Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-01-16
The crimea Two Hundred Years Ago.


A curious book. published at Rouen in the
French languag !. in the year 1862. entitled g Il
Description Of the Ukraine, including sereral Pro
vinees Of the Kiagdoa Of Poland" has aceiden-
tai ly fallen under our eye. The name of the au-
thor, as it appears on the title page is siesr de
Beawplala The book contains also an interesting
account of the Crimea and of the race Of Tartars
who inhabited it two hundred years ago. We
translate the following in reference to their ma
ncrs and customs.
g The Tartars remain several days after they
are born, without opening their eyes, like dogs
and other animals They not of high stature.
The taliest are only of moderate size. Their form
IS rather slender, but their limbs are large. TLey
have broad shoulders, short neck, a large head.
a face almost round, and broad forehead. Their
eyes are always half closed, bat they arc very
black They have a short no;e, and rather small
mouth. Their teeth are as white asivory. They
have swarthy complexion, and hair very black
and as course as horses hair. In fiue. they have
altogether different physiognony from the Chris
tians.
{. This you would observe at the first glance
In their physiognomy and form they resemble the
Indians of America, and especially those who arc
called Carribees. They are all brave soldiers
They are not easily fatigued, and beai without
much suffering the changes OF climate After the
age of seven years, they sleep in the air. The
mothers bathe their children every day IN water
ia which salt has been dissolved, in order to har
den their skin and render them less sensible to
the cold"
The author thus describes, in another part Of
the work, the manner in which the Cossaeks Of
those days made love:
g Here then, contrary to the custom of all other
countries, may be seen young girls making love to
the young men, and superstition. very prevalent
among them and carefully observed, causes them
scarcely ever to miss their object, and indeed rem
ders them more sure of success thar the men
would be, should the latter attempt the wooing.
They proceed something after the following man
ner:
- The maiden goes to the house of the father
of the young man whom she loves, when she
thinks the family are all together, and says, on
entering. Pomagabog. which means, God bless you.
She pays her compliment TO him who has made 50
great an impression Upon her heart, and tells him
she thinks he viii know how to govern and love
his wife. ''Ihy noble qualities she continues,
'haye led me to to pray thee very humbly TO
eept me for thy wife, She then asks the father
and mother to consent TO the marriage. If she
receives refusal on some excuse, as that he is
too young and not ready 10 marry, she answers
that she viii not depart until he has espoused her.
Thus she persevercs and persists in remaining un-
til she has obtained favorable answer to her de-
maneis.
After several weeks the father and mother
are not only constrained to give their consent,
but also to persuade their son to look upon her
more favorably. At the same time, the young
man. seeing the maiden so determined in her al-
fecton for him, begins to regard her as the one
who is destined to be the mistress Of his desires
Finally he prays his father and mother to permit
him to cspouse her. Thus she aecomplishes her
purpose, and the entire family, through fear Of
incurring the wrath of God by expelling her from
their house. are constrained to give their consent
TO the union"