THE CRIMEA

July 12 we left Odessa by steamer for the Crimea. From the vessel’s deck we had a good view of this fine city and its large harbor. A quick trip over the Black Sea, which was very smooth, brought us next morning to Eupatoria, where the allied armies of France and England landed in 1854. The northern portion of the Crimea is a continuation of the steppes of Southern Russia, and is barren and cheerless. The principal industries are agriculture and stock-raising. The southern portion, sloping from a mountain chain which stretches in a northeasterly direction from Sebastopol, has a tropical climate and great richness and variety of vegetation. The southern coast, to which the principal mountain chain sends several small branches, is exceedingly picturesque in appearance.HSFM 254.1

Eupatoria is situated on the western coast of the Crimean peninsula, about forty miles north of Sebastopol. It presents a decidedly oriental appearance. Besides other church buildings there are thirteen mosques with their slender minarets. The houses are mostly low, and many are in ruins. About forty windmills were turning their big arms, making a doleful noise.HSFM 254.2

Many of the inhabitants are Tartars,, who were once the terror of Eastern. Europe; they are of a swarthy complexion, and are a strong-looking race. The men wore, even in summer, heavy fur caps covering their clean-shaven scalps. The ladies were veiled, or covered their faces with a shawl when a stranger approached.HSFM 254.3

In Eupatoria we found several German. Baptists, who pressed us to go with them to their village, about thirty-five miles north, and hold meetings, promising to take us afterward where some of our brethren lived. We accepted the invitation, and stayed two days with them, holding several meetings, and finding-several who were convinced of the truth. These friends took us to Demir Bulat, where a Mennonite brother had been observing the Sabbath for about four years.HSFM 254.4