oo3 AVOYAGETO 



•779- than that this, and the following night, we flept on the 



« , — -» banks of the river, under our marquee ; and fuffered very 



much from the feverity of the weather, and the fnow, 

 which ftill remained on the ground. 



wednef. 12. At day-light on the 12th, we found we had got clear of 

 the mountains, and were entering a low extenfive plain, co- 

 vered with fhrubby trees. About nine in the forenoon, we 

 arrived at an oftrog, called Opatchin, which is computed to 

 be fifty miles from Natcheekin, and is nearly of the fame 

 fize as Karatchin. We found here a ferjeant with four 

 Ruffian foldiers, who had been two days waiting for our 

 arrival ; and who immediately difpatched a light boat to 

 Bolchcretfk, with intelligence of our approach. We were 

 now put into the trammels of formality; a canoe, furnifhed 

 with fkins and furs, and equipped in a magnificent man- 

 ner, was prepared for our reception, in which we were ac- 

 commodated much at our eafe, but to the cxclufion of the 

 reft of our fellow-travellers. It was with much regret we 

 found ourfelves obliged to feparate from our old companion 

 Moniieur Port, whom we had obferved to grow every day 

 more ihy and diftant, as we drew nearer the end of our jour- 

 ney. Indeed, he had himfelf told us, before we fet out, 

 that we paid him a refpect he had no title to; but as we 

 found him a very modeft and difcreet man, we had infilled 

 on his living with us during the whole or' our journey. The 

 remainder of our paflagc was performed with great facility 

 and expedition, the river growing more rapid, as we de- 

 scended, and lefs obiliuctcd by moals. 



As we approached the capital, wc were forry to obferve, 

 t man appearance of much flir and bufllc, that we were 

 10 be received in form. Decent clothes had been, for fome 



time, 



