ItUSSIA. 



of defcription. But of the principal nation, the Ruffians, 

 it will be expedted of us to make fome obfervations. 



Charaaer'tftics, &c. of the Inhabitants of RuJJia. — The 

 Ruffians are defcribed as a moderate-fized, vigorous, and 

 durable race of men. Their growth and longevity, 

 however, are different" in different diitri&s ; but upon 

 the whole they are rather large than fmall, commonly 

 well-built, and very feldom deformed. Their common 

 or difcriminating features are, a fmall mouth, thin lips, 

 white teeth, little eyes, low forehead, and nofe often 

 fmall and turned upwards ; the beard almoft always very 

 bulhy, and the hair varying from dark-brown to red ; 

 but feldom quite black. Their countenance expreffes 

 gravity and good nature or fagacity. Their fenfes of fight 

 and hearing are very acute, and the gait or jeftures of the 

 body indicate a peculiar and often impaffioned vivacity. 

 As to the females, a delicate fkin and ruddy complexion 

 are in the vulgar opinion regarded as the firft requifites of 

 beauty. Young girls arrive at maturity in the 12th or 1 3th 

 year, and this is afcribed to the frequent life of hot baths ; 

 but on the fame account married women feldom retain the 

 frefii complexion and the peculiar charms of youth beyond 

 the firit lying-in. 



The character of the Ruffians is mixed, like that of mod 

 other nations, as well as of individuals ; the Ruffian character 

 is, however, compofed of a very extraordinary mixture. The 

 Ruffians are a people who, with a particular degree of pride, 

 combine much fubmiffivenefs, levity, kindnefs, efpecially 

 towards foreigners, prudence and cunning on one hand, but 

 likewife fidelity and honefty on the other, a certain propen- 

 fity to fuperftition and ufury, and a great proportion of felf- 

 ifhnefs. The Ruffian eafily runs from one extreme to the 

 other. Prone as he is to fuperftition, fo apt is he to be 

 carried into the contrary failing. He hefitates long before he 

 engages in friendfhip ; but being then generally firm in his 

 attachment, he is revengeful when, in fpite of his caution, he 

 is deceived in the choice of his friend : while he fcolds, 

 threatens, and rages, no harm is to be apprehended ; but if 

 he makes no noife when he thinks himfelf offended, he is a 

 dangerous enemy. He is greatly fwayed by felf-intereit, and 

 furrenders himfelf entirely to the impetuofity of his paffions. 

 Gaming and drinking have an irrefiftible authority over him. 

 Among the lower fort it is generally the men who give them- 

 felves up to thefe exceffes ; though, indeed, a drunken 

 woman ftaggering along the Itreets is no uncommon fight. 

 The Ruffians are remarkable for their comelinefs of perfon, 

 (Irength of body, courage and intrepidity in war, inge- 

 nuity, wit, and obedience to the commands of their fu- 

 periors. 



The infatiable greedinefs of the common people for fpiri- 

 ritous liquors, efpeciallv in the maflanitza, oV carnival feafon, 

 is in a great meafure afcribable to the rigorous fafts of the 

 church, and the {lender diet they live upon throughout the 

 year. Their food chiefly confifls of turnips, cabbages, 

 peafe, falt-cucumber6, onions, coarfe fifh, with oil and black 

 bread. Their' common beverage is quas, which is a kind 

 of acidulated fmall beer. 



The Ruffian women are exceffively fond of paint, and 

 look upon ruddy cheeks as the very eflence of beauty ; fo 

 that in the Ruffian language, red and beautiful are convertible 

 terms. Even the village girls all over the country know how 

 to prepare a particular herb to the purpofes of rouge. 



Perlons of diftinftion drefs after the German and French 

 faihion, and arepallionately addi&edto Itate and fplendour. 

 The drefs of the common people is coarfe and (imple, but 

 they are neat and cleanly in their apparel. Both fexes wear 

 a crucifix on their breafts, fufpended round the neck by a 



7 



firing, which is put on at their baptifm, and never afterward* 

 put off ; thofe of the peafants are of lead ; but the better 

 fort have them of filver or gold. The peafants let their 

 beards grow to their full length. In Rufiia there are few 

 peculiar difeafes. The common Ruffians ufe but few medi- 

 cines, their place being fupplied by the iweating-bath ; and 

 indeed baths have been common in this country from time im- 

 memorial. In the bath-roam the heat is ufually from 32°to 

 40 of Reaumur ; and by throwing water every five minutes 

 on the glowing hot (tones in the chamber of the oven the 

 heat rifes to 44 . The vapour-bath is habitually ufed by 

 the Ruffians once or twice a week ; for which purpofe 

 almolt every houfe has the neceflary apartment. They often 

 fally forth naked from the bath, run about in the cold, and 

 roll themfelves in the fnow, or in fummer plunge into the 

 water, and then rufli again into the bath. 



A particular air of grace and civility is obfervable in the 

 falutations even of the common people to one another; but 

 on entering a room, before they greet the company, the cuf- 

 tom is to make repeatedly the iign of the crofs, at the fame 

 time bowing as often to the picture of fome faint, which is 

 fo placed in every room as to be feen immediately on coming 

 in. In vilits of ceremony, it is ufual for both men and women 

 to welcome each other with a kifs. Great deference, ap- 

 proaching to fervility, is (hewn to perfons of fuperior rank. 



The nation confifts chiefly of the nobility and peafantry, 

 to which we may add the burgefTes and the Kozaks or 

 Coffacks. The nobility formerly confi (ted folely of knaefesor 

 princes. Boyar is not a title of nobility, but anciently denoted 

 the polfelior of a pott or office, as a privy counfellor, &c. 

 To the former, Peter the Great added the titles of count and 

 baron. The knxfes are extremely numerous, and, therefore, 

 unlefs very rich, or of illullrious races, not greatly honoured. 

 Thisi great multitude of kncefes proceeded, among other 

 caufes, from the cultom of giving that title to the baptized 

 Tartarian murzas, in the idea that murza, among the 

 Tartars, was of nearly the fame import as knaes. Every 

 knxs, as well as every count, even though no more than 

 a common foldier, has, in virtue of his birth, the ftyk? 

 of -vajhe fiateljlvo, which is commonly tranflated your ex- 

 cellency. The nobles may be proprietors of land and people, 

 and hold the higheft offices in the civil and military depart- 

 ments. The " Dvorianini" are a kind of city-nobles, and 

 the " Odnodvortzoi" are the loweit clafs of nobleffe. The 

 burgher itate, yeomanry, or commonalty, is compofed of 

 the " Poffatfki" and " Rafnotthintzi," who live in towns 

 and villages, governed by their proper magiftrate=, whether 

 as merchants ortradeimen. They are excluded from offices 

 and pofts of fervice of honour, and furnifh head-money and 

 recruits, but cannot be vaflals. The peafants are vatfals of 

 the great, attached to the foil, gleb* adfcripti, and groan 

 under man)' oppreffions : far, however, from being dull 

 and ftupid, they are remarkably ready witted, and are in no 

 want of natural parts. Of the peafantry, fuch as belong 

 to the crown and the monafteries pay taxes according to the 

 laws of the land, and are liable to other duties impofed 

 by the fame authority ; but they may be transferred as 

 donatives from the crown. They may purfue trade, in con- 

 nection with their rural concerns, if they think it beneficial 

 or convenient. Noble boors are the vaffals of their lord ; 

 from thefe recruits for the army are taken by lot. Coffacks 

 form a particular clafs originating from the peafantry ; 

 they live exempt from taxes in villages, forts, and petty 

 towns, on the produce of their fields and paitures, or 

 the labour of their hands ; they furniih no recruits, and are 

 not given away as ferfs, and they enjoy other privileges. 

 But they all ferve as light-horfemen, as early and as long 



as 



