What is good for a Russian... Sketches of foreigners who visited Russia in the middle of the XIX century

Among the historical sources from which scientists draw knowledge about Russia of the past centuries, there are notes of foreigners about trips to the East. It is impossible to take them at face value: sometimes the information openly contradicts each other, distorts reality, and is replete with stereotypes. This also applies to pencil sketches made by European guests. But they still have a certain historical value. The sketches presented in this collection belong to the middle of the XIX century. 

The scene in the post office. The head of the post office (in a cap) reads a letter to an illiterate peasant. What happens to a woman is not very clear. Apparently, the news was not very pleasant.

Nizhny Novgorod Fair, one of the largest in Russia.

The pier on the bank of the Moskva River, where for a long time there was a brisk trade in foreign goods.

In the north, deer were used for winter trips (and probably also for summer trips). On the left is a milepost that served to measure the distance.

Sometimes the dogs were harnessed.

Many foreigners were impressed by the devout piety of the inhabitants of the Russian hinterland.

Russian merchants rescue a drowning European. Pay attention to the cargo containers, almost the same as today, only made of wood.

This is exactly the author's fantasy on the topic of how Russian men go to the bear.

Monastery on the Solovetsky Islands, view from the sea.

Astrakhan fishermen drag a giant sturgeon into a hut. In the Volga at that time, there were really a lot of large fish, which is confirmed by later photos. Since the fish are transported directly from the boat, it can be assumed that the houses were built directly on the water.