COXe’s TRAVELS IN RUSSIA.

70 6

of an iramenfe whale in pafteboard, covered with cloth and gold or filver brocade, andfilled in the infide with bread, dried filh, and other provifions.

All forts of games and diverfions were exhibited for the amufement of the populace.At the extremity of the grounds was a large fquare of ice well fwept for the fcaiters ;near which were two machines like the Twinging vehicles at Bartholomew Fair. Oneof thefe machines confifted of two crofs-beams fixed horizontally to a pole in the centreby means of a pivot; from the ends of the beams hung four fledges, in which the peo-ple feated theinfelves, and were turned round with great velocity ; the other had fourwooden horfes fufpended from the beams, and the riders were whirled round in the likemanner as their rivals in the fledges'. Beyond thefe were two ice-hills, fimilar to thofewhich I have defcribed on a former occafion *, and for the fame diverfion. Two poles,above twenty-feet in height, were alfo erected, with colours flying ; and at the top ofeach were placed a piece of money, as a prize for thofe who could fwarm up and feize it.The poles, being rubbed with oil, foon froze in this fevere climate; many and tediouswere the attempts of the various competitors in this flippery afcent to fame. The fcenewas lively and gay; for above forty thoufand perfons of both fexes were aflfembled on theoccafion.

Having thus far fatisfied our curiofity, we found our way, not without great difficulty,through the crowd to a pavilion in the garden; where the mailer of the fealt and fe-veral of the nobility were aflfembled, and were regaled with a cold collation, and variousforts of wine.

It was preconcerted that on firing a rocket, the people were to drink a glafs of fpi-rituous liquor, and, on the difcharge of a fecond, to begin the repaft. But the impa-tience of the populace anticipated the neceflity of the fecond fignal; and the wholemultitude was foon and at once in motion. The whale was the chief object of conten-tion ; within the fpace of a few minutes he was entirely diverted of his gaudy trappings,which became the fpoils of his fuccefsful invaders. They had no fooner Head off hisdrapery, and fecured the fragments of rich brocade, than they rent him into a thoufandpieces, to feize the provifions with which his infide was ftored. The rem ainin g people,who were too numerous to be all engaged in contending about the whale, were em-ployed in uncovering the pent-houfes, and pulling down the pyramids; in conveyingwith one hand provender to their mouths, and with the other to their pockets. Otherscrowded round the calks and hoglheads ; and with great wooden ladles lapped incef-fantly wine, beer, and fpirits. The confufion and riot, which foon fucceeded, is betterconceived than defcribed; and we thought it expedient to retire. The-evening wasclofed with a fuperb illumination of the gardens, and magnificent fire-works.

But the confequences of this feaft were indeed dreadful. The cold had fuddenly in-creafed with fuch violence, that Fahrenheit’s thermometer, which at mid-day flood only4, funk towards the clofe of the evening to 15 below freezing point. Many intoxicatedperfons were frozen to death: not a few fell a facrifice to drunken quarrels; and otherswere robbed and murdered in the more retired parts of the city, as they were returninglate to their homes. From a comparifon of the various reports, we had reafon toconclude, that at leaft four hundred perfons loft their lives upon this melancholyoccafion f.

* See vol. ii. book ix. chap. 3.

f The following day I counted myfelf no lefa than forty bodies, collected in two iheds near the place orentertainment,

a The