d in which the Emperor is accustomed to
manoeuvre several regiments of cavalry and infantry together. People at
the farther end look like pigmies. The ground was now covered with
lamps, in preparation for the illumination. Their next excursion was to
the Tartar quarter of the city, where there is a Tartar mosque. The
Tartar dwellings are low cottages in wide courtyards. The mosque was of
much the same character, only there was a pigsty at one side of the
yard. In their search for the mosque they entered several courtyards,
where the women, old and young, in striped dressing-gown-looking robes,
hurried away to hide themselves from the strangers. At the usual early
hour the muezzin mounted to the roof of the mosque, and in a loud voice
summoned the faithful to prayer.

"It is sad," observed Fred, "to find people in the centre of what is
called a Christian land who are totally ignorant of a Saviour."

"Very sad indeed," replied Cousin Giles; "but if we look at home we
shall find sights still more sad. In London itself there exist
thousands of Englishmen who not only have never heard of the Saviour,
but do not know of the existence of a God. Every year is indeed working
a change, and diminishing their numbers, through the exertions of
christian and philanthropic men; but when you grow older it will be a
subject worthy of your attention, and you should not rest till all in
your native land have the gospel preached to them."

On their way back they bought some of the rush shoes worn by the
peasants. They are made of rushes which grow on the banks of the Volga.
They are more like sandals than shoes, being fastened on with thongs
round the ankles. Their cost is about twopence a pair.

After dinner they drove to the Sparrow Hills, about five miles west of
the city. The road was execrable, full of ruts and holes. They passed
the palace of the Empress-Mother, which has some handsome gardens. They
saw also an asylum for the widows and children of decayed merchants. It
is a wide, extended building, with a church in the centre. Russia
contains numerous charitable asylums, generally well conducted. They
are, however, not to be compared to the numberless ostentatious
charities of which our beloved country, with all her shortcomings, may
justly boast. Their carriage took the travellers to the top of the
Sparrow Hills, which are of no great elevation. They slope steeply down
to the Moscowa, which, after passing the