DIFFICULTIES WITH SNOW-SHOES 



CHAPTER XI. 



PEASANT LIFE IN UST-ZYLMA. 



Religious Processions — Costumes of the Peasants — A Russian Holiday 

 — Drunkenness — Prejudices of the Old Believers — Field Work — House- 

 building—New Birds— The Siberian Chiffchaff— Prices of Provisions — 

 Arrival of Waders. 



The 2 1 St of May was St. Michael's Day, one of the 

 greatest holidays in this country. A long procession of 

 Old Believers, consisting mostly of women and children 

 ■carrying banners and pictures, wended its way through 

 the town. The women were dressed in their best, and 

 decked with all the jewellery that they possessed, some 

 of which was very ancient and valuable. Many of the 

 dresses, too, were antique — heirlooms handed down from 

 mother to daughter. Some of these were gorgeous, none 

 were vulgar, the colours being always sober, rich and 



