MOSCOW. 
53 
each side, surmounted oy eagles' 2 . On the left chap. 
is the guard-house. Within this gate a number \ , 
of slaves were employed, removing the mud 
from the streets, which had been caused by 
the melting of the snow. Peasants with their 
khabithas, in great numbers, were leaving the 
town. Into these vehicles the slaves amused 
themselves by heaping as much of the mud as 
they could collect, unperceived by the drivers, 
who sat in front. The officer appointed to 
superintend their labour chanced to arrive and 
detect them in their filthy work, and we hoped 
he would instantly have prohibited such an 
insult from being offered to the poor men. His 
conduct, however, only served to afford another 
trait of the national character. Instead of pre- 
venting any further attack upon the khabithas, 
he seemed highly entertained by the ingenuity 
of the contrivance ; and, to encourage the sport, 
ordered every peasant to halt, and to hold his 
horse, while they filled his khabitha with the 
mud and ordure of the streets ; covering with 
it the provisions of the poor peasants, and 
whatever else their khabithas might contain, 
with which they were going peaceably to their 
wives and families. At last, to complete their 
scandalous oppression, they compelled each 
(2) See the Vignette to Chap. V. of this Volume. 
