The Mordva, for instance, are infinitely less conservative than the Tchuvash.

This I have often noticed, and my impression has been confirmed by men who have had more opportunities of observation.

For the present we must attribute this to some occult ethnological peculiarity, but future investigations may some day supply a more satisfactory explanation.

Already I have obtained some facts which appear to throw light on the subject.

The Tchuvash have certain customs which seem to indicate that they were formerly, if not avowed Mahometans, at least under the influence of Islam, whilst we have no reason to suppose that the Mordva ever passed through that school.
The absence of religious fanaticism greatly facilitated Russian colonisation in these northern regions, and the essentially peaceful disposition of the Russian peasantry tended in the same direction.
The Russian peasant is admirably fitted for the work of peaceful agricultural colonisation.