OFFICE OF STARCHINA. 115 



places, and tii'ecl with the duties of office, the 

 great men took themselves off for a drink. 



The office of starchina is awarded by 

 election amongst the members of each village, 

 and the duration of office was, I was told, 

 from three to seven years ; but on this head 

 my informants disagreed. As a rule, the 

 office is an unimportant one, as its holder has 

 no real authority, and the members of his 

 village community appear to obey or disobey 

 him pretty much as they please. Moreover, 

 the position is one not greatly sought after, 

 and one of our guides assured me that three 

 roubles' worth of watki judiciously distributed 

 would any day secure the election of the man 

 who gave it. 



It would be unkind in me to ask my 

 readers to follow me through the hours of 

 weary haggling, under a scorching sun, to 

 which I had to submit, before horses and 

 men were at last hired ; making- agreements 



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