THE MORDVINIANS. 403 



down the Yolga as far as the Caspian. But this influence ceased in the thirteenth 

 century, when the Russians were driven westwards by the Tatar invasions. From 

 the north, however, the steady advance of the Slavs suffered no check. The 

 Novgorodians, after colonising the banks of the Dvina and its head-streams, 

 penetrated by this route to the Upper Kama basin, and even to the Ural valleys, 

 where they came in search of salt, furs, and silver. 



The Mordvcs {Mordra), more commonly known as Mordvinians, are, perhaps, 

 one of the oldest historic peoples of E-ussia, if they are to be identified with 

 Ptolemy's Aorzes, the allies of Mithridates, and still the name of one of their 

 chief tribes, the Yerzan. Under their present appellation they are mentioned by 

 the Byzantine writers as a numerous people, who were often victorious over the 

 Russians even in pitched battles. Partly subdued in the fourteenth century, bat 

 afterwards frequently attacked by the Nogais and Kalmuks, they have only 

 been completely subjected for three centuries. They still occupy all the Middle 

 Volga basin from the slopes of the Urals to the source of the Oka, but only in 

 isolated enclaves. From the geographical names it is evident that they formerly 

 held the whole of this region, but are now numerous only in the rural districts 

 near the Yolga, especially in the governments of Simbirsk, Penza, Samara, and 

 Nijni-Novgorod. Koppen estimated them at 400,000, but, including those that 

 have been completely Tatarised in language, religion, and customs, this Finnish 

 population must number from 800,000 to 1,000,000. 



Baptism has not prevented the Mordves from preserving their ancient 

 mythology, by adapting it as far as possible to the instructions of their priests. 

 Pas, their chief divinity, or "god of gods," has a son Inichi, whose worship is 

 confounded with that of Christ, and a mother Ozak, in whom they recognise the 

 Yirgin Mary. Next to these come the other gods, " Mother Earth," St. Nicholas, 

 and all the special saints, who preside over field operations, protect the crops 

 and domestic animals. "The Mordves pray better than we do," say the 

 Russians, " and their gods hear their supplications more readily than ours." 

 In other woids, the Mordves till .their land and tend their animals more carefully 

 than do their Slav neighbours. When St. Nicholas has done his duty by giving 

 them a good harvest, they reward him by smearing his mouth with butter or 

 cream ; but when dissatisfied with him they lock him ujd in the barn, or else put 

 him in a corner with his face to the wall. 



No other race perhaps sjanbolizes more dramatically their belief in immor- 

 tality and iheir dread of evil spirits. Amongst the Moksha the departed is 

 supposed to visit his house for a period of forty days, always coming at the same 

 hour, and performing his ablutions in a basin of clean water kept for the pur- 

 pose near the window. On the fortieth day the family proceed to the grave, 

 repeating the words, " Bide still with us ; come and share the meal we have 

 got ready for thee ; then rest in peace." Then the dead returns, at least in the 

 person of him amongst his friends who most resembles him, and who assumes 

 his dress, his expression of features, and his voice. As he enters the house 

 the inmates cry out, " Do not eat us, but accept our offerings." There- 



