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"It may be added that a wealthy and powerful nobleman often

rewarded his retainers and famuli by 'admitting them to his

escutcheon,' i.e. obtaining for them a diploma of honour from the

King, ratifying the knightly adoption. Hence it is common to hear

of the greatest and most ancient Polish families having the same

armorial bearings with some very obscure ones."-Naganowski.

Compare p. 319.]

81 [See p. 334.]

82 ["The tarataika is species of capote; the czamara a long

frock-coat, braided on the back and chest like a huzzar's

uniform, and with tight sleeves. The sukmana is a sort of

peasant's coat made of cloth, the wearing of which by Kosciuszko

indicated his strong democratic tendencies, and sympathy with the

lower classes."-M. A. Biggs.]

83 The beaks of large birds of prey become more and more curved

with advancing age, and finally the upper part grows so crooked

that it closes the bill, and the bird must die of hunger. This

popular belief has been accepted by some ornithologists.