JOURNEY I'EOM ST. PETERSBURG. 21 



The attention of the Kussian 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 worl:; 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 



