"The shape of the AUyn Oho is not so conical as usual in ancient tumuli: it is rather hemispherical. Its sides exhibit that stupendous masonry seen in the walls of Tiryns, near Argos, in the Morea; where immense, unshapen masses of stone are placed together without cement, according to their accidental forms. The western part is entire, although the others have fallen. Looking through the interstices and chasms of the tumulus, and examining the excavations made upon its summit, we found it, like the cairns of Scotland, to consist wholly of stones confusedly heaped together; its exterior betrayed a more artificial construction, and exhibited materials of greater magnitude. It seems to have been the custom of the age in which these heaps were raised to bring stones, or parcels of earth, from all parts of the country, to the tomb of a deceased sovereign or of a near relation. To cast a stone upon a grave was an act of loyalty or of piety; and an expression of friendship or of affection still remains in the North of Scotland to this effect — '/ ivill cast a stone upon thy cairn.' The heap so raised consisted of heterogeneous substances; granite and limestone, fragments of volcanic rocks, pebbles from the seashore or from the beds of rivers, promiscuously mixed and frequently covered by superincumbent earth. Stones were generally used in preference to earth, perhaps because they were more readily conveyed, and were likely to render the heap more durable.... Near to the Eastern side (of the Altyn Oho) is a pit, probably formed by some person wishing to penetrate to the interior of this immense pile. The Tahtars have in vain attempted to effect a passage: the stones fall in as they proceed. Yet they entertain a notion, that an entrance was once accomplished: and they describe the interior as a magnificently vaulted stone chamber, formed by enormous slabs, seeming as if they would crush the spectator."
THE EAST.
PLATE XL IV.
STEAITS OF YENIKALE, WITH THE BAY AND TOWN OF KERTCH. From the old Fortress of Yenikale.
The town and fortress of Yenikale have already been described in reference to the second drawing of the series.
This view embraces nearly the whole of the ground crossed by our troops, from the point at which they landed, marked by the position of the smaller steamers used for the purpose of transport, over the heights covered with tumuli, through Kertch, round the head of the bay, and into Yenikale, inside whose fortress the spectator is supposed to take his stand. Here a party of French soldiers are hard at work, repairing the crumbling walls, whose loosened stones, with weeds and grass growing out of their interstices, tell an unmistakable tale of decay and neglect. Beyond the walls are two new lines of earthworks rapidly approaching completion; the outer one ■ extending from the sea, through the middle of the camp, and surmounted on the top by a very strong redoubt; and the inner line at about half a mile distance from the other. The town of Yenikale is on the slope of ground to the right of the fortress, beyond which the masts of the Sphynx, the vessel left in charge of the place, are just distinguished. In the distance the Asiatic shore of the Straits is discernible.
PLATE XLV.
FUNERAL CORTEGE OF LORD RAGLAN LEAVING HEAD-QUARTERS.
The unsuccessful attack of the 18th June, the failure of which is now generally attributed to the disregard of Lord Raglan's wish that the bombardment should be renewed for a few hours on that morning, prior to the assault, was observed to prey heavily on his spirits. While still suffering from the shock of this reverse, the English Commander-in-Chief sustained a loss which he felt most acutely in the death of the Adjutant-General, Estcourt, an officer whose amiability of disposition and kindness of manner had rendered him universally popular, and for whom Lord Raglan entertained a warm feeling of personal attachment, coupled with a strong appreciation of his invaluable services on the Staff. General Estcourt was buried on the 24th, 'when Lord Raglan, who was suffering from diarrhcea, was too ill to quit his house. He was never to quit it again. No fears were entertained for his safety, however, at first; but on the 27th he became worse, and, though he rallied slightly the following morning, he sank again towards the afternoon, and at half-past eight in the evening he expired peacefully and without pain, surrounded by the members of his Staff. The grief inspired by his loss was universal, deep, and sincere.