A rather curious usage exists among the Unistes. The consecration of their respective churches is annually commemorated by a kind of fete called praznik. This is attended by the neighbouring clergy and their families, as also by the proprietor of the village (who is mostly the owner of the presentation) with other guests. The reunion lasts the whole day, and the guests are regaled with various delicacies, including a sort of cake {kolduny), 'strongly resembling the English plum-pudding. In the evening a peculiar dance, accompanied by singing, takes place. It is called poduszeczka (pronounced podooschetchka), and may be thus described. A circle of gentlemen and ladies is formed, with a lady or gentleman in the centre. The song and dance terminated, the centre performer flings a handkerchief to one of the other sex, bestowing at the same time a kiss upon the party so selected. The receiver of the kiss then takes his or her place in the centre, dancing and singing are resumed, concluding, as before, with the flinging of the handkerchief and kiss, and so on, imtil the entire company have participated in the " fim." A yet more singular custom winds up the festivities of the day. The number of guests precluding the accommodation of beds, their hosts endeavour to obviate that difSculty by strewing hay on the floor, with a covering of carpets and blankets, upon which all are necessitated to repose for the night. But previous to preparing this " shake-down," (as it would be designated in England), the company are numbered, the gentlemen's numbers being placed in one purse, and the ladies' numbers in another. The youngest boy and girl are then called in, and they draw the numbers, by way of lottery, until each lady is provided with a " sleeping partner " of the other sex. So strictly is this adhered to, that even husbands and wives, or brothers and sisters, are forbidden to sleep close to each other, if not favoured by the lottery — in which, as a matter of course, some trickery occasionally prevails. It may be assum'ed that this strange mingling of the sexes sometimes leads to unwarrantable liberties. However, this is not of frequent occurrence, as they endeavour, as far as possible, to guard against such an abuse by forbidding any one from disrobing, and by having a lamp burning, throughout the night, in the corner of the adjacent chamber. Besides, the guests are, generally speaking, sufl&ciently numerous to be a mutual check upon indulgence in any impropriety. In my youth I personally assisted at several such reunions on the estates of my late maternal uncle, Mr. Gabryel Orzeszko. I recollect that on one occasion a jealous-minded young clergyman, the husband of a beautiful woman, — who attracted the admiration of the whole neighbourhood, protested against the chance of the lottery, imfavourable to his wishes. This raised a storm. The master and mistress of the parsonage, especially the latter, were extremely oflended that he should imagine for an instant that anything improper could possibly occur in their house. Indeed he narrowly escaped being well thrashed, though he stuck to the last to the safer side of the question, in matrimonial fidelity. These fetes are invariably held in the latter part of autumn, or in winter. But the peculiar custom here described is not limited to the Unistes. It was popular among the Greek clergy, and prevails, with slight modifications, in some of the wild districts of the ancient kingdom of Poland. Doubtless it originated in the unbounded hospitality of those secluded regions, where bad roads, snow storms, and numerous hordes of prowling wolves, render internal communication in winter extremely diflBcult. Something somewhat similar, but under diflferent circumstances, exists, I believe, in the rural districts of Great Britain, as in Wales the custom of "bundhng " is well known. So also in the Carpathian mountains, where a Highlander courting a widow, was privileged, by custom, to consider her as his lawful wife during forty-eight hours, with the option of subsequently marrying or leaving her. This singular custom is not yet abolished, and is called /-/erAa.
Page 106. (6).— The confederation of Bar was signed on the 29th of February, 1768, in Podolia, by Adam Krasinski, the Bishop of Kamienietz, his brother Michael, Prancis Potocki, and Pulawski, for the protection of the Roman Catholic religion, and the expulsion of the Russians from Poland.
Page 111. (c). — The cruelties perpetrated by Gonta and Zelezniak, during the religious rebellion of 1768, are beyond all power of description. There was a hall at Houmagne where they compelled naked women to dance on the floor covered with broken glass. These unfortunate ladies were surrounded with spears, and often stabbed while the music was playing.
Page 112. (c?). — These are things which cannot be mentioned.
CHAPTER VL- GONTA.
Page 119. (a).— Suppressed.