thing around them, which was peculiar to them all. A man in the
strangest of all possible attire, which was utterly unlike any thing
else, walked along with perfect unconcern, evidently without a
thought of the appearance which he must present to the eyes of
others. All these people were making their way towards a single
point. Without inquiring the way, with which I was not acquainted, I
followed them, and came out on the Khitroff market-place. On the
market-place, women both old and young, of the same description, in
tattered cloaks and jackets of various shapes, in ragged shoes and
overshoes, and equally unconcerned, notwithstanding the hideousness
of their attire, sat, bargained for something, strolled about, and
scolded. There were not many people in the market itself. Evidently
market-hours were over, and the majority of the people were ascending
the rise beyond the market and through the place, all still
proceeding in one direction. I followed them. The farther I
advanced, the greater in numbers were the people of this sort who
flowed together on one road. Passing through the market-place and
proceeding along the street, I overtook two women; one was old, the
other young. Both wore something ragged and gray. As they walked
they were discussing some matter. After every necessary word, they
uttered one or two unnecessary ones, of the most improper character.
They were not intoxicated, but merely troubled about something; and
neither the men who met them, nor those who walked in front of them
and behind them, paid any attention to the language which was so
strange to me. In these quarters, evidently, people always talked
so. Ascending the rise, we reached a large house on a corner. The
greater part of the people who were walking along with me halted at
this house. They stood all over the sidewalk of this house, and sat
on the curbstone, and even the snow in the street was thronged with
the same kind of people. On the right side of the entrance door were