COSSACKS. 



263 



Cossacks. 



On the Don, including Tcherchaskoy, which 



contains eleven 62 



On the Danaetz 9 



On the Choper 20 



On the Medveditz 11 



On the Bouzoulook .... - 10 



Total 112 



Each stanitza has a certain portion of land and fish- 

 cry allotted to it by government, and an annual allow- 

 ance of corn, according to the returned number of Cos- 

 sacks. The distribution of the land among the inha- 

 bitants is settled by themselves with their Ataman; 

 and every individual may either retain his proportion 

 in his own possession, or let it out to farm. The Ata- 

 man, or Hetman, is both the civil and military com- 

 mander of the place, and is annually chosen by the 

 people. He used formerly, when the Cossacks were 

 called upon actual service, to march at the head of his 

 .Stanitza ; but now he merely furnishes the required con- 

 tingent of troops, which is put under officers named by 

 the crown. The respect that is paid to him is entirely 

 temporary, and only when he is engaged in the execu- 

 tion of his duty. If he convened any of the inhabi- 

 tants upon business, however trivial, Dr Clarke obser- 

 ved that they made their obeisance before him, stand- 

 ing bare-headed, as in the presence of a sovereign ; 

 but the moment the assembly was dissolved, he passed 

 unheeded among them, receiving no other mark of re- 

 epect than any of the other Cossacks. These Atamans 

 are all subject to the Glavnoi Ataman, who is general- 

 issimo of the armies of the 1 )on ; and an appeal from 

 their decisions lies to the Chanceiy at Tcherchaskoy, 

 which consists of the Glavnoi Ataman as president, and 

 the officers of the regiments as a council. The Glavnoi 

 Ataman was formerly elected by the other Atamans, 

 and his authority was almost absolute ; but lie is now 

 appointed by the crown, and greatly diminished in 

 power The Cossacks are exempted from all taxes, 

 even from those of salt and distillation ; and for the 

 levies, which are required by their internal constitu- 

 tion, they impose small contributions on themselves. 

 Military But for their allowance and privileges, they are liable 

 •tate. t i) C called out on military service in any part of the 



world for a term not exceeding three years, mounted, 

 clothed, and armed at their own expence. They must 

 consequently be at all times completely ready to march, 

 and when on actual service, they receive pay as other 

 Russian soldiers, and are furnished by government with 

 food and camp equipage. Those who have served three 

 years, are generally freed from foreign service, except 

 upon particular emergencies ; and are employed chiefly 

 in the cordon along the Caucasus, or in the duties of 

 the post and police. After twenty years, their service 

 are required only in the duties of the police, or in as- 

 sisting the corn-boats over the shallows of the Don ; 

 and after twenty-five years service, they are entitled to 

 complete exemption. Their officers were formerly with- 

 out rank, and might be placed under a subaltern in the 

 army, but they have now rank in the army ; and their 

 polki or regiments are put on a more regular footing, 

 being uniformly clothed and accoutred. The military 

 duty of the Don Cossacks, considering the state of the 

 Russian peasantry, is well repaid by their privileges 

 and the freedom which they enjoy ; and " free as a 

 Cossack," is a common proverb among their fellow sub- 

 jects. War, indeed, is their greatest pleasure, for then 



Accbtftr 

 nienl;. 



they live according to their inclinations, and sometimes Cossack?. 

 enrich themselves with the spoils of the enemy ; and s "" ■"V"""" 

 as they are more employed in service than the other 

 corps of Cossacks, they are consequently better soldiers. 



They are in general well made, handsome, and taller Appear- 

 than the Russians. " There is something extremely ance. 

 martial," says Dr Clarke, " and even intimidating, in 

 the first appearance of a Cossack. His dignified and 

 majestic look; his elevated brows and dark mustachoes; 

 his tall helmet of black wool, terminated by a crimson 

 sack, with its plume, laced festoons, and white cockade; 

 his upright posture ; the ease and elegance of his gait, 

 give him an air of great importance." — " Their dresses JDfe^. 

 were much richer than any thing we had seen in Russia, 

 although all were uniform. Each person's habit con- 

 sisted of a blue jacket, edged with gold, and lined with 

 silk, fastened by hooks across the chest. Beneath the 

 jacket appeared a silk waistcoat, the lower part of 

 which was concealed by the sash. Large and long 

 trowsers, either of the same material as the jacket, or of 

 white dimity, kept remarkably clean, were fastened 

 high above the waist, and covered their boots. The 

 sabre is not worn, except on horseback, on a journey, 

 or in war. In its place is substituted, a switch or cane, 

 with an ivory head : this every Cossack bears in hi3 

 hand as an appendage of his dress ; being at all times 

 prepared to mount his horse at a moment's notice. 

 Their cap or helmet is the most beautiful part of the 

 costume ; because it is becoming to every set of fea- 

 tures. It adds considerably to their height; and gives, 

 with the addition of whiskers, a military air to the most 

 insignificant figure. They wear their hair short round 

 the head, but not thin upon the crown. It is generally 

 dark, thick, and quite straight. The cap is covered by 

 a very soft and shining black wool. Some of them 

 have civil and military distinctions of habit ; wearing 

 in time of peace, instead of the jacket, a long frock 

 without buttons. The sash is sometimes yellow, green, 

 or red, though generally black ; and they wear large 

 military gloves. There is no nation in the world more 

 neat with regard to dress ; and whether young or old, 

 it seems to become them all." — " We never saw a Cos- 

 sack in a dirty suit of clothes," he afterwards adds; 

 " their hands, moreover, are always clean, their hair 

 free from vermin, their teeth white, and their skin has 

 a healthy and cleanly appearance." When on active 

 service, every Cossask must keep two horses, one for 

 himself and the other for carrying provisions, &c. 

 Their arms consist of a lance about twelve feet in length, 

 with an iron head, and a small streamer attached to it ;. 

 a brace of pistols, with a cartouch box ; a sabre, with- 

 out either guard or cross bar, and a whip, which hangs 

 from the right wrist ; and which, being made of plait- 

 ed leather as thick as one's thumb, they sometimes use 

 against a conquered enemy, as well as for stimulating 

 their horses; Their horses are small, but strong and 

 active, and admirably trained. Their saddle is merely 

 a wooden frame, with a leather cushion upon it, and 

 under it is laid a piece of felt to save the horse's back. 

 They ride short and full-footed, raising themselves in. 

 their stirrups, and bending their bodies with great ac- 

 tivity; and never push then horses on full speed in a 

 straight line, but when galloping wheel continually in 

 a serpentine direction to the right and left. Each re- 

 giment has two or more banners of silk, on which are 

 painted a patron saint, arms, &c. but they have no 

 martial music. When not in action, the lance is slung 

 on the foot or on the pummel of the saddle ; but when 



