or Taganrog, a sea-port town situated at the head of the sea of Azof, and forming one of the principal ports of the Russian empire. It stands on a small promontory, at the extremity of which is a fortres of considerable strength, and capable of accommodating a numerous garrison. The streets are wide but unpaved, and from the lightness of the soil, are either intolerably dusty, or ankle-deep in mud. The houses, which do not exceed a thousand, are small, built chiefly of wood, plastered with mud, and roofed with bark. It is in north latitude 46°.

Taganrok is remarkable only as a place of trade, but in this view is highly respectable. When Mr McGill visited it in 1805, he found there upwards of 200 vessels of various sizes, waiting for cargoes. From its advantageous situation, at the head of the sea of Azof, and near the mouths of the rivers Don and Volga, and from its being in the vicinity of a very fertile country, it has become the centre of commerce for many staple articles. Hither are brought, for exportation, vast quantities of grain, wool, hides, butter, tallow, bees-wax, and honey from the southern provinces of Russia; iron, timber, pitch, and tar from Siberia; caviar to the amount of 50,000 puds annually from the Don and the Volga; hemp and flax from the neighbouring districts. Cordage and canvas are manufactured here, and form a considerable article of traffic. The trade is carried on chiefly by Ragufan and Greek supercargoes, who remain only till their commodities are collected and shipped. For the best accounts of this place, see Pallas's Travels in the Russian Empire, and McGill's Travels in Turkey, Italy, and Russia.