362 THE JEANNETTE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



in cars after my varied experiences of two and one-half 

 years was very novel, and I felt for the first time as if I \vas 

 really going home. The conductors and porters were quiet, 

 civil, and attentive. 



The first city of importance after leaving Orenburg is Sama- 

 rah, the capital of this portion of Russia. Crossing the Volga 

 for the first time, just before noon, we arrived at this place 

 in time for dinner at the station, and had an excellent meal 

 of cabbage soup, fish, cutlets, and vegetables. While we 

 were eating, a gentleman of fine appearance came into the 

 restaurant and spoke to some military officers ; he then came 

 up to our table and inquired if we were the Jeannette party. 

 On being answered affirmatively, lie introduced himself as 

 the governor of Samarah, chatted a few minutes, took a glass 

 of wine, and then, after inviting us to call on him in his car, 

 and shaking hands, he withdrew. Meantime some twelve 

 or fifteen gentlemen had gathered around us, and during the 

 remainder of the time we were at dinner our little party was 

 the center of attraction. 



The Volga at this place is about a mile in width. The 

 ice was nearly gone when I saw it, near the last of April, and 

 there were numbers of row-boats with two or three men in 

 each busy fishing. The banks of the river were in places 

 much overflowed. I also saw a dozen steamers, some with 

 steam up ; part of them were fore-and-aft rigged, and all of 

 them side-wheeled. 



We were passing along the Volga all the afternoon, and 

 in one place crossed it over a fine bridge nearly a mile long. 

 This bridge was of iron, and rested on fourteen stone piers 

 some sixty feet above the river, in which at this place was 

 considerable running ice. 



On the 28th of April I saw a number of farmers busy 

 ploughing and harrowing. Three horses working abreast 

 drew a pair of wheels to which the plough was attached. 

 The ploughs were of wood and the ploughshares were faced 

 with iron. The harrows were drawn by one horse, but one 

 man guided two teams. A dozen or more teams might be 



