The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-21


win fresh troops march past BY this means ory
and during not than single hour. viii he be
able to comps1eDd that grand concentration Ia tax.
ing place.
There is one other circumstance which strikes the
new conner, the exorbitant prce OF lodgings and the
uncleanly OF the apartment for which he has to
pay go dearly ana in which he can only get clean
sheets BY paying extra for them When the strar ger
has become accustomed to these eccentricites no
sallies out to see the sights and 10 learn the
ncws. This did not fail to do and chance
brought mo to the old site OF theatre where great
crowd was gathered. approached and found whole
squadron OF Cossacks engaged in furious race which
they call the Dgizuitouka A good deaf has been said
Of the CossacSs and Is perhaps well to state at
the whole truth to this singular and grotesqus
kind oil cnvalry.
THE cossAcKs
The Cossacks are divided into several corps--the
Cossacks Of tho Don, Cossacks OF the Ukraine
Cossacks Of the Caucasus nc Each OF these divisions
has chie, who Is called an Ataman and holds the
rank Of general. and all the Cossacks Of the Empire
are united under single chief who nus the title
Of the "Ataman General" THIS latter title always
devoves uron the hereditary Grand Duke.
uniform and his horse belong to himself He wears
large, round. low cap made OF skin from Astrakan,
wide pantaloons stuffed into his boots and reaching
just below his knees. tho whole covered by kind of
overcoat buttonng the back and having throe long
flaps reaching 10 the feet and asiened on the full
length On his breast to the lett right In vertical
he carries six cartridges SIDE In his bolt
no carries ponard baldrick hangs from his right
shoulder and passes TO the loft sido whero 1t supports
. long sabre in a leather scabbard. ON his back,
hanging from bandoleer and wrapped IN a case made
OF goats skin, he carries his rifle The Cossack
always carries In his hand whip, with short lasn
which no calls kinjal HIS horse Is small
and rather ugly, aud though he is made OF
good stuff his form Is somewhat angular. TO
form idea Of the Cossaok saddle Imagine an ordi.
nary saddle upon which would be fastened by strap
square leather cushion about four inches high. This
the reason that fret sight ono is SO much sur
prsed sec this curious looking cavalier perched up
SO high his saddle He sticks horses back by
stick Nc his knees into the animals sides with ali his
strength. which gives the legs tho appearance OF
pair Of pincers. The stirrup is an equally
curious thing Tho bottom Is round and thick
enough, but from that up It resembles
very much Of those lin boxes In which preserves
sold IL has been already said that the Cossacks
horse his personal property, and It may be added
that no turns It to business account by hiring out
Since the arrival OF the troops Kschenc they have
been the delight OF the collegians Who for roubc
nn hour, havo been enabled to mako promenades on
horseback in bands on these valiant little animals
TIM pGIaUrowKA
But to return TO the Dgiguitowka At the timo of
my arrival the squadron OF Cossacks was massed 10
heap in cornell One of them started ut galop and
threw his cap into the middle OF tho square, Imme-
n In for
hsadong gallop and cndeavored pick up tho cap
either with tho hand the whip or by
jumping to the ground. II was a scene OF
general confusion, during which the eye could
scnrcey distinguish horses from All this Is nc
companed by cries which do not cease till some
horseman by an adroit man9uvre has managed to OBJ
tain possession Of the trophy Then they all Off
again. flashing their horses with all tkcir might for
is curious fact that during the whole timo that tho
Cossack Is mounted he beats his horse without q
moments cessation rho reader must not suppose
that is necessary that the Cossack form OF
band in order that he may give play to his fantasies
Sometimes when he Is alone no let's himself run into
certain exccptrciies oil which will give example,
was breakiasting In o restaurant when all on
sudden the door opened with loud noise and
Cossack rushed in like hurricane. After prolnenad-
ing noissy around tho tables he pulled up .s horse
before OF the guests and placed animal IS nose
plate Of green salad which had just boon brought
and which the horse with great celebrity Then
mon and morse departed just they came without
any person, not even tho proprietor OF tho
establishment, saying single word. Perhaps IL
because the Cossack held In his hand tho
ki,ya whose strokes would cost HIM nothing. Later
on spoke or this incident 10 tho aId-de.camp OF
ALBANIAN, who simply laughed and said, ':wnat sur
prises me is that the Cossac did not mako his horse
get up a table. !" Seeing that ! was astonished
hc called Cossack who waiting in
tho yard Tho soldier came In on horseback without
The officer spoke but single word and
In less time than II takes to write IL the Cossack
made his horse the billiard table. insisted on
no more, TOR this experience enough edify me-
As much viii BIO said OF Cossacks this war it may
be we'll TO gvo an account of this peculiar cavalry
However astonishing may be the attributed to
them the reader accept the statement with con-
adence for the truth OF the stories be established
BY good evidence Already they have made hitherto
unheard Of marches and they will DO tho heroes
OF the events about to commence.
The reader has observed, no doubt, that In every
war attention 10 concentrated ono fact. In
the Crincan war the zouaves were the startling nov.
city. In 1862 In Italy, 1t was raed cannon. In 1870
the Uhlans. In the Bulgarian iDsurrcction OF last
year the bashr-bazouks were the feature OF great
interest This year the Cossacks Will play the leading
part. They win encounter the famous bashi-bazouks,
whom the turks Will not fail to put In tho advance
guard. wo shall then SEQ If the Turkish irrcgulsrs
exhibit as much readiness to meet and destroy an
armed enemy to butcher women and children.
ON that day, moreover, saw other troops-tho In.
fantry and the artillery at the review, by the En-.
peror at Two in the afternoon. The Car arrived on
horseback. l had not seen him before for great
while; and it seemed to me he showed his increased
age greatly, though sitting his horse we'll On that
day he was 50 years old, and the review was In
honor or his birthday. lie had a melancholy
air Some curious points worth recalling as OF
interest In connection with the Cars meianc holy
As l have said tho son Of Nicholas has opposed tho
war ~ the utmost. II IS familiar story that on his
deathbed tho sovereign conquered in the Crimea ex-
acted from his son oath that he would avoid war