The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-02-27
: travelling in wallachra.

totty horses We're procured for Us (say,
Anatole Bcmidof) and placed along our
route; and the generous attention OF the Hos
podar went 81 far ~ TO send estafettes, 10
make sure OF onr being properly supplied ;
We were accordingly carried ON with great
speed. We iirsi Of oil havesed marshy and
gloomy track and at twelve we forded the
volomntza whose swollen waters rolled
rapidly along The relays were waiting for
~ in the open fields At these isolated sta
lions clay hut is the ordinary shelter OF the
captain. of the post Our lengthy caravan
proceeded in this way rapidly over these
melancholy steppes, until succession of
heavy showers inundated the surrounding
country, and rendered our progress slower
and more luborious. An escort of gendarmes
(dorobantz), whom We encountered at one of
the stations, galloped by tho side of our car
Hages and when the roads became bad, kept
them mp Vii their hands, showing them
selves zealonsly attentive whenever any diff.
eulty occurred. Meanwhile We kept advanc.
ing towards the north, and approaching still
nearer fine chain of mountains. on the
summit Of which were accumulated heavy
black vapors. More than one gang of Tsi-
gans overtaken by the Storm had pitched
their dark tents upon the plain, and were
preparing to receive the squal which was
threatening 10 burst upon us.
Beneath these smoky retreats might be
seen half clad women and girls, with one or
two naked children crouched near them;
poor little deformities, with distended bellies
and emaciated limbs The prairie soon be-
game deep marsh; horses, escort and car
nages were wading through water; and now
and then, when ditch presented itself, we
had either to mako circuit, or leap 1t by
dint of blows and vociferations. II was a
singular sight to see these four coaches
ploughing their way beneath leaden sky.
through inundated meadows, and at every
unexpected hole, at every Jolt against some
obstacle beneath the water, threatening TO
sol over and remain buried in the mud.
During these moments, every one was ami.
mated with fresh zeal. The attentive doro.
bantz lent timely assistance TO each endan.
eered carriage, and the positions addressed
their foamlng steeds no longer with yocifera-
tons, but in khe mildest language, and using
words Of encos fragment in an almost frnter-
nal tone; for indeed these unfortunate ami
mails quite exceeded their strength during
this long and difficult journey. At length we
thunder and dense torrent Of rain, through
which We could scarcely descry the green
belfries and white walls Of the vast abbey, the
Sitting residence of q bishop, who il one OF
the wealthiest prelates in Wallachia Our
escort had fortunately obtained reinforce
menti and their assistance was at once put
into requisition in crossing torrent, the bed
OF which was not quite yet filed up by the
rain. As We approached the Bouzeo, how
ever, which flows between very steep banks,
i was much feared that my carriage would be
left behind IL had, in the first instance,
crossed the torrent in safety, but ON reaching
the other side slippery steep presented II.
self, which it required half an hour Of strug.
giles and yociferations, and more than twenty
horses 10 ascend.