350 
DON COSSACKS. 
chap. The morning after our arrival, the General, 
— v — > who was Commander-in-chief over all the 
tl'un o™a district, including the town of Tcherkask , as the 
Festival, metropolis, came to Axay. The day was to be 
celebrated as a festival, in honour of the recovery 
of one of the Emperor’s children from the small- 
pox inoculation. He invited us to dinner ; and 
in the forenoon we accompanied him, with all 
the staff-officers, to a public ceremony in the 
church. Entering this building, we were much 
surprised by its internal magnificence. The 
screen of the altar was painted of a green colour, 
and adorned with gold : before it was suspended 
a very large chandelier, filled with tapers of green 
wax. This screen, and all the interior of the 
church, were covered with pictures; some of 
them being tolerably well executed, and all of 
them curious, owing to their singularity, and 
to the extraordinary figures they served to 
represent. Here were no seats, as in other 
Russian churches. The General placed himself 
against a wall on the right hand facing the 
sacristy, standing upon a step covered with a 
carpet, which was raised about four inches 
from the level of the floor. We were directed 
to place ourselves by his right hand. The other 
Cossacks, whether in military or civil dresses, 
stood promiscuously in the body of the church. 
