Мельников П. И.

(Андрей Печерский

ОЧЕРКИ МОРДВЫ

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Мельников П. И. (Андрей Печерский

Полное собранiе сочинений. Изданiе второе.

С.-Петербургъ, Издание Т-ва А.Ф.Марксъ.

Приложенiе къ журналу „Нива" на 1909 г.

Томъ седьмой, с. 410-486.

OCR: sad369 (г. Омск

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Among of all people of Chud or Finnish origins, who inhabitate Russia, Mordva are the most assimilated at this time (1867), especially those who live in “NIZHNY NOVGOROD” region, so called Tyuruhans. Here Mordva have almost forgotten their own language, and there are only a few villages where women still keep the remains and remnants of Mordovian attire, but with every year they are dissapearing even more. The biggest Mordovian tribe – Erzia is semi-assimilated as well.

Mordva, who used to live in the regions of “NIZHNY NOVGOROD”, “SIMBIRSK”, “SARATOV”, “PENZA” and in the northern part of “TAMBOV”, now is scattered across the vast territory between “NIZHNY NOVGOROD” and Caspean Sea, from the rivers Tsny and Moksha to Buguruslan. However, those of the Mordva who live in “SAMARA” and “ASTRAHAN” reigion, as well as partly in “SARATOV” region, came here in XVII – XVIII centuries. From the contemporary reports we learn that the hive-keepers of the tribe of Teryukhan (Nizhniy-Novgorod Mordva), who used to live independent and free, now were given into serfdome by monasteries and to landowners, whoever stayed free were later presented to “imeretinsk” tsar - Archile. Since then, the position of Mordva has deteriorated even more. Mordva has began their escape, sailing down the Volgda river. Enourmous crowds, men with their children, wives and property, were taking themselves away from the region. Erzians, who in XVII century and during the reign of Ivan – the Terribe were subdued and given to serfdome by monasteries and landowners with the purpose of their conversion into Christianity, soon also followed the example of running away. The refugees along with other free-living people evaded taxes and exploited the state's lands. Peter – the Great, after learning about that, sent to “SAMARA” governor terrible edict to find and return Mordova to the previous place of residence.

(to be continued...)