TO WORONETZ. 
231 
authors have asserted that each peasant made 
his own. Formerly this, might have been the 
case ; and perhaps in the interior it is so now. 
Such shops, however, prove that the rudest and 
the most antient kind of sandal in the world, 
which is common to man in a state of nature, 
and roaming his primeval forests, is even now 
an article of commerce 4 
At every station upon the route there is an 
officer, who is called Potchedlione, to superintend 
the post, and to see that travellers are regularly 
supplied with horses. Some of these men, 
however, will not furnish horses without a bribe, 
even when the Imperial order has been produced. 
We experienced some delay at Serpuchof, from 
a person of this description. Our order directed, 
that if horses were not found at the post-house, 
the officer on duty should procure others from 
the peasants. Being told there were no horses, 
the author went into the office, to enforce this 
order. As he entered, the Potchetilione com- 
manded him to take off his hat : and having 
asked for what reason he was to remain bare- 
headed in that place ; “ What, are you blind," 
exclaimed the superintendant, in a tone of great 
insolence, “ that you do not see the Emperor's 
chap. 
X. 
' — * — ' 
Insolence 
and Extor- 
tion. 
(2J See the Vignette to this Chapter. 
