[5] This odd expression, that these provinces are not far from each other,
certainly means that they are not large. - E.
[6] Otherwise called Sebastopolis, also Isguriah or Dioskurios. - Forst.
[7] Hence Asper, the ordinary denomination of silver coin in moderns
Turkey is evidently borrowed from the Greek. - E.
[8] Now Precop. - E.
[9] Kumania and Gazzaria, here said to be provinces of the Crimea, or
island of Kaffa, must have been small districts of that peninsula,
inhabited by tribes of the Kumanians and Gazzarians of the country
between the sea of Asof and the mouths of the Wolga, now frequently
called the Cuban Tartary. The whole of that country, together with the
country between the Wolga and Ural rivers, often bore the name of
Kumania. But the destructive conquests of the Mongals, has in all ages
broken down the nations of those parts into fragments, and has induced
such rapid and frequent changes as to baffle all attempts at any fixed
topography, except of lakes, rivers, and mountains. - E.
[10] The ancient Taurica Chersonesus; the Crimea of our days, now again
called Taurida by the Russians. - E.
[11] Probably Ulu-beg, or the great prince. - E.
[12] Soragathi or Solgathi, is named by Abulfeda Soldet or Kirm; and is at
present called Eskikyrym, or the Old Citadel. - Forst. From the name of
this place, Chirmia, Kirmia, Kirm, or Crim, the name of the peninsula
and its inhabitants, Chrimea, and Crim-Tartars, are evidently
derived. - E.
[13] Kerkiardi is the Kerkri of Abulfeda, and signifies in Turkish forty
men. Some call the place Kyrk, and the Poles name it Kirkjel. It is
situated on an inaccessible mountain, and was one of the castles
belonging to the Goths who dwelt in those mountains, absurdly called
Jews by some authors; of whom some traces remained not long ago, as
their language contained many words resembling German. - Forst.
[14] I should suspect that this term, here applied to one place only, had
been originally the general appellation of the forty castles
belonging to the Goths, who long defended themselves in the Tauric
Chersonese. The ridiculous conversion of these Goths into Jews, may be
accounted for, by supposing that some ignorant transcriber had changed
Teutschi into Judei, either in copying or writing from the ear. - E.
[15] The Pantikapaeum of the ancient Bosphorian kings. The Ol-Kars of
Abulfeda. - Forst.
[16] This is nearly on the same spot with the Theodosia of the Greeks and
Romans. - Forst.
[17] Otherwise Soldadia, Soldadia, or more properly Sugdaja, now Sudak or
Suday, by which name it is mentioned in Abulfeda. - Forst.
[18] Grasui, or Grusui, now unknown, perhaps stood at a place now called
Krusi-musen, which seems to preserve some traces of the name.
