354 



THE JE ANNETTE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



capital of Western Siberia, about the first of April. We 

 called on the governor, visited several stores, two photo- 

 graph saloons, and the market. We laid in fresh meat and 

 other road supplies. The meat which was frozen, was cut 

 up with a topore, or axe, on a dirty block of wood. This 

 block was surrounded by gaunt, hungry dogs, and as soon 

 as the market man stepped aside they jumped on to the block, 

 snapped up every morsel left and licked the grease with 

 their tongues. To see cigarette stumps and dogs on the 

 meat block of an American market would be surprising ; 

 yet it was customary here. 



Tomsk, like most Siberian towns, lies near a river and in a 

 valley. I could readily see how invading forces on the hills 

 surrounding would have these places completely at their 

 mercy. Tomsk looks pretty from the east, but the roads 



CKADLE-HOLES. 



are full of cradle-holes ; the worst I ever saw. Even in the 

 streets of the city these things are common. No American 

 community would begin to tolerate them. The city is 

 irregularly divided by a small river, and has a dilapidated 

 appearance, as does the average Siberian city or town gov- 

 ernment buildings and churches excepted. 



The governor of Tomsk, when I was there, was a young 

 man of perhaps thirty -five years ; he appeared smart and to 



