JOURNEY FROM ST. PETERSBURG. 21 



The attention of the Russian peasants to these little pro- 

 prieties of religion is something very marked, and 

 exceedingly beautiful. Now and again, when travelling, 

 you come across a squad of workmen, say half-a-dozen in 

 number, preparing to sit down to dinner on board a barge, 

 or on land. There is a huge black iron pot, the " yitling " 

 of the North of England, before them, filled with cabbage- 

 soup, and small bits of meat, or fish-soup. Standing 

 round the pot in a circle, they cross themselves, and then 

 sitting down partake of their frugal meal, taking along 

 with it large hunks of black bread, with the utmost pro- 

 priety. The foreman takes the first spoonful, and then 

 lays it down, the others take their turn, and this is 

 repeated until the pot is emptied, and the fish-bones 

 picked as clean as fish-bones can be picked, when all of 

 them rise, cross themselves, and after a little rest are 

 ready again for work. The Volga boats call at a number 

 of stations, and at all of them wood is brought on board 

 to fire the engine. This work is invariably done by 

 women, who certainly have no sinecure. At these stations 

 every variety of edibles, and simple drinkables, including 

 " quass," a fermented liquor made by steeping black bread 

 in water, is to be had in great abundance. The peasants 

 line the landing-stage with their different commodities, 

 chickens and ducks ready cooked, fish also cooked 

 although no true Russian will ever object to eat raw salt 

 fish : it is a wonder they do not get an attack of diarrhoea, 

 apples, nuts, beautiful bread, white and black, gherkins, 

 cucumbers, and milk. I several times bought a cham- 

 pagne bottle filled with delicious milk, bottle and milk 

 costing only ten kopecks. A number of the river passen- 

 gers in Russia supply themselves with food at these 

 landing-stages, and thus, it is needless to say they are 

 able to live very cheaply/ 



In spring the river is full, filled with the product 

 of melted snow. In mid-summer and autumn it is less 

 abundantly supplied with water, and sand banks render 



