The Russian ladies have always a certain number of their female slaves, who are brought up with more than usual care, and in fact educated for the department they are to fill. These, " the menial fair that round her wait," are, like those so often spoken ofby Homer, the constant attendants upon her person, and as humble companions contribute to her pleasure and her .
profit in various ways ; they are skilled in ornamental work of different kinds. Mrs. Hince shewed me the tambour-frames and some very handsome embroidery which her young women were employed in. My thoughts continually reverted to the poet, while she directed and encouraged their labour " Go with the Queen, the spindle guide ; or cull " (The partners of her cares) the silver wool." Although slaves of every description are attached to the soil, and the buying and selling them separately is strictly forbidden, yet it nevertheless frequently takes place ; and a young woman brought up in the way I have described, and excelling in anyone art, whether it be dancing, singing, or needle-work of any kind, is worth a considerable sum, and that sum varies according totheaccomplishmentshe possesses, or thedegreeofproficiencytowhichshehas attained, and she is sure to have a ready purchaser*. .
* It may be affirmed without exaggeration, that in the house of a Russian nobleman, there are five or six times as many domestics, as are kept in families of equal rank, in any In addition to the similitudes which exist in the offices assigned to these attendants, we must not forget that their conditions were, in other respects, frequently the same ; such, for instance, was the servile state of the sage Euryclea : " Daughter of Ops, the first Pisenor's son, " For twenty beeves by fani'd Laertes won." This custom of purchasing slaves, or menials, by live stock, is also very frequently practised in Russia*.
other country of Europe ; and the retainers of both sexes in some of the great houses of Petersburgh, amount to a hundred and fifty, or two hundred persons. Tooke's Survey, vol. iii. p. 307.
* Of this disregard of the law, with respect to slaves, Tooke says :
" There is indeed no law extant, by virtue whereof the boors are granted to the noblemen heritably, and as property in fee simple ; but it grew into a custom (contrary to express injunctions) to make them retinue of the manor, and under this denomination to sell them singly. This unlawful procedure was at first connived at, then pervertedly expounded, and at length by long practice, took the place of law." Tone's Hist, of Russia, vol. i. p. 350.
The Russian salutation is very contrary to our etiquette. The ladies in meeting, kiss each other on the lips and cheeks ; and a lady and gentleman meeting, the latter kisses the hand ofthe lady, and inclines his cheek towards her, which she kisses ; and omitting to do this, is a proof of great distance of manner, arising from either superiority of rank, slight acquaintance, or offence.
At the six stations we passed between Homil and Tchernigoff, nothing particular occurred.
We staid at the latter place a day and night.
It is a district town, and altogether a good one; having some handsome churches, and much better shops than any we had seen on the Continent.
Of the cheapness of all kinds of provisions I might frequently have spoken ; we bought here 38 Ibs. ofrump beefat ten kopeeks, or one penny English money per Ib. ; beef and mutton in the Crimeathesame price. At Polotskweboughttwo good turkeys for three rubles ; and at Karasubazaravery fatlarge turkeyfortworubles, ortwentypence. Bread is not equally cheap ; it isbought much at the same price as in London : but all proprietors have their own wheat, and bread made athome is much cheaper. At Tchernigoff dried fruits begin to be abundant and cheap; good raisins fifty kopeeks, or fivepence perpound; prunes thirty kopeeks ; we have since bought them for twenty, or for fifteen kopeeks per pound; and raisins at forty : currants at Odessa, a box of thirty-six pounds, or a Russian pood, for ten rubles, or eight shillings and fourpence, bought in the wholesale, and in retail about fivepence per pound.