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could not eafily be exhaufled. Some circum- 

 flances it affords, which are very picturefque ; 

 particularly fuch as attend the numerous herds 

 of oxen you every where meet, moving to- 

 wards Peterfburgh. They are brought chiefly 

 from the Ukrain, the neareft part of which 

 is eight hundred miles from the capital. 

 During this long progrefs the drivers never 

 lodge under any fhelter, but what the forefl 

 fupplies, when they flop to feed their herds 

 on the flips of paflurage on each fide of the 

 road. In the evening the dead filence of 

 the country is interrupted only by the lowing 

 of the cattle, and the carols of the drivers, 

 which refound through the woods ; while 

 the deep gloom of the forefr. is here and 

 there brightened by fires lighted by the 

 herdfmen ; round which they fit in numerous 

 groups dreiTing their victuals, or ftretched 

 afleep along the ground*. 



The account I have here given of the foreft- 

 vifta is the fober refult of frequent examination. 

 A tranfcript of the firft feelings would have 

 been rhapfody; which no defcription fhould 



* See Cox's travels in Ruflla, vol. ii. 



F 3 



