The  canals  are  also  very  lonely  and  silent.  These
are  in  the  mainland  portion  of  the  capital,  and  lie  one
behind  the  other,  forming  irregular  semicircles,  from
one  point  of  the  Neva  to  another.  There  are  several  of
them,  such  as — beginning  with  the  one  farthest  back —
the  Exterior  and  Lingofskii,  the  Fontanka,  Catherine's
Canal,  and  the  Moika ;  but  they  do  not  stand  so  near
each  other  as  to  form  very  conspicuous  objects  in   the


RUSSIAN   POLICE.  107

general  aspect  of  the  capital.  Some  of  them  are  covered
with  fuel-barges  and  washing-boats.  Their  masonry,
parapets,  &c ,  are  very  handsome ;  and  the  footpath
across  some  of  the  more  frequented  canals  is  laid  with
rough  iron.  On  some  of  these  bridges,  as  well  as  on
those  of  the  Neva,  a  solitary  policeman  is  stationed  in  a
small  house,  where  one  watches  night  and  day — quiet
creatures  the  whole  tribe  of  them  are,  in  whitish  coats
and  dark  trousers,  peeping  out  at  their  door,  with  harm-
less Lochaber  axes  in  their  hands.  Having  a  good  eye,
and  being  always  on  the  alert  to  notice  who  passes,  they
are  said  to  be  of  great  use  in  detecting  thieves.  Few
policemen  of  any  other  kind  are  seen  even  in  the  Nefskoi,
where  the  crowd  is  greatest.
