wanted to go to
Iekaterinoslav; his ancestors were German, and he could speak both that
language and Russ. By Landesen's recommendation they took him as their
companion, and he was very useful to them on the road. The
_bauer-wagen_ was much more uncomfortable than the _tarantas_
had been; travelling in it was like gallopping over a bad road in an
English farmer's waggon; and, as the vehicle had no cover, the travellers
were exposed without protection to the full power of the sun. The floor of
the waggon was spread with mattresses, and, thus furnished, it served them
for parlor, kitchen, and lodging-room.

They travelled in this way through the night, but the next day were
obliged to wait at a small dirty station for horses till the afternoon;
and in the evening John Yeardley became so ill, from hard travelling and
exposure to the heat, that they were compelled to alight at another little
station near Novomoskovsk, and make the best of the poor accommodation
they could procure. The next morning, somewhat refreshed by rest, they
went forwards to Iekaterinoslav, where they happily met with a clean inn,
the Hotel Suisse, kept by a German.

The same day they went in a boat up the river Samava, to Rybalsk, seven
miles, to see a German schoolmaster named Schreitel, to whom they had a
letter of introduction. This is a colony of twenty-five families, founded
in 1788: the schoolmaster, who was also the minister, received them in a
brotherly manner. It was here that their mission properly commenced. From
this place a succession of German colonies extend in a south-easterly
direction to the Sea of Azov. The villages are all built on the same
pattern, being formed of one straight street of neat houses on both sides,
adorned with trees in front and gardens behind. The German colonists
consist principally of Mennonites and Lutherans. The former are the most
numerous and thriving; they were invited to settle there by Catherine the
Great, in order to improve the state of agriculture; but their example has
not had the desired influence on the surrounding districts. Although his
German neighbor is in an infinitely better condition than himself, the
Russian peasant will not imitate the husbandry which is practised so
successfully before his eyes.

At Rybalsk, John Yeardley had a Scripture reading and a religious
opportunity with a few serious persons who came to the house; and the next
evening he held a meeting for worship with the colon