312 THROUGH RUSSIA ON A MUSTANG. 



Ten chances to one, if he ever had a copy of the 

 Scriptures in his hand in his life. And if he could read, 

 and was found by his pastor with a copy in his posses- 

 sion, that precious gentleman would very likely cause 

 him to be thrown into prison as a heretic and a dan- 

 gerous person ; or, still more probable, would demand 

 a bribe for omitting to do so. 



If by some extraordinary freak of human nature the 

 pastor should happen to take interest enough in his 

 work to preach an occasional sermon, before he may 

 deliver himself of a word of what he would say he has 

 got to write out his sermon and submit it to the blagotch- 

 inny, a sort of ecclesiastical spy and censor. It is un- 

 necessary to add that this worthy takes very good care 

 that no light shall penetrate the darkness of the mou- 

 jik's understanding by the channel that he controls. 



