MOSCOW. 
205 
bearing tapers ; then was borne the body, on a 
common drosky, the whip of the driver being 
bound with crape; afterwards proceeded a line 
of carriages, of the miserable order before de- 
scribed. But, instead of the slow movemient 
usually characteristic of funeral processions, the 
priests and the people ran as fast as they could, 
and the body was jolted along in a very indeco- 
rous manner. Far behind the last rumbling 
vehicle were seen persons, running, quite out of 
breath, and unable to keep up with their compa- 
nions'. 
(1) To this account of a Russian Funeral, it may be proper to add a 
description of a Russian Christening, as it was communicated to the 
author by a gentleman long resident in Moscow. The ceremony of 
Baptism is as follows As soon as a child is born, or a few days after- 
wards (unless it be too weak), the child is carried to church by the 
godfathers and godmothers ; where, being met at the door by the 
Priest, he signs the child with the sign of the cross in the forehead, 
and gives it the benediction, saying, “ The Lord preserve thy going 
out, and thy coming in They then walk up together to the font, 
round the edge of which the priest fastens four lighted wax candles, 
delivered to him by the sponsors, whom he incenses, and consecrates 
the water by dipping the cross into it with a great deal of ceremony : 
then begins a procession round the font, being followed by the sponsors 
with wax candles in their hands : thus they go about the font three 
times. The procession being over, the sponsors give the name of the 
child to the priest, in writing: the priest puts the name upon an image, 
which he holds upon the child's breast, and asks, “ Whether the child 
believe in God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost r The sponsors having 
answered yes, three times, they all turn their backs to the font, as a 
sign of their aversion to the three next questions to be asked by the 
priest, viz. “ Whether the child renounce the Devil f Whether he re- 
nounce his angels f Whether he renounce his works l The sponsors 
answer. 
CHAP. 
IX. 
* 
