In 1901, British Journalist John Foster Fraser travelled from Moscow to Vladivostok, and back again, mostly by rail. On his return, he recorded his experiences (and prejudices) in “The Real Siberia”.

In today’s excerpt, Fraser discusses one of Russia’s less orthodox religions:

I have mentioned religious liberty in Siberia. This does not exist in Russia proper. From there, sects objectionable to the Orthodox Church are driven beyond the Urals. But once in Siberia they can do much as they like. It is the same in politics. Politics are tabooed in Russia, but in Siberia more freedom is exercised.

Strange faiths appeal to the untutored mind. So among the Siberian peasantry flourish fantastic beliefs. There are many of them, and a narration of some of their tenets would raise a smile.

The principal body of dissenters really worth mentioning call themselves Raskolniks, or Old Believers. There are quite a hundred thousand of these in Siberia. They are the descendants of people who were exiled from Russia in the 18th century. Their chief peculiarity is their strict temperance and horror of innovation. They take neither tea nor coffee. They never smoke nor will allow anyone to smoke in or near their dwellings. The women have a disease called equarter brought on immediately by the smell of tobacco. They give short, frequent cries whilst suffering. The Raskolniks won’t look at potatoes, and they won’t cat or drink from any dish or cup used by another.

Yet, despite their oddities, the Raskolniks are much esteemed. They are always sober, and always industrious – two qualities that cannot be applied to Russians generally.

This post is one of a series of excerpts from John Foster Fraser’s “The Real Siberia”. Further excerpts can be found in the Siberian Light archive.

The full text of The Real Siberia is available online at Friends & Partners.

Tagged as: The Real Siberia