DESTRUCTION OF THE FORESTS. 279 



separate settlements. These too have after more than 

 half a century still retained quite unchanged their 

 language, creed, and customs. The most wide-spread 

 of these sects are those of the Dukhobortsi and Molokani, 

 which like those of the Suabians take their stand on 

 definite and peculiar interpretation of biblical passages. 

 They are excellent workmen, and orderly people when 

 not carried away by fanaticism. 



The Molokani are almost without exception artisans, 

 especially cabinet-makers, the Dukhobortsi on the other 

 hand good husbandmen and drivers. The vicinity of 

 a colony of Dukhobortsi has always been of inesti- 

 mable value to Kedabeg. Once only in the year do 

 the people refuse to work. viz. when their queen 

 proceeds from one colony to another and celebrates 

 religious festivals with them, which however seem to 

 lay great stress on earthly bliss, perhaps only to give 

 the faithful a faint idea of the anticipated and infinitely 

 greater joys hereafter. 



From Annenfeld a steep, and not very well-made 

 road leads up to Kedabeg. At the height of about 

 3000 feet an undulating fertile plain is reached, broken 

 by small mountain ranges, formerly covered by fine 

 forests of oaks, limes, beeches, and other leaf-bearing 



' " " O 



trees. Since the cessation of the Persian rule, the 

 traces of which are especially recognisable in the 

 frequent ruins of works of irrigation, the woods here, 

 as in most of the elevated plains of the country, have 

 been entirely extirpated; the reason being that, in the 

 hot season when the grass dries up, and likewise in the 



