1905.] NOTES ON "a trip AROUND THE WORLD. lOI 



We called upon the governor. In the evening we went to 

 the opera and enjoyed a very creditable entertainment. When 

 we went to bed our sheets and blankets came into play, for all 

 travelers carry their own bedding in Siberia. Candles, water, 

 and everything were charged extra, and our bill for one day 

 came to $4.25 each. 



At noon, July 4th, we started on our journey across the 

 continent. Very soon after leaving the borders of Amur Bay 

 the railroad enters the valley of a river, and judging by the soil, 

 grass, flowers, and general appearance, we seemed to be trans- 

 ported into a rich river valley of our own west. We occasion- 

 ally passed thriving villages, and prosperous looking farms 

 were noticed frequently. As we journeyed north the country 

 improved, disclosing magnificent stretches of well-watered prai- 

 ries, wheat farms, large herds of cattle, and fine grass. The 

 towns, as a rule, are located some considerable distances from 

 the stations. The depots are well-built pretty wooden cottages, 

 and in each town on the highest point the domes of the Russian 

 churches were seen. As we continued to journey north the 

 country changed. Much heavy timber was to be seen. A 

 train of cars loaded with 3 by 10 white pine timber indicated 

 pine trees somewhere, and a profusion of gnats, mosquitoes, 

 and flies told of near-by forests. 



When we reached Khabarosk, on the Amur River, we 

 wondered whether we could get a boat. We found, however, 

 that the governor at Vladivostok had telegraphed the chief of 

 police to arrange for us. We were taken to the best hotel and 

 informed that a cabin for two had been reserved on the mail 

 steamer sailing the next day. 



We called on General Grodekofif, and he offered to tele- 

 graph ahead for the boat at Blagovestchenk. 



The city of Khabarosk has wide straight streets, spread 

 over the high bluffs, and the principal part of it looks down 

 on the River Amur, which at that point is about a mile and 

 a half wide. 



We sailed on the mail steamer the next day, and during the 

 following night one of the iron barges, which were being towed 

 astern, swerved and ran into the bank. The second one ran 

 into it and rammed it so hard that its back was evidently 

 broken. We were obliged to tie up to the bank while the 

 barge was being imloaded. We were able, however, to make 



