AGAIN ON THE ROAD. 



333 



river, we came to a povarnia, where we stopped for the night, 

 some fifteen versts from Bulun. The povarnia is a rough 

 log hut, with benches around the sides of the interior, upon 

 which you lay your deer-skins to sleep on ; in the middle is 

 a raised fire-place, with a hole or sometimes a chimney, 

 made of wood and plastered with mud for the smoke to 

 pass out. They are uninhabited, and are kept in repair by 



GOOD-BYE TO BULUN. 



the travelers who pass through the country, and are found 

 scattered all over Siberia. Although we were now traveling 

 by post road, still it was a very crooked, rough, and uneven 

 route, being in most places only a little foot-path like a cow- 

 path in our pastures at home. Our sleds often came to grief 

 by reason of contact with stumps of trees, or being over- 

 turned against the ice. The natives display much skill in 

 repairing their sleds, which are lashed together and not 

 nailed, and made of soft wood. In traveling long distances 

 they carry spare runners to repair accidents. 

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