e very
numerous--would that the Magyars could boast of the fifth part of their
number!

_Myself_. What is the number of the Magyars?

_Hungarian_. Barely four millions. We came a tribe of Tartars into
Europe and settled down amongst Sclavonians, whom we conquered, but who
never coalesced with us. The Austrian at present plays in Pannonia the
Sclavonian against us and us against the Sclavonian; but the downfall of
the Austrian is at hand; they, like us, are not a numerous people.

_Myself_. Who will bring about his downfall?

_Hungarian_. The Russian. The Rysckie Tsar will lead his people forth,
all the Sclavonians will join him, he will conquer all before him.

_Myself_. Are the Russians good soldiers?

_Hungarian_. They are stubborn and unflinching to an astonishing degree,
and their fidelity to their Tsar is quite admirable. See how the
Russians behaved at Plescova, in Livonia, in the old time, against our
great Batory Stephen; they defended the place till it was a heap of
rubbish, and mark how they behaved after they had been made prisoners.
Stephen offered them two alternatives: to enter into his service, in
which they would have good pay, clothing, and fair treatment; or to be
allowed to return to Russia. Without the slightest hesitation they, to a
man, chose the latter, though well aware that their beloved Tsar, the
cruel Ivan Basilowitt, would put them all to death, amidst tortures the
most horrible, for not doing what was impossible--preserving the town.

_Myself_. You speak Russian?

_Hungarian_. A little. I was born in the vicinity of a Sclavonian
tribe; the servants of our house were Sclavonians, and I early acquired
something of their language, which differs not much from that of Russia.
When in that country I quickly understood what was said.

_Myself_. Have the Russians any literature?

_Hungarian_. Doubtless; but I am not acquainted with it, as I do not
read their language; but I know something of their popular tales, to
which I used to listen in their izbushkas; a principal personage in these
is a creation quite original--called Baba Yaga.

_Myself_. Who is Baba Yaga? {245}

_Hungarian_. A female phantom, who is described as hurrying along the
puszta, or steppe, in a mortar, pounding with a pestle at a tremendous
rate, and leaving a long trace on the ground behind her with her tongue,
which is three yards long, and with which she seizes any men and horses
coming in her way