Biographical Memoir of' Peter Simon PaUas. 221 



lable * ; facts which first excited the attention of naturalists to 

 these astonishing objects, and which laid the foundation of that 

 beautiful superstructure which has since been reared. 



The expedition, however, after receiving its instructions from 

 the Count Wladimir Orlof, president of the academy, set out in 

 June 1768. It consisted of seven astronomers and geometri- 

 cians, five. naturalists, and several students, who were to proceed 

 in different directions over the immense territory which they 

 were destined to traverse. 



Pallas, in particular, after traversing the plains of European 

 Russia, and wintering, in 1769, at Simbirsk, on the Wolga, in 

 the midst of the Tartar tribes, the ancient conquerors of the 

 Russians, and now in a great measure agriculturists, stopped at 

 Oremburg on the Jaik, the rendezvous of those still nomadic 

 hordes, which wander in the salt deserts, to the north of the 

 Caspian Sea, and of the caravans which carry on the trade be- 

 tween India and Europe. 



Descending from the Jaik, he remained for some time at 

 Gouriel on the Caspian, and observed with care the nature of 

 that great lake, which, according to him, was formerly of much 

 greater extent, and whose ancient banks are still to be recognis- 

 ed at a great distance toward the north and north-west. 



The year 1770 was employed in visiting the two sides of the 

 Uralian Mountains, and the numerous iron mines which are 

 wrought in them. It is here that Russian adventurers have ac- 

 quired, in a few generations, fortunes which have put them on 

 a level with the greatest nobles of Europe. 



After visiting Tobolsk, the capital of Siberia, Pallas wintered 

 at Tcheliabinsk, in the centre of the more important of these 

 mines. 



From this place he proceeded in the spring of 1772, to ano- 

 ther district, rich in mines, viz. the government of Koliwan, 

 which is situated on the northern slope of the Altain Moun- 

 tains, a great chain which extends from east to west, and which, 

 by repelling the winds from the south, renders the climate of Si- 

 beria much colder than might be expected from its latitude. In 

 these mines many traces of old workings are found, which 



• Nov. Comm. Petrop. xili. 



