“[A]fter going about twelve miles among the most beautiful mountains imaginable, a small valley appeared a little to the right of us infinitely pretty. We crossed that and went through a thick wood, which led to the valley of Baydar; a most enchanting and magnificent spot, intended by nature for some industrious and happy nation to enjoy in peace. A few Tartar villages lessen the wildness of the scene, but, in such a place, the meadow part should be covered with herds, and the mountainous with sheep. When we were come into this valley we found the mountains to the left less high, and less rocky than those to the right, which run in a line with those to Soudak, and form the coast. When we were in the valley we could not have imagined that we were so near the sea; as the rocks which are above it are covered with wood of every sort, wild vine, pomegranate, and many sweet shrubs; I rode up to an elevation, which is, for as much as I can guess, the centre of the valley, and sat there with my companions contemplating the beautiful scene. The valley is above twenty miles long, wide enough to form it into a graceful oval---two or three small rivers run through it, and there are fine clear springs in every village.”