A dashing young Cossack likes to show off his knowledge of Tartar, and when carousing talks Tartar even to his fellow Cossack.

In spite of all these things this small Christian clan stranded in a tiny corner of the earth, surrounded by half-savage Mohammedan tribes and by soldiers, considers itself highly advanced, acknowledges none but Cossacks as human beings, and despises everybody else.

The Cossack spends most of his time in the cordon, in action, or in hunting and fishing.

He hardly ever works at home.

When he stays in the village it is an exception to the general rule and then he is holiday-making.