The serious difference existed between the knout which was in use during the judicial whippings in former Russia and the one which was in use by the rural coachmen (and also - used as a most convenient device of rural justice of course). The most cruel strokes, laid by this kind of knot on the bare flesh of delinquent were much more lenient than the same, laid by the judicial one... The reason - the difference of the structure of these two knouts, and different destination of each device...
↧