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Description of Estonians from year 1825 (S. Plater, "Geography of Eastern Europe" book):
Spoiler!
"(...) Russian-Baltic German Provinces [Estonian Gubernia, Livonian Gubernia]
POPULATION:
The population of these provinces has three types of origin: Latvian, Chukhon and German. Latvians and Chukhons are the most numerous and - comprising the country's peasantry nowadays - they used to be the most ancient, original owners of this land, until the moment when they were conquered by Crusaders [Livonian Brothers of the Sword]. Together with their national independence, they lost also personal freedom. Their long-lasting and harsh serfdom has left marks in the character of these people, especially in case of Estonians. It was not until 1820 when noble intentions of our Tsar led to their gradual emancipation and to the abolishment of serfdom, planned to be completed by 1832.
(...) Chukhons - also known as Estonians - live in the northern part of these lands [Baltic governorates], that is in entire Estonia and in northern part of Inflanty [Livonia]. They are of Finnic generation [ancestry], they speak a language very different from Latvian, and their level of education/enlightenment is much worse. A Chukhon's outward appearance is unpleasant, their level of beauty is low, their hair is short and bristling, their language sounds harsh, and the look in their eyes is deceitful. Their clothes are long, while their houses are short and miserable.
Two higher estates of this land, the nobility and the burghers, are German. Burghers in Russian-German provinces are descended from German settlers who came here during the reign of Livonian Brothers of the Sword and settled in the main cities of the region, such as Riga, Reval, Dorpat, Mitau. For the most part they have preserved the customs of their ancestral land and they can only speak German. These cities look similar to German cities. However, for some time already Estonian and Livonian cities are also populated by Russian merchants, and cities of Courland by Jews from neighbouring Polish provinces."
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