Note 11 — Chapter L · THE USSURI AND SUNGACHA.

It not infrequently happened, however, that they came at the end of the year begging for further assistance, which was given, and the result has been in many cases to make them idle. Captain De Vries told me that he had seen grass and weeds growing six inches high in their corn, which, owing to bad cultivation, stood only six inches higher. Cossacks enjoy to a certain degree the privilege of self-government. They elect, for instance, their own officers, who, after a service of 35 years, receive rank as if in the regular army. On the other hand, they have to supply a certain number of fighting men, of whom 10 per cent. must be engaged in active service continually each for two years, and all are drilled for one month in every year.