DON COSSACKS. 
347 
information to the geographers of Europe. It chap. 
is some consolation that we were allowed to ^ — v — > 
delineate the different channels of the Don, 
towards its embouchure: this will be found a 
faithful representation. For the rest, it may be 
said, the course of the Doji itself is not accu- 
rately given in our best maps ; and of the other 
rivers falling into it, not even the names are 
noticed. Those steppes which are described as 
being so desolate, and which appear like a vast 
geographical blank in every atlas, are filled with 
inhabitants. Stanitsas are stationed along the 
numerous rivers traversing them ; although the 
common route, by not following the course of 
any of those rivers, afford no knowledge of the 
number of the people. They contain one hun- Population 
dred stanitzus, or settlements, and two hundred Territory, 
thousand Cossack inhabitants 5 . Of this number, 
thirty-five thousand are in arms. There are 
also, in the territory of the Don Cossacks, thirty 
thousand Calmucks : five thousand bearin'? arms, 
as persons who are ready at all times for actual 
service. The last are not permitted to leave 
the country, although it be extraordinary how 
persons of their vagrant inclination and habits 
(2) For a further account of their population, see the Note, extracted 
Irom Mr. Heber’ s MS. Journal, iu a subsequent page, containing much 
valuable information. 
