consisted of fifteen women and eight men. The women were
seated in a semicircle; the leader and another man, with guitars in
their hands, stood in front of them; the rest stood behind. Some of the
women had guitars. One of the girls sang a solo very well, the rest of
the band joining in an extravagantly wild, fantastic chorus; the leader,
meantime, skipping and turning and twisting about in the most absurd and
inelegant manner. They sang several songs in the same style, some more
wild and extraordinary than the first, certainly not suited to a refined
taste. Yet this place was evidently a fashionable resort; the
entrance-money was very high,--a silver rouble and a quarter,--and the
company were all well-dressed, well-behaved people, evidently ladies and
gentlemen, chiefly the residents of the neighbourhood, a fashionable
suburb of Moscow.

The houses in the neighbourhood were evidently built only for summer
use, for they were all, though differing in shape, of a Swiss-cottage
style. The travellers had been so busily engaged all day, that, having
satisfied their curiosity by seeing the gipsies, they had no inclination
to remain for the pyrotechnic display, and therefore, going in search of
their carriage, they drove back to Moscow.

They had now seen a good deal of the outside of the city--not all,
perhaps, that was to be seen, but enough to give them a very fair
general idea of it. There were many convents, and churches, and
colleges, and hospitals, and other public institutions, which they had
not had time to visit; and then there was the great event which was to
take place in a few weeks, the coronation of the Emperor, at which it
was expected that the representatives of all the nations of Europe would
attend; but our friends preferred seeing somewhat of the interior of the
country to waiting for it, and they therefore resolved on setting off at
once, and returning, if possible, in time for the occasion.

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Since the period spoken of the serfs have been emancipated, and these
laws are no longer in force. The peasantry are, however, subject to the
fearful conscription, and are liable to be torn from their homes to
serve in the armies of the Emperor.

CHAPTER TEN.

Journey in a Tarantasse--Monotony of Scenery--Description of
Population in Russia--The Mujicks or Peasants--Their Habitations and
Mode of Life--The Religion of Rus