CHAPTER II.

THE COSSACKS.

THE whole aspect of Russia presents to the foreign traveller a mingling of the imitation of Europe's highest civilization along with much of its most unsophisticated barbarism. This has been already made apparent in the various aspects of the country and its institutions at which we have glanced in former chapters; but in no case is it more manifest than in that singular branch of its standing army, the marauding Cossacks. Even this, however, is undergoing a change; and these wild mounted horsemen, fresh from their native haunts on the Russian steppes, are being transformed into drilled and orderly troops, like the ordinary light cavalry of the standing armies of modern Europe. It has escaped the knowledge of many of the modern admirers of Poland, how close a relation once subsisted between her and these modern foes.

The name of the celebrated body of Russian light cavalry is sufficiently characteristic of them, according to the experience of all who have been brought into conflict with these military marauders. The word cossack is simply the Turkish kuzzak, a robber; their Turkish neighbours having, for very sufficient reasons doubtless, applied the name to the predatory tribes inhabiting the banks of the Don. This epithet is of

no modern origin, for the marauding habits from whence it originated can be traced back to an early date, and for centuries they were the terror of all the surrounding countries within the range of their forays. It is curious, while reflecting on their modern and more familiar history, to note that their origin was chiefly Slavonic; and that, in so far as they are related by consanguinity to any single nation, it is to the Poles, against whom they have been employed by Russia in the execution of every cruel and despotic inroad.

It is in the early history of Poland that we obtain the first distinct notices of the Cossacks. In 1576, Stephen Batory, Duke of Transylvania, was elected King of Poland, and he soon proved himself worthy to be chosen as the leader and sovereign of a warlike people. He is justly regarded as one of the greatest and best monarchs of Poland. He established his claims to the throne by successive victories, which were due, to a great extent, to his own skill, moderation, and indomitable courage. Nor was the wisdom with which he turned his victories to account less remarkable than his military talent. Even in apparent concessions he contrived to secure advantageous results to the republic. But," says one of the historians of Poland, "from his wise policy with respect to the Cossacks, Batory derived more glory than from all his victories. This singular people were originally deserters from the armies maintained by the republic, near the banks of the Borysthenes,

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to arrest the incursions of the Tartars. The almost inaccessible isles of that river, and the vast steppes of the Ukraine, served for secure places of retreat. As their numbers increased by propagation and desertion and they opened their arms to the people of every nation who arrived among them—they made frequent predatory incursions into the Ottoman territories; they sometimes ventured as far as the suburbs of Constantinople, and in rude boats, consisting merely of trees hollowed out, they did not hesitate to trust themselves on the Black Sea, every shore of which they visited and ravaged. Their soil-the richest in corn of any in Europe-required little cultivation, and they were consequently at liberty to pass most of their time in plunder, piracy, or open war.

"As they were Christians in their origin, they preserved a sort of Christianity among themselves, but so mingled, in time, with idolatrous and Mohammedan notions, that its fair characters were almost lost. The Polish gentleman, whom infamy had branded or justice threatened; the Polish serf, who fled from the iron despotism of a haughty, rapacious master; the Greek schismatic, the persecuted Lutheran, either imperfectly remembered or but negligently practised the rites of their respective churches: hence a sort of mongrel worship prevailed, of which the leading features more resembled the Eastern than the Western Church. But they did not much trouble themselves with either the doctrines or the duties of Christianity. Robbers by profession, and cruel by habit, they were

the terror of surrounding countries. Strong, hardy, of indomitable courage, fond of war even more for the dangers which attended it than for the plunder it procured them, their alliance was eagerly sought by Lithuanians, Poles, Muscovites, Tartars, and Turks. To the former people, as the stock whence the majority were derived, they long bore sentiments of affection; indeed, they acknowledged themselves vassals of the republic, though their chief obedience was due to their own grand hetman. Ostafi Daskiewitz, a peasant on the estates of a Lithuanian noble (many nobles both of the crown and the grand duchy had extensive estates in the Ukraine), was the first who divided them into regiments and taught them discipline. As a reward for his exertions, he was presented by Sigismund I., who appeared sensible of the advantages which these formidable warriors might procure for the kingdom, with the starosty of Tserkassy, and the jurisdiction of some fortresses near the Borysthenes. Had the advice of this simple but strong-minded man been taken, Poland would have been effectually screened against the incursions of the Tartars. He counselled Sigismund to maintain ten thousand armed men on the banks of the river, who, in their rude rafts, could easily prevent the enemy from crossing: a few troops of horse might forage for this stationary little army. A still more important suggestion was to build forts and little towers on the islets of that magnificent stream. What Sigismund had not the spirit, perhaps not the means, to accomplish, Batory

inight and should have effected. The latter monarch, however, did much towards so desirable an end. He diligently cultivated the affection of the Cossacks; and they are among the most grateful of men. He gave them the city of Trychtymirow, which became their chief magazine and the residence of their grand hetman: he introduced among them the useful arts of life, and greatly improved their discipline: he formed them into six regiments, each consisting of one thousand men (ten companies of one hundred), and commanded by a hetman, or chief. Each grand hetman, whom the whole force obeyed, received his investiture at the hands of the king: the symbols. were an ensign, a horse tail (bonzuk), a baton resembling a club, and a looking-glass. The Cossacks being thus attached by new ties—those of gratitude and allegiance to the republic, were well disposed to fulfil the purpose assigned them. Their fidelity was striking; until, from friends, they were transformed into enemies by the most intolerable wrongs."

It might, however, be said of them, that they were frequently little less troublesome as friends than as enemies. In 1593, for example, Sigismund III. was involved in a war with the Tartars, solely in consequence of the indignation which the incursions and forays of the Cossacks had excited; and the khan appeared at the head of seventy thousand Tartar warriors, whose opportune defeat alone prevented their being followed by a Turkish invasion.

We now regard with a just interest and sympathy

R