34 NOBTHERN RUSSIA. 



have just come from a fishing tour in Norway, nave 

 " done " Sweden, Finland, and intend visiting the great 

 fair of Novgorod. They study to appear unconscious of 

 the presence of any other human being in the room, and 

 it is to be presumed that " you must love them, ere you 

 know that they are worthy of your love." Pray don't 

 trouble them, and they won't trouble you. Yet, ten to 

 one the ice will be broken between you, if you are not 

 intrusive, and you will find Jones and Robinson right 

 good fellows. 



Sitting in the corner of the balcony, slowly whiffing 

 his cigar, is a British naval officer who has been for 

 many months in St. Petersburg. He was one of the 

 commissioners for arranging the boundary between Turkey 

 and Persia. He, too, is silent and reserved, though an 

 Irishman ; but only draw him out, and you will soon 

 discover what a mine of inexhaustible information there 

 is in him, and what sly, pawky humour. 



What part of the earth does he not know ? He will 

 tell you the soundings of every mile in the Gulf of 

 Mexico ; and there is hardly a spot from Labrador to 

 New Zealand which does not suggest a story. For 

 years he has wandered with the Arabs of the Desert, 

 from Bagdad to the ruins of Babylon. The Sheiks 

 Hassim and Selim, and evsry vagabond who wanders 

 over Mesopotamia, are his familiars. No one, except 

 perhaps " Hakim Ross," the famous Scotch doctor of 

 Bagdad, knew them better. A most agreeable companion 

 is tho captain. 



