;S2 FROM WORONETZ 
chap. Their macliines are not quite so simple as those 
_ ~ , j used, in many parts of Italy. They consisted 
of wooden combs, placed upon a stick driven 
into the ground, to contain the flax, and not 
rising higher than the knee : while the right 
hand is employed in spinning, the left manages 
the spindle. This manner. of living affords a 
striking contrast to the Government that op- 
presses them ; for we observed an air of liberty 
in these wild and wide plains, ill suited to the 
reflections we had before made on the general 
condition of the peasants. The severity of the 
winter here is hardly reconcileable with the 
appearance of a country abounding in plants 
which arc found in warm climates: yet the 
snow annually affords a sledge-road, the whole 
way from the Gulph of Finland, to the Sea of 
Azof. 
Pnduiot From Celo Usmany we travelled, over similar 
tlTy. 0V ' plains, to Poduloli Moscovskoy, where we passed 
the night in a wretched village, the miserable 
inhabitants of which were not even able to light 
a candle. Nothing could be more revolting 
than the sight of their hovels, open to all the 
inclemencies of the weather, and destitute 
of every comfort or common convenience 
of life. They were said to be settlers from 
Tver. 
3 
