Wolf-Hunting in Russia 



certain reflections upon the life of the people 

 and of the proprietors of this country. It 

 seemed on this morning that three conditions 

 were necessary to render a permanent habi- 

 tation here endurable.: neighbors, roads and 

 a change of latitude ; of the first two there are 

 almost none, of latitude there is far too much. 

 To be born in a country excuses its defects, 

 and that alone is sufficient to account for the 

 continuance of people under even worse condi- 

 tions than those of these governments. It is 

 true that the soil here does not produce fruit 

 and vegetables like the Crimean coast, and 

 that it does not, like the black belt, "laugh 

 with a harvest when tickled with a hoe"; yet 

 it produces, under the present system of culti- 

 vation, rye and flax sufficient to feed, clothe 

 and pay taxes. What more could a peasant 

 desire? With these provided his happiness is 

 secured; how can he be called poor? With- 

 out questioning this defense, which has been 

 made many times in his behalf, I would simply 

 say that he is not poor as long as a famine or 

 plague of some sort does not arrive — and then 

 proceed with our journey. 



From Orodinatovo to Philipovo is only ten 

 versts, but over roads still less worthy of the 



179 



