman's baggage," while piles of eight and ten trunks were passed in view without being uncorded. While John was kneeling going through our baggage, he said, “I wish you would give that fellow hell; he don't like me, and so appoints me to this disagreeable task." The tariff of hacks will be found higher in New York than in any other city; and if you can get to your hotel for two dollars, consider it cheap. On arriving at New York from Europe, it will be found that, however much we have deprecated the strict examination of baggage in other countries, the authorities of our own are not a whit less particular than those abroad, nor more honest; there fore, declare what you have, and lay all contraband articles at the top of your trunks: if clothing that you have worn, it will be passed, and, in fact, nearly every thing you may have, if not for sale, and you can make the officers think so; but your conduct must be such that they will have no suspicions, and they are rather a sharp set of Custom-house Duties. Subjoined is a list of some of the principal things dutiable taken from the latest tariff: Carpets, Aubusson, Axminster, and all woven whole for room...... free. 20 per cent. 35 cts. per gallon. 20 cts. per gallon. free. 25 per cent. free. 35 per cent. 25 per cent. 44 cts. per sq. yd, and 35 per cent. Saxony, Wilton, and Tournay velvet, wrought by the Jac- 70 cts. per sq. yd. and quart machine....... treble ingrain, three-ply, and worsted chain Venetian.. velvet, patent or tapestry, printed on the warp or other Carriages.. wise.. China, porcelain, and Parian ware, plain. gilded, ornamented, or decorated. Clocks... Clothing, wholly or in part of wool... 35 per cent. (17 cts. per sq. yd. and 33 per cent. 40 cts. per sq. yd. and 135 per cent. 35 per cent. 45 per cent. 50 per cent. 35 per cent. (50 cts. per lb. and 140 per cent. |