The principal camp or sitch of the Cossack garrison was established on one of the larger islands, or at some inaccessible point on the river. This main camp was, moreover, frequently transferred from one place to another so that the mystery which surrounded its location hid the varjring numbers of its garrison and added to the difficulties of attack.
The military capabilities and pecuhar organization of the Zaporogian Cossacks was a source of considerable interest and inquiry among contemporary military authorities. Many writers of the eighteenth century — wholly ignorant of their real condition — compared these famous frontier troops to military orders of chivalry such as the Knights of the Sword in Lithuania, or even the Knights of Malta. Others compared them to the "Free Archers" of Charles the Seventh, or the "military colonies" of Sparta and of the early Grecian states. As Lesur points out, a more reasonable and modem parallel is to be found in that strange republic of filibusters who almost contemporaneously established their piratical state among the islands of the West Indies. If this comparison does some injustice to the Zaporogians (to whom must be allowed the merit of holding in check, at a critical time, the ravages of the Mussulman invaders) it will appear more reasonable if viewed in the light of the intolerable nuisance to which their pretensions gave rise at a later date. For, while the Cossack settlements, as we shall presently see, became in the course of time absorbed by the civilization of their Russian neighbours, the "Free Companions" of the sitch refused to adapt themselves in any way to the new modes of life made necessary by the passing of frontier conditions.
Long after their territory had become surrounded by peaceful agricultural colonists, the Zaporogians continued to live their own boisterous life as in the days when the Tartar raids almost hourly threatened the community.
As far as the author is aware, no historian has ever attempted to trace the development of the crude system of island outposts imtil these became merged in the famous military brotherhood of the semi-independent Zaporogians, or, as they generally stj'led themselves, "The Free and Independent Community Beyond the Rapids." * Nevertheless, the history of the long struggle between Poland and Russia for the fertile provinces of the Ukraine is very largely concerned with the doings of this turbulent faction among the Cossack "nation." To form a true idea of the appearance of the famous»itch or stronghold one must imagine rather an encampment or gathering of rude huts set down amidst a clearing in the forest. These were defended by the rapids of the Dnieper, or by rude earthworks in no way recalling a medigeval fortress. Great sheds or barracks built of saplings, covered with horse or cow-hides, sheltered the garrison and di^-ided it into definite units or hour ens. The members of each hour en sleeping under one roof, eating their hasJia or buckwheat meal from a single great kettle, enjoyed in common a kind of boisterous family life. In spite of the iron discipline which their exposed and dangerous position rendered necessary, the government of the sitch was jealously maintained on the most democratic
* For a general sketch of Zaporogian "history" see a recently published pamphlet by Professor D. N. Evaritzky of Kharkov.
lines. The chief of this warlike republic was known as the koshovoy ataman. Although possessed of almost unlimited powers, this officer was liable at any moment to be deposed from his high position by a public meeting of the brotherhood. These?issemblies were called together by the most informal means — the clashing of cymbals or the tmnultuous cries of any party strong enough to rouse the general interests. Together with his aidede-camp or jessoul and his clerk, or pissar, the koshovoy ataman might thus be summoned on the most frivolous pretext to stand before the assembled garrison. Taking his station beneath the horsetail standard that denoted his rank, he was expected to wait, cap in hand, the outcome of the noisy debate which decided whether or not his administration was satisfactory to the Free Companions. The ceremony just described was generally preceded by a drinking bout wherein quantities of gorilka, brandy (with which the hardy warriors braced themselves when called upon to make any momentous decision), were consumed as a necessary preliminary to the mental effort required. It is, therefore, not surprising to learn that such elections, more often than not, ended in bloodshed. Whenever the tumult seemed to indicate that their services were no longer required, it was the custom of the officials composing an unpopular "administration" formally to salute their comrades, and clapping on their shaggy sheepskin headgear, to