Section 167. RUSSIAN POLITICAL PRISONERS IN BANISHMENT. III.
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A[1] solemn promise is then exacted of him that he will not give lessons of[2] any kind, or[3] try to teach[4] anyone; that every letter (S. 48, N. 6) he writes will go through the Ispravnik’s hands, and[5] that he will follow no occupation except shoemaking, carpentering, or field labour. He is then[6] told he (App. § 28) is free, but[7] at the same time is solemnly warned that[8] should he attempt to pass the limits of the town, he would be shot down like a dog rather than be allowed to escape; and[9], should he be taken alive, would be sent off to Eastern Siberia without further formality than that of the Ispravnik’s personal order.
The poor fellow takes up his little bundle, and[10], fully realising that he has now bidden[11] farewell to the culture and material[12] comfort of his past[13] life, he walks[14] out into the cheerless street. A group of exiles, all pale and emaciated, are (S. 107, N. 13) there[15] to (S. 19, N. 7) greet him, take[16] him to some of their miserable lodgings, and feverishly demand[17] news from home. The new comer gazes on them as one in a dream; some are melancholy, and almost mad, others nervously irritable, and the remainder have evidently tried to find solace in[18] drink. They live (S. 116, N. 17) in[19] communities of twos and threes, have food, a scanty provision of clothes, money[20], and books in common, and consider[21] it their sacred duty to help each other in every emergency, without[22] distinction of (S. 3, N. 2, and S. 10, N. 9) sex, rank, or age. The noble by[23] birth get sixteen shillings[24] a month from Government for their maintenance, and[25] commoners only ten, although many of them are married, and[26] sent into exile with young families[27].