3G8 
DON COSSACKS. 
chap, the churches, called “ The benediction of bread: 
, — 1 2 upon these occasions, five white haves are 
placed in the middle of each church ; symbols 
of those with which Christ fed the multitude. 
The people then pray, that, “ as with five loaves 
he fed five thousand, he would vouchsafe a 
sufficiency of corn in the country for the bread 
of its inhabitants, and bless it for their use." 
origin of It is uncertain whence a notion originated, 
tllG Ct)t m 
sacks. that the Cossacks are of Polish origin ; but, as 
it has become prevalent, a seasonable oppor- 
tunity now offers to prove that it is founded in 
error. The Cossacks have been acknowledged, 
as a distinct people, nearly nine hundred years. 
According to Constantine Porphyrogenetes, they 
were called Casachs in the age of that writer. 
This name is found in the appellation of a tribe 
residing near Caucasus. “ And beyond the Pa- 
pagian country,’’ says he', “is the country 
called Casachia; but beyond the Casachs are 
the summits of Caucasus." Our countryman, 
Jonas Hamvay, calls the Don Cossacks “ a spe- 
cies of TahtarsV’ Storch, who has written 
(1) Kent elvwtiiv rrjf Tlx-rocyitif %Moct{ iffriv >» b Xtyopciv*) KA^AXIA, 
civwfav 2s tvs KA2AXIAX b'gn ret KctvxetertK tiffin. Constanlinus dc Admi- 
nistraiid. I m per. in fin. cap. xlii. p. 133. Lugd. But . 161 !• 
( 2 ) Hanway’s Travels, vol.I. p. 1)7. 
