1905.] NOTES ON "a trip AROUND THE WORLD. IO3 



the night. I think it is a discoloration from hot springs, which 

 exude vapor, and that instead of coal it is a brown earth like 

 the mud springs of the Yellowstone. 



At Povrosk, which is at the junction of the Chilka and 

 Aigoun Rivers, we took the Chilka. 



(Photograph No. 39.) 



The character of the country through which we had passed 

 can be somewhat judged by the fact that we had sailed for 

 nearly 1,200 miles on the Amur River without having seen a 

 single waterfall on either bank. The Chilka proved to be 

 more picturesque than the Amur, the mountains being higher 

 and the banks bolder. The river runs in a single course be- 

 tween high banks, and the views are far reaching, and the 

 mountains, though not high, are beautiful. 



We finally arrived at Stretensk, where we were to resume 

 our railroad journey westward. 



(Photograph No. 40.) 



The route is through the Valley of the Chilka and the 

 Ingoda Rivers. The views are very pretty, and the country 

 superb. Fine farms, excellent cattle, and good grazing. We 

 had been told all day of a railroad accident ahead of us, and at 

 half past two in the morning we were compelled to get up and 

 dress and transfer around the debris. The wreck was on a 

 high bank with steep rocks on one side and the river on the 

 other, and with twelve carloads of people attempting to pass 

 each other, all carrying beds and bundles, and all in a hurry, 

 the scene in the moonlight can be imagined only. It was 

 finally done, however, and we went to bed and slept till 

 morning. 



Much of the country that we passed through appeared to be 

 well adapted for farming purposes. The country was quite 

 populous, villages being frequent, and the farms looked well 

 and prosperous. We passed through one city (Tchita) of 

 22,000 people, and that same evening we entered the Ablonai 

 Mountains. At that point in Siberia the railroad runs along 

 by a little river, which flows westward to Lake Baikal. The 

 soil is light and sandy, and the prevailing trees are pine. This 

 is the country of the Beuriats, a pastoral people, formerly 

 Mongols, with the Chinese features, queue, and dress, except 

 that they wear round hats with turned-up brims. The coun- 

 try is fine. 



