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06 COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA.
Zi
of an immenfe whale in pafteboard, covered with cloth and gold or filver brocade, and
filled in the infide with bread, dried fifh, 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 {quare of ice well {wept for the fcaiters ;
near which were two machines like the {winging vehicles at Bartholomew Fair. One
of thefe machines confifted of two crofs-beams fixed horizontally to a pole in the centre
by means of a pivot; from the ends of the beams hung four fledges, in which the peo-
ple feated themfelves, and were turned round with great velocity ; the other had four
wooden horfes fufpended from the beams, and the riders were whirled round in the like
manner as their rivals in the fledges. Beyond thefe were two ice-hills, fimilar to thofe
which I have defcribed on a former occafiof *, and for the fame diverfion. Two poles,
above twenty-feet in height, were alfo erected, with colours flying ; and at the top of
each were placed a piece of money, asa prize for thofe who could {warm up and feize it.
The poles, being rubbed with oil, foon froze in this fevere climate; many and tedious
were the attempts of the various competitors in this flippery afcent to fame. The fcene
was lively and gay ; for above forty thoufand perlons of both fexes were affembled on the
occafion.
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 mafter of the feaft and fe-
veral of the nobility were affembled, and were regaled with a cold collation, and various
forts of wine. F
It was preconcerted that on firing a rocket, the people were to drink a glafs of {pi-
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 whole
multitude was foon and at once in motion. ‘The whale was the chief obje& of conten-
tion; within the fpace of a few minutes he was entirely divefted of his gaudy trappings,
which became the {poils of his fuccefsful invaders. ‘They had no fooner flead off his
drapery, and fecured the fragments of rich brocade, than they rent him into a thoufand
pieces, to feize the provifions with which his infide was ftored. The remaining 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 conveying
with one hand provender to their mouths, and with the other to their pockets. Others
crowded round the cafks and hogfheads; and with great wooden ladles lapped incef-
fantly wine, beer, and fpirits. ‘The confufion and riot, which foon fucceeded, is better
‘conceived than defcribed ; and we thought it expedient to retire. The evening was
clofed 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 ftood only
4, funk towards the clofe of the evening to 15 below freezing point. Many intoxicated
perfons were frozen to death: nota few fell a facrifice to drunken quarrels; and others
were robbed and murdered in the more retired parts of the city, as they were returning
late to their homes. From a comparifon of the various reports, we had reafon to
conclude, that at leaft four hundred perfons loft their lives upon this melancholy
occafion T.
» See vol. ii. book ix. chap. 3.
+ The following day I counted myfelf no lefs than forty bodies, collected in two fheds near the place of
*ntertainment,
a The
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