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16

JOURNEY FROM St. PETERSBURG TO TZARITZIN.

already expatiated. I have fuggefted the neceflary propofalsfor fuch improvements as in my opinion were the moftconfiftent with the nature and conftitution of the country, andwhich might ferve as the bafis of a permanent regulation : ex-trads from thefe propofals have fubfequently been tranfmittedto all the governments of the empire.

In the fmall town of Saranfi, we changed horfes about noonon the 27Ü1. Notwithftanding the trade it carries on by themanufadures of foap and leather, it does not appear to be in aftate of improvement. In this place, as well as in Penfa, andmoft of the villages of this neighbourhood, the fmall Afiaticmoths [Blatta Aßatica, by the Ruffians called Prujfakee,) havetranfmigrated from the Volga, and become very troublefome.We met with them more commonly winged than withoutwings; and it is afferted that, every where, they drive beforethem and deftroy the great moths {Blatta Orientalis, whichmore properly fhould be called Occidentalis; as America is theirnative country). They are fond of aflbciating with the crickets,and if both are colleded in a glafs vefifel and placed upon fnow,even in mild weather and funfhine, they become torpid, theirbodies fwell, and they feem to die inftantly, but foon recoveron being removed to a warm place.

Saranß, where we arrived on the 28th in the afternoon, isone hundred and ninety verfts diftant from Penfa. The wholecountry through which we pafled, is embelliflied with numerousvillages, belonging chiefly to noblemen, and is one of the moftfertile grain-provinces of the Ruflian empire. The oak is herethe moft common fpecies of wood; while the few forefts offürs, in the rieh, loamy foil, conüft only of crooked and ftunted

trees

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