THE estates in the Crimea have no slaves attached to them ; those, however, of the other districts of South Russia, that are in the hands of private proprietors, are sold as the great Russian estates, with slaves ; though I believe in all cases having a much smaller number than either those of Poland or Russia Proper, and never exceeding, or seldom attaining 500. When these estates were sold, or granted to the proprietors, they were purchased at very low rates, from five to ten kopeeks per desaiteen, with the proviso, that one male soul, or one ox, cow, horse, mare, ortwo sheep per desaiteen, were put upon them, to stock the property.
Boors, or peasants, can scarcely be said to form so much a part of the property, as that they are the property itself; as when estates of this sort are sold, the boors, their families, wives, and children, and the respective ages of all, are regularly stated. Ofcourse land, live-stock, and implements, are included; but all these are considered as objects of inferior importance, and frequently are not so much as mentioned in the " particular ofan estate." There are two ways by which the proprietor of the soil receives a profit out ofhis land. The one is by the hard labour ofhis boors, in which case the village is divided into two parts, one to work for the maintenance of the boors, their families, live stock, &c. and the other half are compelled to labour for their lord ; and it is at his option either to draw out half the gang of a village, to work regularly every day from year's end to year's end, or to call out its entire population; in which case they work every other day for him, and the alternate one for themselves ; but this is seldom practised.
The second mode by which the master derives a profit from his boors, is by a capitation tax.
This is far the most advantageous for the boors themselves, but the worse practice for the interests of the lord; yet it obtains almost universally among the great and wealthy proprietors.
The sameness of life in the Crimea, more especially to the proprietor resident in the country, is like the profound stillness of a lake, which is seldom interrupted, except by some passing bird, which may delight the solitary observer on its shores, but little affects its peaceful inhabitants. The rejoicing of a festival among the villagers, or the accidental visit ofsome officer of the government, (who, finding it convenient to have a night's lodging on a couch, rather than in his calesk on the Stepp, therefore pays an occasional visit to the proprietor), are events ofthe greatest magnitude, and produce as much bustle in the family where they occur, as for the time may lessen the enjoyment ofthose members of it, who by long habitude are disposed to the continuance of inanity.
The Tatar, for reanimation, has recourse to his pipe; his wife to her holiday clothes, and a visit; the Russian to a drinking frolic, which once begun, may last for a week or two ; there is no telling how long, or guessing how soon the fascination of the cup may cease, or reason be restored to her throne; but when she has regained her seat, he returns submissive, and with increased alacrity, to his duty, and will kiss the feet of his offended master. The German takes the same course, but not with equal success, for the electrical power has much less influence over him ; he is naturally too stupid to be elicited, even by such means. The Greek, too, takes the cordial cup with almost as much zest as though it were the one which the fair Helen prepared for Telemachus ; he drinks till he is merry, and then dances till he thirsts again. The Russian drinks brandy; the Greek, wine: the Russian drinks till he is senseless he sleeps, recovers, and returns to drink again. The Greek drinks till his spirits are elated, and all around him seems gay ; he takes his balalaika, the dancers assemble around him, quick as his spirits, pass his fingers over the strings, and the dancers' feet keep time to its simple tones.
The Russian proprietor will sometimes condescend to join the carousal of his vassals and tenantry ; and his wife, with her female attendants, may be seen playing at blindman's-buff, or moving about in masquerade, either in Greek or Tatar attire. The Greek merchant makes it holiday around him whenever he visits his estate, taking with him friends, to divest the country of its loneliness, and solitude of its terrors.