TCHERKASK. 
.393 
of them were placed in a sieve, not a drop of 
water would pass through it. As we laughed ‘ — -v- — 
at his folly, he was very desirous to make the 
experiment; but we thought it too ridiculous 
to merit so much attention. He seemed to 
be the very Prince of impostors, and probably 
sold his trash at high prices. He shewed to us 
a piece of the true Cross : this he said he had 
brought from Jerusalem ; and, having worn it 
upon his breast, had thereby saved his life in 
battle, as a bullet striking the pretended relic 
had fallen harmless to the ground. 
Having now satisfied our curiosity in the j n ^ m,rc 
survey of this extraordinary place, we took Teh«r- 
leave of its inhabitants, and again embarked, 
accompanied by the officer who had so politely 
attended us, and whose hospitality we had 
often experienced, during the visit we had paid 
to the Cossack capital. We left Tcherhask on 
Monday the twenty-third of June, in the after- 
noon, and sailed down the Don, to Axa\j. About 
four miles' from Tcherhask is an island called 
Nunnery Isle, or The Island of the Convent , 
whence, as they relate, the Turks, in former 
times, derived women for the seraglio of the 
Grand Signior. 
i 
(1) Seven versts. 
