J20 VOYAGE DOWN THE DON, 
chap, the course of a single day, we had break- 
XIV. 
^ fasted with one people, and were compelled to 
sup with another ; — compelled, because the con- 
sequences of refusing such invitations are very 
serious in this country, especially if these in- 
vitations are made by petty officers of the 
Russian army; who have always the power, 
and generally had the inclination, when we 
visited Russia, to embarrass and impede an 
English traveller. The distance between the 
two places does not exceed forty-five versts. 
We had left the Cossacks with sorrow, and full 
of gratitude for the politeness and the liberal 
hospitality we had experienced : the very sight 
of a Russian, under such impressions, it may 
be conceived, was doubly revolting to us. Let 
Opinion the Reader then imagine what our feelings were, 
of the Coj- when, as we landed at Azof, an impertinent 
sack5 ' young Russian officer, belonging to the garrison, 
demanded the motive which could have induced 
us to venture among a people so ferocious as 
the Cossacks. Instead of gratifying his curiosity, 
we ventured to question him; and asked him, 
whether he had ever visited them. “ Never!” 
said he : “ we consider them as so many wild 
beasts. It is true, they are rich; but God 
alone knows what they do with their money, or 
how they obtain it : we never see any of it. 
We could only refrain from replying with some 
