The dress of these people bears some resemblance to that of the Dacians, in the time of the Romans; and has probably suffered but little change for centuries. Their feet are covered with sandals made of goat skin. They wear a kind of loose pantaloon, which is fastened to the waist by a light leathern belt, and closes from the knee downwards. The upper part of the dress is composed of a light waistcoat, and a short jacket over it, of coarse cotton stuff; in winter they add a white sheep-skin, which is hung over the shoulders in the manner of the hussar’s pelisse. The hair is twisted round the back of the head, and covered with a cap, usually of sheep-skin. The women are generally clothed from the neck to the ancles in a long gown of light-coloured cheap cotton, made high at the waist, which they cover on holiday occasions with a shorter dress, buttoned from the neck to the waist, and ornamented with one or two rows of beads. Under ordinary circumstances the poorer classes go barefoot, and have no covering for the head, except a handkerchief. Almost every village has a small church or chapel belonging to it, and one or two priests who act as curates. The ecclesiastics of their order are chosen from amongst the ordinary peasants, from which they are only distinguished by an immense beard. They lead the same sort of life, and follow their usual labour, when not engaged in the exercise of their clerical functions; but they are exempted from taxes. The generality of them can neither read nor write. They learn the formula of the services by rote, and if a book is seen in their chapels, it is more for ornament than use. The towns and seaports of Moldavia partake of that mixed European character that results from the intercourse between merchants, dealers, &c. The peasants’ huts are all built of the same size and style; the walls are of clay, and the roofs thatched with straw, neither of which is calculated to protect the inmates from the inclemencies of bad weather. The ground-floors are, however, occupied as long as the weather will permit; and in the winter the inmates retire to cells underground, easily kept warm by a little fire made of dung, roots, and some branches of trees, which, at the same time, serves for cooking their scanty food. Each family, however numerous, sleeps in one of these subterranean habitations, the beds being formed of coarse woollen rags. Perhaps the most extraordinary feature in the structure of Moldavian society is the vast number of gipsies residing therein. Their bodily constitution is strong, and they are so hardened by constant exposure to the cold weather, that they appear fit for any labour or fatigue; but their natural aversion to a life of industry is, in general, so great, that they prefer all the miseries of indigence to the enjoyment of comforts that are to be reaped by persevering exertion.