V
THE BURNING OF ARMS, JUNE 1895, AND "THE EXECUTION"
We must now turn to what occurred in June 1895, when the Spirit-Wrestlers, by common agreement, went to the place appointed near the village of Goreloe, carrying the arms which were to be committed to the flames. (It needs to be clearly understood that these arms were not the property of Government or landlords, but simply the few weapons they, like the surrounding natives, had been accustomed to keep for self-defence against robbers, wild tribes of hillsmen, and wild animals; they now became conscious that even to keep these weapons in their houses was a yielding to weakness, and contrary to their principles.) Without inquiry or waiting for evidence, the Cossacks were quickly called out to suppress what was falsely reported to be a rebellion, and very violent was their attack upon the inoffensive people.
