Travels to the seat of war in the East, through Russia and the Crimea, in 1829; with sketches of the imperial fleet and army, personal adventures, and characteristic anecdotes - Tapa blanda

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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1830 Excerpt: ... "pavosky," or the fourwheeled post car without springs, the three horses driven by a rough isvostchick in his red checked shirt, who whooped and halloo'd to us loudly to keep out of the way; and it was not long before the sharp ring of the bell suspended to the bow on the collar of the centre horse died away in the distance. At the trackteers and post-houses the servants and unemployed isvostchicks might be seen lying about at night on the steps of the door and in the passages, in their sheep-skin shoobs: a pig would occasionally occupy a birth near them; and a hen come and perch on their nose. Never did I see people so indifferent to wherethey slept at night as the Russian mooziks (peasants); but the higher orders, too, care little about beds, and, when they arrive at an inn at night, throw themselves on a couch, and have clothes thrown over them by their servants. What a contrast this is to the absurd pitch that luxury has got to among the generality of London servants, who now-a-days are not content with their place, unless each has hisifeather bed! I At a village we saw a numerous band of tsegans, or gipsies; and I gave them money to dance and sing, while the whole village collected round us. The male tsegans were, as usual, dark, with very marked features, and wore conical high-crowned hats; otherwise they were dressed in Russian shirts, trousers, and heavy boots. Some of the women were pretty, and their hair was braided, with a few wild flowers in it: over the right shoulder a large handkerchief was tied; and their dress altogether was fantastic. Their dance was very animated,---turning round continually, Ibeating the ground with their heels, and clapping their handsfin unison with their voices.. _ At every church we passed the offi...