And a very severe illness it must have been, for it requires a very considerable amount of physical suffering to make the patient Russian peasant groan.

Before he had finished his tale a woman entered, apparently his wife.
To her I explained that I had a strong desire to eat and drink, and that I wished to know what she would give me.

By a good deal of laborious explanation I was made to understand that I could have eggs, black bread, and milk, and we agreed that there should be a division of labour: my hostess should prepare the samovar for boiling water, whilst I should fry the eggs to my own satisfaction.
In a few minutes the repast was ready, and, though not very delicate, was highly acceptable.

The tea and sugar I had of course brought with me; the eggs were not very highly flavoured; and the black rye-bread, strongly intermixed with sand, could be eaten by a peculiar and easily-acquired method of mastication, in which the upper molars are never allowed to touch those of the lower jaw.

In this way the grating of the sand between the teeth is avoided.
Eggs, black bread, milk, and tea--these formed my ordinary articles of food during all my wanderings in Northern Russia.