82 WATCH-POSTS OF THE COSSACKS. 



They consist of small wooden houses, gaily painted. There is but one 

 story, which is surrounded by a miniature gallery, and seems 

 expressly constructed to please the eye. The interior is exceedingly 

 neat and pretty, indicating an intelligence and an idea of comfort 

 which the Russians never exhibit. You will find it enriched with 

 towels, dishes of delft ware, forks, and all the most necessary utensils. 

 Usually two huts are built in one block ; the first, which we have 

 just described, is occupied for a summer residence ; it contains, gene- 

 rally, one room hung with paper of a lively design, and adorned with 

 images, flowers, and trophies of arms, which is reserved for state 

 occasions and the entertainment of strangers. The second hut, built 

 of dried clay, resembles the Russian kates, consisting of a single 

 chamber, where all the household huddle together during the winter 

 to shelter themselves from the cold. 



The traveller seldom sees in these stanitzas any but women and 

 children. With the exception of a few gray veterans, who have 

 purchased by forty years of service the right of dying under the 

 home-roof, the entire male population is under arms. Thus all the 

 work falls upon the shoulders of the women, who must repair the 

 houses, cleanse and diy the furs, take care of the children, and 

 watch the cattle. 



The Cossack soldiers, regulars and irregulars, are the guardians 

 of the Steppes. To them is intrusted the security of the traveller, 

 who is much exposed to the attacks of nomadic Turkomen, whose 

 only occupation is robbery. The surveillance of these immense 

 plains is not so difficult, however, nor does it necessitate so large a 

 force as you might suppose. Small watch-posts, or platforms, of 

 extreme simplicity of design, are raised at intervals on the higher 

 grounds ; they consist of four long stout poles planted in the earth, and 

 supporting a timber floor, which is sometimes sheltered by a roof of 

 timber. These are the observatories, the prospect-towers of the 

 Cossacks, who can thus obtain a survey over an immense sweep of 

 country, and exchange signals with one another. The horse- 

 men always remain stationed under the platform, ready to leap 



