COSSACKS OF THE BLACK SEA. ' 
5 
place until about nine years previous to our 
arrival in the country. Their society upon 
the Dnieper originally consisted of refugees and 
deserters from all nations, who had formed a 
settlement in the marshes of that river 1 . Storch 
affirms, that there was hardly a language in 
Europe but might be found in use among this 
singular people 5 . 
In consequence of the service they rendered 
to Russia, in her last war with T urkey, 
Catherine, by an ukase of the second of June 
1792, ceded to them the Peninsula of Taman, 
and all the countries between the Kuban and 
(1) “ These men originally were deserters and vagabonds from all 
nations, who had taken refuge in the marshy islands of the Dnieper. 
At the foundation of Cherson, they were chased from their homes, and 
took shelter at the. mouth of the Danube, still preserving their charac- 
ter of fishermen and pirates. Potemkin offering them pay and lands, 
they returned to the side of Russia, and did great service in the second 
Turkish war. They received as a reward the country newly conquered 
from the Kuban Tartars. They hold their lands by the same tenure, 
and enjoy nearly the same privileges, as the Don Cossacks. They are, 
however, much poorer, and more uncivilized, and never quit their 
country, where indeed they have sufficient employment. They receive 
no pay, except an allowance of rye ; and. dress themselves at their own 
expense, and in whatever colours they choose, without any regard to 
uniformity . The officers, for the most part, wear red boots, which is 
their only distinction. They deal largely in cattle, and have a barter 
of salt for corn w ith the Circassians They are generally called 
thieves. We found them, however, very honest, where their point of 
honour was touched, very good-natured, and, according to their scanty 
means, hospitable.” Heber's MS, Journal. 
(2) Storch, Tableau de Russ. tom. I. p. G2. 
B 2 
CHAP. 
I. 
1 v 
