The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-05-04
Translated iol the New York Tnbune.J
sn.sch.. ~ siberia.


Sibsris--s land 90 famous, yet so little known-has
like ali mysteries touched many tances and bured many
pens. Unwillingly resident there, wish TO sketch
some OF lis pecnliares rs relief against my tedious
life write kill time; but even il what say shall
lack syeten needs he valuable contribution to
knowledge OF country we'll deserving and rewaTding
attention. yet rarely visited. save by those who would
much gladly 20 the other way Should be fortunate
enough more 10 reach my native land il will be my
pleasure 70 arrange all the results Of my Siberian expe
Renee, and 70 give them an adequate form.
am political prisoner, and my punishment Is Danish
ment But political crimes have their degrees. and so
also have their retrbuons. There four grades OF
punishment in Siberia
lst Residence IN q city.
I'd. Service in a Siberian battalion.
Sd. Colonization.
Alb. Public labor in other words, work in the mines
There il also fifth grade, which 10, however, but
greater degree OF the fourth--prsoners IN company
Whoever is sentenced TO IA residence IN CITY retains
81. rights as nobleman he can cot,espona WIN bis
passes through the hands OF the mayor OF the city, and rs
very limited in its scope. The prisoner must not go be.
yond the city limits. but within them he may employ his
time as he WILL and is not constrained to labor Whoever
10 appointed battalion has the same privilege OF cor
respondence under the same conditions.
The political colonss take their name from the fact
that they formerly only allowed 10 live in villages
They deprived Of nobility, and in order of rank they
stand lower thar the Russian Doors Justice ceases for
them, and anybody may insult and mareat them with
out danger from the law Yet they belong still TO the
living. and may also correspond with their reads Al
present the coonisls mostly live in the city, not forced
tho ordinary police.
Those who are condemned to living death in the
bowels OF the EARTH there perish, after endurance
Of saering become coIonists ranked with
human beings, but with beasts OF burden-wth tools and
machines All human intercourse has ceased Tor them
Law. 80 'N'''N ave- A''N - '' '''''N -
The companion prisoners are compelled to the most
loaths0me labor in the forts and PRISONS always
chains, and have the head half shaved This class
considered the lowest OF all Russian social rank admits
nothing lower II great 10 despse the position
have great importance especially the sers OF the crown
IL would be long and weary work Tor the condemned
TO climb 10 the rights and importance even OF this
class.
The manner in which the prisoners reach their ap-
pointed place OF punishment depends mainly upon the
verdict and much upon the humor OF the Judges As lar
Tobosk the transport generally by post and with
some few short pauses at night for rest The third and
fourth classes Of the condemned perform the rest OF the
journey upon foot, laden with chains, and IN company
with the most abandoned men, together with whom they
are often bound to iron pole know nothing sadder
and more horrible than the encounter OF such process
sion. For my part, recall nothing in Dantes He'll
20 awful They do, indeed. with some human feeling,
allow these wreched wanderers days of rest But
where must they pass hem In the alls upon the desert
close by the post satonsails devoted to The very
OF hamanlty and in full view oil the horses and car
ra&e whose is denied to their despairing WEAKNESS
The population OF Siberia is divided into three classes
peasants OF the clown, traders, and officials OF every
kind.
The peasant owns no master, and is free from forced
labor With little gift TO the Gar, he nds everything
easy Cunning from The hrst, he throws himself eagerl,
into the stream OF trade. and becomes false, as his
business is governed neither by religion nor morality
Even when il is OF personal advantage, he lies Tor the
love Of il, and with sly satisfaction despses the derauded
victim. whom be regards as his intellectual Inferior II
you ask him whether he is RUSSIAN he answers. No,
am Siberian. But you will much mistake If you expect
to md in hm peculiar nationality,
The native Russian through aud through. and shares
all the Russian virtues and He has inspiring
fsc0'lectlOns oil the past-no national prejudices and
eongs-and 10 the most prosaic man upon Gods earth
He = even inferior IN these respects TO the aars whose
descendants scattered about among the Russians like
slands. Among these men fingers yet some shallow, As
were. of their former dignity and dominion Although
to-day slaves. from whose hrats all hope OF freedom
has died away and who have longer the idea OF
q faherland yet in their songs sounds still vague
yeanlng toward the great days departed, and their
pie aressness touches the heart like beautiful dream.
1t matters not that you do not understand the words OF
the song its evident enough Ii is the heir OF
an InvncbIe race SAYING upon The graves OF his iahers
prayer which he does not himself understand.
The Siberian Russian has thought for the past
There 10 yesterday 10 him-noihng but the present
poment and lha. moment combined enloymen. Of
OF Heaven for his heaven is where ne hnds schnapps,
tea. and q vspor-b bath. God he knows only as an i'm.
sss, or more properly. a. eatesiafe before which
when he enters the This ceremony is the whole
ritual Of the Siberian and quite suces for his spiritual
needs. As long as | have lived IN Siber,a-and God
knows ii il short ume-i have heard mother
teach her child 10 pray
The merchant differs from the peasant only in appear-
ance. But he is quite as false, ADD as he is OF more
consideration 10 the world, he goes more skully 10
work. II he does not surpass the Jew in cunning be
does not yield to him THIS is shown in the proverb
"Where a Russian trader settles, Jew has chance .
Among the traders must be reckoned the Russian
priess-io they merchants too and trade in objects
OF religious devotion. The presl advises the sick Sibe
rian peasant to have the Virgin Mary for him, and chat
fers with him about the price OF the visit 1t depends
upon the amount whether he shall have a large small
image. and whether il shall TO the patients house
foot carriage This last sly lie OF VISIT cos,
ing much is held to be much ecacious in its
results to the invalid. The priest accompanies the image
10 the house. attended by retinue OF people, appareed
according TO the OF the expense Not only
does this profanity obtain Siberia, but also throughout
Russia.
When Siberian dies, the prizes, issues a cer,hcai,
Tor him. which, OF course, must be pad. This
nhcae the corpse bears his hand to open the gates
Of heaven; and the heavenly police, who, seems ara
~ severely disciplined as those earth, permit him tc
pass The Emperor, head OF the church, is obliged e
care to stop these practices raise The people Of sucl
darkness
The faults which characterize the peasant and trade
belong also to the ohcal-only he be yet II,
and skIltu, for he the imperial uniform and IN,
tokens oil imperial grace IN the buron-hole But jus
there the ground OF his brutality, that the governmen
knows constantly his conduct and the severer he is the
higher and faster he rIses Lquor and cards weeien
the tahgues OF labor; he CANDLES, however, not io
amusement, but Tor gain. The official Invites a selec
party OF his prisoners game OF Boston, knowing per
fecy well that he is 10 be the winner; for wo to The
thoushuess man who does not dexerousy lose his
money He learns soon enough tina, the game in Sibe-
RIA played alter quite other rules than elsewhere, and
that an imperial Russian official honors a banshed
py sinng with him at table, he should be eager pay
Toundly Tor that honor