332 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



and some Ducks' eggs and some Hooded Crows from a 

 peasant. The Ducks' eggs are doubtless Pintails, but not 

 being identified, we shall 'eat 'em.' AVe also bought 

 three young ' Kookshas,' or Siberian Jays, able to fly a 

 little, and have kept one alive. 



We saw the Kussian village sports, the principal of 

 which were leap-frog, trials of strength (two men holding 

 a short stick and sitting on the ground and placing the 

 feet together and trying who would pull the other over), 

 a grotesque dance with a few neat steps, not unlike some 

 of the steps of our Highland dances— Chartreuse and the 

 Highland Fling — and a kind of game with ball like our 

 schoolboy 'dumps.' 



In the whole crowd of girls in their gay Oriental- 

 looking rubakhas, and brightly-coloured scarf round the 

 head, there was only one really pretty, and she would 

 have held her own as a beauty in most countries. 



The men, on the other hand, are for the most part 

 fine-looking, strong fellows, and many are handsome, 

 with light, fine yellow hair, blue eyes, well-shaped nose 

 and ears, and expressive lips, and small, regular white 

 teeth, good-natured and merry, always singing as they 

 work ; or rest in the evenings in the open air after the 

 day's work is done. 



Every peasant does his own carpentry and boat-building, 

 and net-making and farming. 



The land is apportioned or divided amongst the inhabi- 

 tants every five years, and originally was bought by the 

 village or town from the Government (or Crown, rather). 

 The peasants all meet together when necessary to discuss 

 any points, and no vodky is allowed to be sold on that day 

 until after the meeting is over. 



Every three years they appoint one of their number to 

 collect the taxes, generally one of some standing as 

 regards worldly wealth and other good gifts. 



