The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

4 40 EUSSIA IN EUROPE.A far better harbour is that of Mariupol, founded in 1779 a little above thejunction of the Kalmius and Katchik or Kalka Rivers. But although its exportsare valued at about £1,330,000, it has no import trade, and its shippingamountedin 1877 only to 550 vessels of 132,458 tons. Its so-called Greekinhabitants, originally from the Crimea, have forgotten their Hellenic tongue,but the Bazarianes from the same place still speak Tatar. Berdansk, a littlefarther down the coast, dates only from 1830, and, although still without railwaycommunication with the interior, ships large quantities of corn, and had a totalexport trade of £3,410,000 in 1878. Its future commercial prosperity is insuredby its deep harbour, good anchorage, and convenient situation near the greatbend of the Lower Dnieper, constituting it the natural outport of that river on theSea of Azov.