A COSSACK CAMP.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 229, 27 September 1877, Page 4

A COSSACK CAMP.

Am I dreaming, or is this the Thirty Tears' "War? It is night. Eound the spot where my tent is pitched lie regiments of cavalry. Across the broad Danube somewhere there ia an enemy, but here a camp well ordered in appearance. Lines of horses standing together tethered to long ropes, without danger of movement from their places or damage from ropes in front of them. If the fore leg passes over the rope where they are tethered, they remain quiet, or c*ll with voice almost human in its expressiveness the man who knows how to loose them. And those men — how is their nature to be expressed ? They are soldiers without the stiffness impiessed on the military world by the father of Frederick the Great; they are men with a discipline altogether different from the discipline of modern European armies ; wildlooking fellows who bring their own horses half shod to the campaign, fierce faces, and manners hitherto unknown. They are called Cossacks. Three regiments of them come from the Don, one from the Terek, and one from Kuban The camp is all that could be wished in neatness, the horses stand quietly in their places, the dress is serviceable and picturesque. All is regular and soldier like during times of duty; for though the Cossacks walk with a peculiar strut and swagger, often with their hands on their hips, they subdue their pride in the presence of an officer, and are very careful to salute him on all occasions when the salute is due, But this evening has been given to feasting and music, the Terek Cossacks especially distinguishing thmeselves by the wildness of their revels. — Times Correspondent.