These are the wandering minstrels of the Ukraine.
They play on an instrument called the Kobza which somewhat resembles a
mandolin. Often in former days they were old prisoners of war—too old
to work—so their Turkish captors first blinded them and then set them
at liberty.
Wandering among the villages, guided by some little boy, they earned
their bread by singing folk-songs and hero-tales to the accompaniment
of the Kobza.
Shevchenko published his book of poems with the title “Kobzar.”