The Shasta courier., 1863-01-17
The Great Russian Steppes.

The Great Russian Steppes.
In the southern parts Of Russia lie vast
tracts of country, uninhabited and solitary,
save bv wandering bands OF Tartars; these
are called = .'steppes, a name by which all
plains and sterile flats in Russia are desig
mated. They form one of tie distinguishing
features OF that Wild and semi-civilized en-
pire. DR.. Hamm, celebrated European
scholar, has recently iourneyed over them,
and embodied the results of his travels in a
most Interesting volume. The emotions which
thrilled him upon viewing those plains for
the first time, and their appearance, he thus
describes hat prospect! The sun had
Just appeared on the horizon, and the steppe
extended measureess. in all directions. 1t
nroduced the same effect upon as | felt
when standing for the first time upon the
deck of a vessel with nothing but the air and
sea around me the few houses were all that
reminded me of man in the great. silent des-
ert in which the eve lost itself. The brown
ish verGure was here and there rippled by
the breeze. and the sparkling dew drops on
the grass resembled the spray Of the sea. In
lieu # seaguls, predacious birds circled
above their hunting grounds, but there was
no other living thing far or wide; IN vain did
the eye seek an object on which TO rest. the
plain stretched out monot6nously in all di
rections not bush. a-roek, a tree or smoke
from a friendly chimney, revealed the pres
ence of man; only steppe and thar alone
The effect upon the mind is awfuliy grand,
nor does it pail upon one with a daily con-
temptation Of it.
The whole OF Southern Russia is supposed
to have been at one time huge lake, whose
shores were the Hindu kush and Carpathian
= u. 4. l..
way out, il left behind . mass of slime which
is now known as the Tehernazon or black
earth, lying upon mummular limestone at a
depth varying from few inches to fifteen
feet. and from which region the greater part
Of Europe is supplied with cereals. Moist
,ure is, however, an important factor, as the
sun soon burns up the young crops if they
have not been previously saturated with the
Spring rains; in the latter case vegetation
bursts forth with unparalleled luxuriance
and the whole steppe is covered with grass
often reaching as high az a mans head, out
of which grow flowers; these are called steppe
gardens, and the traveller plucks with delight
plants growing in the open air, which at
home pined in hot houses By the side of
these, however, through those freaks which
Nature seems to delight in, grow the most
noxious weeds. Such is the burian a generic
title for all rank and useless growth the
steppe- needle, penetrating through the skin
of cattle into their hearts, so that they per-
ish miserably; the dumb weed which causes
ameness in horses though harmless to oxen:
the cholera burr which appeared with that
plague and for which it is said to be aremedv,
and lastly. the common salt-wort. which is
often rolled up by the wind in large masses,
and preserved by the natives for fuel These
weeds spring up in some places almost as
high rs trees. Graceful, flower covered
torch weeds grow among them, while fox
gloves, artemises and blooms produce a vir-
gin forest on a small scale.
Here the she wolf has her lair, and hither
she flies to hide her pregnancy from their
numerous foes, at the head of which is their
father; here too is the uncanny scheltopu-
six, a species of lizard, whose size and form
startle the traveller who has heard of poison
Gus snakes in these wilds; and though the
steppe appears empty and barren of life, it
contains abundance of it. Long trains of
ants cross it in all directions, bees, flies and
other insects fit about, while huge spiders
spin their treacherouS webs from stalk to
stalk, till whole patches are covered with
their nets locusts and grasshoppers fit the
verdure; moies and marmotS sun themselves
before their burrows. the hare comes leap
ing up devoid n fear, and hawks and kites
dart along eagerly seeking their prey All
these Arcadian sights and sounds, and many
more. the Doctor describes His davs were
spent in the chase, OF else in surveying dis
s.icts devoted to the herd. of which he saws.
speaking of horses ''Oae almost fances
himself on the South American plains when
tehun of half wild steppe horses come dash
ing along, driven 10y Tartar half breed
clothed in the garb of raggedness; in front
the leader charges on. despisng danger
The colts, bounding from side to side. receive
warning bites 70 keep them from strayur:
and the wild eyes, and tails reaching to the
ground, perfect the impression received "
Dr. Hahm alsd-d ,piet> with graphic skill
she arts pract!ced Ia taking horses. which
are similar TO those IN use among our own
herdsmen IN the West, and alludes to the
vast herds Of VIII tish grey oxen which roam
those wiids, which, while they put
bold front and are fierce looking. yet bound
away like stays upon the appearance of dan.
ger. The chief staple is wool, Of which ne
says: \ German eolonist who began short
time since wath no possessions but his strong
arms and head. has now Soo, 900 merinos.-
As each heece averages i've pounds when
washed. owing 10 the want Of water in that
country, this man has an income of 225 900
silver roubleS Ia rouble being 75 centsl from
the hocks alone. The native sheep is the fat
tail, descendant Of the Syrian breed. Tn
fortunetely sheep breeding here is attended
with many dangers not known in Europe
the most terrible Of which are the snow
storms. Unless the shepherd is weather
wise enough To taresee them, the most awful
storms suddenly burst upon him. the air is
full with driving Jumps of snow which fall
with terrible rattle, depriving the boldest
OF his senses; under such circumstances
there Is nc resource but to sit down and wait.