The statistics speak of Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Gregorians, Lutherans, Calvinists, Anglicans, Mennonites, Separatists, Pietists, Karaim Jews, Talmudists, Mahometans, and numerous Russian sects, such as the Molokanye and the Skoptsi or Eunuchs.

America herself could scarcely show a more motley list in her statistics of population.
It is but fair to state that the above list, though literally correct, does not give a true idea of the actual population.

The great body of the inhabitants are Russian and Orthodox, whilst several of the nationalities named are represented by a small number of souls--some of them, such as the French, being found exclusively in the towns.

Still, the variety even in the rural population is very great.

Once, in the space of three days, and using only the most primitive means of conveyance, I visited colonies of Greeks, Germans, Servians, Bulgarians, Montenegrins, and Jews.
Of all the foreign colonists the Germans are by far the most numerous.
The object of the Government in inviting them to settle in the country was that they should till the unoccupied land and thereby increase the national wealth, and that they should at the same time exercise a civilising influence on the Russian peasantry in their vicinity.