We advanced from the river Arguna by easy and moderate journeys,and were very visibly obliged to the care the Czar has taken tohave cities and towns built in as many places as it is possible toplace them, where his soldiers keep garrison, something like thestationary soldiers placed by the Romans in the remotest countriesof their empire; some of which I had read of were placed inBritain, for the security of commerce, and for the lodging oftravellers. Thus it was here; for wherever we came, though atthese towns and stations the garrisons and governors were Russians,and professed Christians, yet the inhabitants were mere pagans,sacrificing to idols, and worshipping the sun, moon, and stars, orall the host of heaven; and not only so, but were, of all theheathens and pagans that ever I met with, the most barbarous,except only that they did not eat men's flesh.