At the approach of this formidable invasion towards the Don, that portion of the Komans located on the left bank took refuge in the marshes, and in the numerous islands formed by that river near its embouchure. Here they found a secure retreat; and from thence, having, from their new position, acquired maritime habits and seafaring experience, they not only, themselves, resorted to piracy as a means of existence, but likewise enlisted in a formidable confederacy, for purposes of rapine and pillage, all the roving and discontented tribes in their surrounding neighbourhood. These latter were very numerous. The Tatars, ever but indiflferent seamen, had not the courage to join them in these piratical expeditions. This division of the Komans is indubitably the parent-stock of the modern Cossacks of the Don, by far the most numerous of the Cossack tribes: by amalgamation, however, with whole hosts of Tatar and Calmuck hordes, lawless, desperate, and nomadic as themselves, they lost, in some degree, the primitive and deeply-marked distinctive character of their race.
The Komans of the Dnieper offered no more energetic resistance to the invading hordes of Batukhan than had been shown by their brethren of the Don: they dispersed in various directions; and from this people, flying at the advance of the ferocious Tatars, descended a variety of hordes, who occasionally figure in history as distinct and independent nations. Some of them hastened to implore the hospitality of Bella IV., king of Hungaria: they made their appearance as supplicants for his protection; lands were distributed to them, a chief assigned as their ruler, and efiTorts were made to polish and soften down their rude and ferocious manners. As long as the danger lasted, they remained quiet; but, after a while, incapable of subjection to the yoke of a calm and peaceful existence, they broke out into open revolt, massacred the chief who had been set over them; and resumed their former life of rapine and pillage. Being consequently attacked with considerable forces, they were defeated and pursued with great virulence; and ultimately found a permanent resting-place in the wild islets of the Dnieper, below the cataracts, where dwelt already a small number of their ancient compatriots, who had escaped the general destruction of their nation. This spot became the cradle of the Cossacks of the Ukraine, or of the tribes known in after times as the Polish Cossacks.
When Guedjmum, Grand Duke of Lithuania, after having defeated twelve Russian princes on the banks of the Pierna, conquered Kiow with its dependencies, in 1320, the wandering tribes scattered over the steppes of the Ukraine owned his allegiance. After the victories of Olgierd, of Vitold, and of Ladislas Jagellon, over the Tatars and the Russians, large bodies of Scythian militia, known subsequently by the comprehensive denomination of Cossacks, or Kosaques, served under these conquerors: and after the union of -the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with Poland, in 1386, they'continued under the dominion of the grand dukes of Lithuania, forming, apparently, an intermediate tribe or caste, superior to the peasantry and inferior to the nobles. At a later period, when the Ukraine was annexed to the Polish crown, they passed under the protection of the kings of Poland. Kazimir Jagellon had in his service a body of these troops, forming a kind of militia, dressed in English woollen cloth.'' We cannot, therefore, assign to the Cossacks a Russian origin, without rejecting the authority of a series of historical documents, the veracity and genuine character of which are indisputable. The similarity of their language to that of the Slavonic races; and, as regards religion, their profession of the Greek faith, may be easily explained and accounted for. Located in the immediate neighbourhood of the Slavonic nations, they have adopted the idiom of the latter: in nearly equal proximity to the Greeks, they embraced that religion, probably at a much earlier period than did the Russians.
To give, in the present work, a detailed account of all the Cossack tribes, and to describe the various points of difference formerly existing, and which still continue to exist, between the Russian and Polish Cossacks, would be too wide a digression from the main subject of this historical essay: however, as the two races in question are still frequently confounded together, it may be proper here succinctly to inform the reader in what these points of difference appear chiefly to consist.