The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1843-04-01


of conquest, 10 the south west, remained as
places Of refuge for the fugi,ives; one be.
yond she Don, towards the sea of Ezoff;
and the other beyond the islands of the
Dneiper, towards The Black Sea; and these
were the cradle OF this singular people
as the Lagune of the Po were from SINH
lar cause, and at the same period, of the
'en'ian Republic. About sixty miles be.
low Kieff, the Dneipsr forms a variety of
islands, upwards Of seventy in number
The banks of the river, here fringed with
wood, there steep or marshy-the deep
caverns in The rocky islands, concealed by
spreading trees or tangled thorn bushes
offered favorable place Of refuge when the
open country was overrun by barbarians.-
Al the epoch of the first general invasion
of the Tartars, and agaiu during the Lithu-
anian wars, many persons found shelter
here, and their number was subsequently,
increased by The arrival of adventures. .gud-
"" ~ uSISSSIty WI tiiT IuNC VI CIlbUSty ny
deserters fiom the Lithuanian, Polish Hun.
garian and WalIachian ranks, by fugilives
from Tartar bondage, or by serfs escaping
from the oppression of their lords.
The motley crew was at first held toge,h.
er and prevented from overs,epping its
limits, by rule enforcing, during ,he COM
mon calamity ,celibacy fishing g. hard labor.
Gradually as the danger rolled away. these
restrictions were forgotten and they venlur.
ed upon secret excursions to the neigl5or.
ing plains. which, by degrees, extending
down the Dneiper, and along the shores of
The Black sea 10 The very walls OF Cons,an.
lnople. In more peaceable times they
spread over the adjoining plains, fed vas,
hooks On the steppes. and cultivated the
earth; and then in huts built OF cray, ...-,-
led a rude life, mindful only Of the subsst-
ence OF the moment. But they retained
the character imprinted on them by their
origin, their necessities, and their situation;
fishing in the Don and the Dneiper ever
remained, and still continues favorite oc.
cupa.ion of the people, and a principal
source of their wealth; the necessity OF
flight to existence was constantly fell; and
the nation, true 10 its origin, still looked for
its riches in prosperity, its refuge in adver-
sity, 10 the swi(lness OF its steeds. Let
the fans of INVASION said they, consume
our hus, in week we shall plant new
hedges; fill up our dilches with earth, cover
our ,Iiorns with reeds-soon others shall
arise. Sooner shall the foe be wearied with
destruction, than we with restoration.'-
independence amidst world of serfs gave
charms to This precarous existence;f e;freedom
sweeiened the tolls and enlightened the
dangers of these unfettered rovers. Their
own Industry, the spoils of others brought
them plenty; mounted on swift charges free
as the winds ofthe steppes. they enjoyed
their liberty, and generations grew up
amidst the clangings Of swords ard the song
of battle Singing the airs of his native
wilds. the Cossack of former days left his
home on cruise 10 Azoff, Sino2e, or Con-
slantinople; beautiful captive often became
his wife, the richest stuffs his attire, his
enemies best weapon,his arms. He return
ed home with his trophies, distributed his
aud took no charge of the morrow: but the
trophies Of his prowess were religiously
preserved; his children played with his
sword, or arrayed themselves in the pano.
ply of his enemies These habits, still
continue, though the object and the scene
of his warfare are changed; and the Cos
sack youth point 10 the cuirasses of the
French horseman, or the standards Of the
imperial guard, preserved in their churches,
and honor these prizes OF recent valor, as
their ancestors did the trophies Of Trebi-
zonde, or the spoils of Coastanstinople.
.alison's Europe.
A True Test.-Nothing says a late
writer, sets so wide mark between a vul-
gar and noble soul as the reverential love