CHAPTER III.
Thus the weary devotees proceeded on their way for five long weeks, and the bast-shoes with which their women-folk had provided them were already worn out and they had been obliged to buy new ones. At length they reached the land of the Little Russians (Khokholy). While on their journey they had been compelled to pay for their food and lodging, but on reaching Little Russia they found things quite different. Here they were invited by various persons to become their guests, and for this generous hospitality the people refused to accept any recompense from the travellers; on the contrary, they provided them with a liberal supply of bread and cakes, which they put in their sacks for use on their journey.
Thus the old men travelled a distance of seven
