This place is situated upon the Dneiper, called by the ancients, the Boristhenes; which falls into the Black Sea; the only inconvenience of the docks here is that the ships, when built, are obliged to be taken with camels into that part of the channel deep enough to receive them — The town is not at present very large, though there are many new houses and a church built after pretty models; good architecture of white stone […]
Lady Craven’s letter on the 9th March 1786
(in: A Journey through the Crimea to Constantinople)