ooxe’s TRAVELS IN RUSSIA , 65 E

yoom, paid his obeifance to this object of worlhip, before he addreffed himfelf to thefamily.

The peafants, in their common intercourfe, are remarkably polite to each other:they take off their cap at meeting, bow ceremonioufly and frequently, and ufuallyexchange a falute. They accompany their ordinary difcourfe with much adlionand innumerable geflures, and are exceedingly fervile in their expreffions of de-ference to their fuperiors : in' accofting a perfon of confequence, they proftrate them-felves, and even touch the grounds with their heads. We were often [truck at re-ceiving this kind of eaftern homage, not only from beggars, but frequently fromchildren, and occafionally from feme of the peafants themfelves.

In the appearance of the common people, nothing futprifed us more than the enor-mous thicknefs of their legs, which we at firft conceived to be their real dimenfions ; butthe bulk, which created our aftonilhment, proceeded from the coverings with whichthey fvvaddle their legs, m fummer as well as winter. Befide one or two pair of thickworfted dockings, they envelope their legs with wrappers of coarfe flannel or cloth,■feveral feet in length, and over thefe frequently draw a pair of boots, fo large as toreceive their bulky contents with the utmolt facility.

The peafants are well clothed, comfortably lodged, and feem to enjoy plenty ofwholefome food. The rye-bread, whofe blacknefs at firfb difgufts the eye, and whofefournefs the tafte, of a delicate traveller, agrees well with the appetite ; but as I becamereconciled to it from ufe, I found it no unpleafant morfel: this bread is rendered morepalatable by fluffing it with onions and groats, carrots, or green corn, and feafoning itwith oil. The other articles of their food I have enumerated on a former occafion,in addition to which I ffiall only obferve, that mufhrooms are fo exceedingly commonin thefe regions as to form a very eflential part of their provifion. I feldom entered acottage without feeing great abundance; and in palling through the markets, wasoften aftoniffied at the prodigious quantity expofed for fale: the variety was nolefs remarkable than the number ; they were of many colours, among!! which Iparticularly noticed white, black, brown, yellow, green, and pink. The' commondrink of the peafants is quafs, a fermented liquor, fomewhat like fweet-wort, madeby pouring warm water on rye or barley-meal, and deemed an excellent antifcorbutic.They are extremely fond of whilky, a fpirituous liquor difhilled from malt, which thepoorefl can occafionally command, and which they often ufe to great excels.

The backwardnefs of the Ruffian peafants in the mechanical arts, when comparedwith thole of the other European nations, is vifible to a fuperficial oblerver. As weapproached Peterfburgh, and nearer the civilized parts of Europe , the villagers werebetter furniihed with the conveniences of life, and further advanced in the knowledgeof the necelfciry arts, than thofe who fell under our notice between Tolitzin and Mof-cow. The planks were lefs frequently hewn with the axe, and faw-pits, which wehad long confidered as objects of curiofity, often occurred : the cottages were morefpacious and convenient, provided with larger windows, and generally had chimnies ;they were alfo more amply ftored with houfehold furniture, and with wooden, andfometimes-even earthen utenfils. Still, however, their progrefs towards civilizationis very inconfiderable, and many inflances of the groffefl barbarifm fell under our ob-fervation.

The inhabitants of different villages on the roads, who furnilh poft-horfes, are calledyamjhia, and enjoy fome peculiar privileges. They are obliged to fupply all couriersa nd travellers at a moderate price, in the deareft parts at i|d. and in many other

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