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National Geographic : 1940 Mar
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CAVIAR FISHERMEN OF ROMANIA Photograph by Walt Sanders from Black Star WATERLOGGED FLOATS HANG TO DRY Nets and the long set lines rigged with many hooks are supported by slabs of tree bark, tin cans, cork, or tightly bound bunches of twigs or reeds. Because of high import duties, cork is little used. them created ground high enough for their houses. "They continued wearing their beards long, like the old boyars, and refused to take up smoking or to make any other changes in the old customs." FOR THE PRODIGAL, AN EXTRA BLOB OF SOUR CREAM After the first solemnities of Sergei Nicho laivich's reception, we all sat down on benches at a huge bare table beneath the icon in the "Holy Corner." Beside each place lay a wooden spoon, deeply cupped and satin-smooth with wear. First came boiled fish and then a clear fish soup with a bit of potato in it. (Unless the soup contains something solid, it always comes after the fish dish.) With this, in stead of bread we ate pirozhki, a black flour pastry filled with cabbage. Following the example of the bearded old men, we let this part of the meal pass almost in silence. But then, to celebrate, there were big fresh strawberries served with smetana, or sour cream. The fire in the heavy iron samovar was replenished with coals from the kitchen, and glass after glass of steaming tea passed around. Sergei Nicholaivich's mother impulsively leaned over and put an extra blob of the rich cream on his berries, then blushed pro testingly as a roar of laughter broke out. Embarrassed, Sergei turned to translate their joking remarks for me. "Children love smetana. So when one is an only or a spoiled child and his mother is always putting it on everything he eats, he is known as a 'smetanik.' That's what they are calling me. SCANDAL IN A STORK'S NEST "Now they are telling me about two storks and a duck." Sergei kept me in formed while keeping his eyes on the others who were talking, each one supplementing, confirming, or encouraging the others. "They say that a duck laid an egg in a 417
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