540 ANNUAL REGISTER, I8I4. 



dangerous to their neighbous, so 

 that it was found necessary to 

 flatter them, and to gain them by 

 presents, to prtivent them from 

 committing depredations and driv- 

 ing away the flocks in time of 

 peace, and in war to secure the 

 aid of such brave and serviceable 

 troops. At present all the Cos- 

 sacks pay implicit obedience to 

 the crown, and are as faithful 

 subjects as any in the empire. 

 Content with little, they patiently 

 endure every kind of hardship ; 

 but they are the first in war wher- 

 ever there is an opportunity for 

 plunder. Their country is not, 

 strictly speaking, a Russian pro- 

 vince, but has its peculiar govern- 

 nient and constitution, and is under 

 an Ataman or commander in chief, 

 who on all occasions that arise 

 communicates directly with St. 

 Petersburg. This has inspired 

 them with a manly love of free- 

 dom which unfortunately is not to 

 be found in the other Russians ; 

 but nevertheless perfect submis- 

 sion to the orders of their supe- 

 riors prevails among them. 



The fertility of the country, 

 and their whole establisliment, 

 render them but little disposed to 

 pursue agriculture with assiduity, 

 and they grow onlj' just so much 

 corn as they require for their own 

 consumption. On the other hand 

 the vine is largely cultivated along 

 the whole of the Don, and they 

 make several truly excellent sorts 

 of wine, which when not adul- 

 terated are equal to the light 

 French wines. Here is likewise 

 produced a kind of champagne, 

 which under the name of Sym- 

 lianskii, is sent all over Russia ; 

 but it is commonly debased with 

 potash, and produces head-ache 



and disorders of the stomach. I 

 here drank a light sort of red wine, 

 which nearly resembles the Petit 

 Bourgogne, and was of excellent 

 flrtvour. Of this I took with me 

 at my departure a half-anker ; but 

 it froze at a temperature of no 

 lower than five degrees, so that I 

 could use it no other way than 

 mulled. 



The women of Tscherkassk 

 may upon the whole be pronounced 

 handsome, and appear very showy, 

 especially on holidays, with their 

 half oriental costume. The use 

 of paint is common at this place, 

 as it is all over Russia ; but here I 

 think I observed this disguise on 

 the faces of middle-aged females 

 only. The young women and girls 

 have a fresh complexion, and seem 

 to employ few artificial means of 

 improving their natural beauty. 



The principal church is one of 

 the most remarkable objects in the 

 town, not only on account of its 

 architecture, but for the prodigious 

 quantity of gold, silver, and jew- 

 els, especially pearls, which it con- 

 tains. All these treasures formed 

 part of the booty which the Cos- 

 sacks have made in different wars, 

 and particularly in Poland. Be- 

 sides a multitude of images of 

 saints wrought iu gold, or over- 

 laid with that metal, which ane 

 adorned with the largest and most 

 costly stones, you here see an altar- 

 piece of considerable height and 

 breadth, studded all over with 

 pearls, many of which are of the 

 largest size and finest quality. 

 There is likewise more gold and 

 silver coin among the Cossacks 

 than any where else in Russia. 

 Many of the widows of people of 

 distinction have whole pots full 

 of ducats lying in their houses, > 



