TO WORONETZ. 
235 
flowers, and there were none worthy of a par- ciiap. 
ticular notice. The whole territory, whether ' / 
to the south of Moscow, • or in any other direc- 
tion, is flat. The great Oriental plain extends 
from that city even to Tobolsky in Siberia, and 
throughout all the southern provinces; appearing 
generally destitute of wood, and being always 
without mclosures. 
In a narrative of travels through Russia, there state of 
is no reason to fear any account of adventures 
at inns. Except in large towns, such houses 
are never seen ; and even there they are abo- 
minable. Better accommodation may be had 
in the farm-houses of Lapland peasants, than in 
Russian inns. In the latter, the rooms consist 
of bare walls, filthy beyond description, desti- 
tute of any article of furniture. Sometimes 
these houses are kept by foreigners; and, in 
this case, the evil is not mended; because, 
although a little old furniture be then intro- 
duced, it is always dirty, and affords a recep- 
tacle for every kind of vermin. A person who 
wishes to traverse Russia, must consider it as 
Antient Scythia ; being provided with every thing 
he may require. If he can endure fatigue, with 
little sleep, and live constantly covered with 
dust, exposed to a scorching sun ; or to severe 
frost, with a couch of snow to lie upon, beneath 
