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COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA: bgt
Sat paid his obeifance to this objeét of worthip, before he addreffed himfelf to the
amily. [
The peafants, in their common intercourfe, are remarkably polite to each other:
they take off their cap at meeting, bow ceremonioufly and frequently, and ufually
exchange a falute. They accompany their ordinary difcourfe with much action
and innumerable geftures, and are exceedingly fervile in their expreffions of de-
ference to their fuperiors: in accofting a perfon of eonfequence, they proftrate them-
felves, and even touch the grounds with their heads. ‘We were often ftruck at re-
ceiving this kind of eaftern homage, not only from beggars, but frequently from
children, and occafionally from fome of the peafants themfelves.
In the appearance of the common people, nothing furprifed us more than the enor -
mous thicknefs of their legs, which we at firft conceived to be their real dimenfions ; but
the bulk, which created our aftonifhment, proceeded from the coverings with which
they {waddle their legs, in fummer as well as winter. Befide one or two pair of thick
wortted ftockings, 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 to
receive their bulky contents with the utmoft facility,
The peafants are well clothed, comfortably lodged, and feem to enjoy plenty of
wholefome food, ‘The rye-bread, whofe blacknefs at firft difgufts the eye, and whofe
fournefs the tafte, of a delicate traveller, agrees well with the appetite ; but as I became
reconciled to it from ufe, I found it no unpleafant morfel: this bread is rendered more
palatable by ftuffing it with onions and groats, carrots, or green corn, and feafoning it
with oil. ‘The other articles of their food I have enumerated on a former occafion,
in addition to which I fhall only obferve, that mufhrooms are fo exceedingly common
in thefe regions as to form a very effential part of their provifion. I feldom entered a
cottage without feeing great abundance; and in pafling through the markets, was
often. aftonifhed at the prodigious quantity expofed for fale: the variety was no
lefs remarkable than the number; they were of many colours, among{t which I
particularly noticed white, black, brown, yellow, green, and pink. The common
drink of the peafants is quafs, a fermented liquor, fomewhat like {weet-wort, made
by pouring warm water on rye or barley-meal, and deemed an excellent antifcorbutic.
They are extremely fond of whifky, a fpirituous liquor diftilled from malt, which the
pooreft can occafionally command, and which they often ufe to great excels.
The backwardnels of the Ruffian peafants in the mechanical arts, when compared
with thofe of the other European nations, is vifible to a fuperficial obferver. As we
approached Peterfburgh, and nearer the civilized parts of Europe, the villagers were
better furnifhed with the conveniences of life, and further advanced in the knowledge
of the neceflary arts, than thofe who fell under our notice between Tolitzin and Mol-
cow. The planks were lefs frequently hewn with the axe, and faw-pits, which we
had long confidered as objects of curiofity, often occurred: the cottages were more
fpacious and convenient, provided with larger windows, and generally had chimnies ;
they were alfo more amply ftored with houfehold furniture, and with wooden, and
fometimes even earthen utenfils. Still, however, their progrefs towards civilization
is very inconfiderable, and many inftances of the groffeft barbarifm fell under our ob-
fervation. .
The inhabitants of different villages on the roads, who furnifh poft-horfes, are called
yam/bics, and enjoy fome peculiar privileges, ‘They are obliged to fupply all couriers
and travellers at a moderate price, in the deareft parts at 13d. and in many other
40 2 parts
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