THE LF.SGHIAN MOUNTAINS. 273 



would be able to share our enthusiasm for the 

 scenery of Lesghia. 



On our return we were met by an admiring 

 crowd, amongst whom for a few minutes one woman 

 remained, curiosity in her case overcoming the 

 modest scruples of her race. We made the best of 

 our opportunity, and photographed her promptly; 

 but alas! it was only the ' baboushka.' 



As the ; baboushka ' is a variety of the female 

 race to the best of my knowledge unknown in 

 England, I may as well take this opportunity of 

 describing her. She is quite an institution in 

 Russia, no household being complete without her. 

 Generally she is the mother of the paterfamilias, 

 sometimes only -his mother-in-law, at others merely 

 an aged female relative who wants a home and is 

 willing to undertake the housekeeping in return 

 for one. Whatever she is, wherever she comes 

 from, there she is, the motive managing power of 

 every moujik's home : in manner quiet, giving 

 precedence to the wife, making no complaint when 

 the husband gets drunk, no stirrer-up of strife, no 

 busybody, but just a quiet old crone, with an eye on 

 the children, an immense capacity for drudgery, 

 and sufficient experience to help the wife in all her 

 little troubles. Her corner is on the top of the 

 'petchka' (oven), whither she retires early in the 

 evening, emerging thence to get the samovar 

 ready long l>efore daylight. Her weaknesses are 



T 



