DON COSSACKS. 
301 
predecessors had generally changed when the chap. ! 
time arrived. We soon perceived that the - — * — ' 
Cossacks are characterized by great liveliness and. 
animation; that they are little disposed to a 
sedentary life, but fond of amusement, and 
violent when their passions are roused. In 
their dances, drinking-songs, and discussions, 
they betray great vehemence. They have 
abundance of excellent food, and as much brandy 
as they may think proper to drink. It is there- 
fore surprising that order is so well maintained 
in their stanitzcis. 
However indisposed a traveller may be to ideal Dan- 
listen to those false alarms which the inhabitants country.’* 5 
of every country raise in the minds of strangers 
who wish to explore any remote part of their 
territory, it is not possible at all times to disre- 
gard such relations, especially when they come 
from persons of the highest authority, and who 
pretend to accurate knowledge of the facts they 
attempt to substantiate. In Russia , there was 
not an individual, of any respectability, with 
whom we conversed upon the subject of our 
journey, who did not endeavour to dissuade us 
from the danger of traversing what was termed 
“ the deserts of the Don Cossacks." The event, 
however, served to convince us of the misrepre- 
sentation, and absurdity of such statements. 
