ETHNOLOGY OF THE PRESENT DAY. 1(^3 



straight a line as the numerous natural and artificial impediments admit. This 

 is a dangerous sport, and n^niy accidents have occurred from desperate leaps 

 and headlong riding through every obstacle. 



PL 7. Jiif. ?>, represents a public meeting. The speaker is mounted on a 

 stand, surrounded by his friends -with banners and badges, and haranguing 

 in a style which all acquainted with electioneering tactics will readily com- 

 prehend. 



The Englishman's house is distinguished less by external splendor than 

 by neatness, and an appearance of comfort which invests it peculiarly 

 with the air of a home. As regards dress, the Parisian style is generally 

 followed. 



Agriculture has been carried to a high state of perfection in England ; and 

 the face of the country, with its trim inclosures, has the appearance of 

 a continued garden to those coming from lands less highly cultivated. A 

 knowledge of the theory and practice of the rotation of crops, draining, and 

 deep tillage, is widely diffused ; and the breeding and rearing of cattle, 

 and farming stock in general, are carefully attended to. The Avorking 

 farmers are generally tenants of the large landed proprietors. Small 

 properties are not common, partly in consequence of the operation of the 

 laws of entail and primogeniture. 



The Russians. 



The Russians are, in general, of medium size, well set, and compact ; have 

 large bones, and full, solid, tough muscles, black or blackish-brown hair, 

 twinkling black or blackish-brown eyes, and prominent cheek bones. Their 

 Slavonic character is, in general, distinctly visible ; of the higher classes only 

 this does not always hold good. The latter have frequently not only perfect 

 figures, but also a taller stature, on an average, than the lower classes. 

 Blooming complexions are very rarely seen among the common people of 

 Russia ; the color of their skin passes into yellowish ; and reddish or reddish- 

 brown hair is very frequent. 



With regard to dress, the Russians, even people of rank, still adhere to 

 their old national costume. They bid defiance to the terrible cold in winter 

 by long fur coats, warm boots and fur caps. The common people, however, 

 only wrap their legs with bandages of linen, cr pieces of woollen stuff or felt, 

 and then cover their feet with shoes made of bast. Their fur coats are 

 generally made of sheepskins ; people of rank, on the other hand, oflen pay 

 prodigious sums for the rarest furs. In summer, the common Russian 

 leaves the head and feet uncovered, and wears no cravat ; his cloth coat 

 (kaftan) reaches below the knee, and crosses over the breast, where it is 

 fastened by metal buttons. A girdle of woollen stuff, linen, (fee, is worn 

 around the waist. The merchants wear long cloth coats, which reach 

 almost down to the feet, fit closely, and are buttoned over the breast. 

 These coats are without pockets, and have numerous gathers on the lower 

 part. They tie a silk sash around the bod}^, and usually permit the beard 



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