ks, and they had
to sustain themselves out of their own means. Many of them
were great sufferers from severe cold and hunger, and a
considerable number who had not even the smallest coin
beyond that which they received from Government, being
left without food, whilst they had to endure the
inclemency of the season, necessarily perished.

"The survivors, on arriving at the places of their
destination, found that they could not obtain possession
of the houses, agricultural implements, and cattle
assigned for them in the month of May in accordance with
the decree of His Majesty's Government, but had to wait
for them until the month of August, and for the articles
furnished to them which were of a very bad description,
they were subject to a charge considerably exceeding their
value.

"The rye seed which the Israelites ought to have received
in the month of August, was not given to them before the
month of October; the consequence was, that the crops of
the first year did not prosper, and they were obliged to
take provision from the Government for the next year also.
The seed for the summer crops which ought to have been
given them in the month of March, they did not receive
before the month of May; thus they were obliged to put the
seed into the ground very late in the season, and heavy
rains which followed again caused the crops to fail. The
habitations assigned for their occupation being of very
bad materials, and badly constructed, most of them soon
fell to the ground.

"Then followed an epidemic disease among the cattle, and
the Israelites suffered a considerable loss. In
consequence of this misfortune the Government benevolently
ordered passports to be granted in order that they might
repair to other places for the purpose of gaining their
daily bread; but instead of paying for a passport valid
for a year, according to the law of the country, they had
sometimes to pay most exorbitantly.

"In addition to this and other similar hardships, I may
mention the fact of the Poll Tax being demanded from the
old settlers who are not liable to it.

"In the year 1844, when an Imperial Ukase appeared again
inviting the Hebrews to agriculture, with a grant of
support out of the Korabka, His Majesty's Hebrew subjects,
desirous to avail themselves of this Ukase, not only
forwarded their humble petitions on the subject to the
Governo