. Pictorial history of the Russian War, 1854-5-6 : with maps, plans, and wood engravings . n-tains; but beyond this, to the north, is a lowerrange, the Black Mountains; and further yet tothe north, are the rivers Kuban and Terek,forming together nearly a continuous water-linefrom the mouth of the Sea of Azof to the this, from the Kuban to the Don, and fromthe Terek to the Volga, is the wretched steppe-country, all dust in summer, and all mud in winter,with marshes instead of rivers, and reeds insteadof trees. South of the Caucasus, on the contrary, the rich hills and valleys of
. Pictorial history of the Russian War, 1854-5-6 : with maps, plans, and wood engravings . n-tains; but beyond this, to the north, is a lowerrange, the Black Mountains; and further yet tothe north, are the rivers Kuban and Terek,forming together nearly a continuous water-linefrom the mouth of the Sea of Azof to the this, from the Kuban to the Don, and fromthe Terek to the Volga, is the wretched steppe-country, all dust in summer, and all mud in winter,with marshes instead of rivers, and reeds insteadof trees. South of the Caucasus, on the contrary, the rich hills and valleys of Mingrelia, Imeritia,and Georgia, represent Asian luxuriance in all itssplendour. So much for the general configuration of theCaucasus. The next subject for notice is thesystem of roads by which this mighty mountain-barrier may be crossed. There arc only two suchroads worthy of the name. One of these runsalong the shores of the Caspian, at no greatdistance from the sea, in a narrow strip of flatcountry; it unites the town of Kizlar, on theTerek, with Derbend and Baku, where it joins the. Caucasian Provinces and Parts of Asiatic Turkey. rich countries south of the Caucasus. Althoughunencumbered by mountains, this road is difficultto traverse on account of numerous rivers, which,after the melting of the mountain snows in spring,spread over a great extent of country; while, inthe hotter seasons of the year, the district is veryunhealthy. The second or more frequented roadcrosses the Caucasus nearly at the centre of itslength, from Mozdok, on the Terek, to Tiflis, onthe Koor. A mountain-pass constitutes a portionof this road, between the fortresses of Kazibeg andPassanaur; the pass is 8000 feet above the levelof the sea, and is bounded b}r lofty mountainson either side, with the towering Kazbek not fardistant. The fortress of Dariel gives its name tothe pass. In some parts of the pass, the roadruns along the edge of an abyss, which descendsas far below it as the mountains rise above
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookpublisheredinb, bookyear1856
