THE URAL RIVER. 



359 



of 89 versts only. The weather was by this time getting 

 spring-like, being breezy, with heavy roads and swollen 

 streams. Our progress was necessarily slow, averaging but 



1 -7 r *--w__.;*v- 



A SIBERIAN TARANTASS. 



seven or eight versts an hour. The country was hilly, with 

 rocks, ledges, and a very few scattered, stunted bushes, and 

 an occasional tree. The grass was beginning to show some 

 green. The roads through the villages were a foot deep with 

 mud, and geese and hogs were wallowing in it. On the 21st 

 I saw oxen yoked together for draft purposes. 



On the 22d we passed the town of Osk and the Ural River 

 at night, reaching a stansea at the foot of the Ural Moun- 

 tains, on the western side. The Ural River is a winding 

 stream, with steep, high earth banks in many places. Our 

 road on the afternoon of the 22d, lay along one side of this 

 river, and I obtained fine views. I noticed but little timber 

 in its vicinity. I saw numerous flocks of ducks, easy of 

 access, and should say good shooting might be had. Hawks 

 and eagles were very plenty. I saw, also, a flock of teal, 

 and noticed that they started and flew off, apparently much 

 frightened. They crossed the road, but not soon enough to 

 escape a large hawk which darted among them, seized one, 

 and bore it off over the river bank. Our driver stopped his 



