The mob, by this time completely drunk, then proceeded to the choice of the particular kourene from which should be selected the new koshovy; whom, having nominated and duly elected, the most sturdy of the drinkers and vociferators waited upon at his own dwelling, if he had been absent from the assembly, in order to announce to him his elevation. If he thrice positively refused to accept the proflfered dignity, they in the olden time killed him there and then. At a later period, they merely abused and maimed him. When, after the two formal refusals required by etiquette, he accepted the appointment, they announced, by sound of kettle-drum, his accession to the dignity of attaman; and the most aged of the Zaporogues, taking up a quantity of earth, moistened with water or melted snow, plastered over therewith the face of the newly-elected chief, amidst the shouts and joyful acclamations of his companions. This rude and barbarous ceremony had allusion to his perilous and often short-lived dignity, seeing that if he might not happen to be killed in an expedition against the enemy, the Zaporogues usually massacred him themselves should he chance to be unsuccessful in war. It may be here remarked that, during a period of seventeen years passed by Boauplan in the Ukraine, there was not one single chief or attaman of the Zaporogues but who came to an untimely end.
In addition to the ceremony of besmearing the face of the new attaman with mud, they stuck a crane's feather in his bonnet, and placed in his hands the baton of command: further, they forced him to swallow a mouthful of tar, giving him, however, a glass of water to wash his mouth withal; and then they comforted him with a a glass of excellent hydromel (mead), which he was to gulp down at a single draught.
There was also, occasionally, a second meeting held on Easter-day, for the purpose of renewing the koshovy, and the other principal officers under him. But for this convocation the assent of thirteen kourenes at the very least was required. Now and then, too, it happened that party differences and squabbles arose, either respecting the kourenes or the relative characters and capacities of the various chiefs. Then it was that quarrels ran high, and disputes waxed hot; assuming the character of a domestic war, wherein the victor made the law, laid waste the kourenes of the vanquished and spread havoc and bloodshed. But this kind of intestine outbreak was not a normal condition of the Zaporogue confederation: such quarrels were by no means of very frequent occurrence, and were usually of short duration.''
The koshovy, all-powerful during war, had no great authority in time of peace within the sitche, where nothing could be done without the Starszyzna, or Council of Ancients. It must likwise be remarked, that neither the koshovy nor the principal officers under him received any salary whatever; but, on the other hand, enjoyed certain emoluments, which varied according to circumstances and the success of the war incursions.
A more frequent subject of tumult and disorder arose during the distribution of the booty, or of the pay granted to the Zaporogues by the kings of Poland. The meetings held for these purposes were called szodka, schodka, or mala kromada, i. e. minor assemblies; and they ended frequently with a fight.