TO MOSCOW. 
were gone to church. It consisted only of a 
mess of pottage. Presently her husband, a 
boor, came in, attended by his daughters, with 
some small loaves of white bread not larger 
than a pigeon’s egg : these the priest had con- 
secrated, and they placed them with great care 
before the bogh 1 2 . Then the bowing and cross- 
ing commenced ; and they began their dinner, all 
eating out of the same bowl. Dinner ended, 
they went regularly to bed, as if to pass the 
night there, crossing and bowing as before. 
Having slept about an hour, one of the young 
women, according to a custom constantly ob- 
served, called her lather, and presented him 
with a pot of vinegar, or Quass, the Russian 
beverage *. The man then rose ; and a complete 
fit of crossing and bowing seemed to seize him, 
with interludes so inexpressibly characteristic 
and ludicrous, that it was very difficult to pre- 
serve gravity. The pauses of scratching and 
grunting — the apostrophes to his wife, to him- 
(1) This practice of placing an offering of bread from the Temple 
before the Household God, was an antient Heathen custom. 
(2) It is made by mixing flour and water together, and leaving it 
till the acetous fermentation has taken place. The flavour is like that 
of vinegar and water. It looks turbid, and is very unpleasant to 
strangers ; but, by use, we became fond of it ; and in the houses of 
Nobles, where attention is paid to its brewing, this acidulous 
beverage is esteemed a delicacy, especially during summer. 
* 
45 
CHAP. 
III. 
