210 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
side to the doors of the dwellings. The thermometer indi- 
cated 40 degrees of cold; and this weather lasted till the middle 
of February, interrupting all communication, and causing many 
disastrous casualties ; the snow being so loose that sledges. 
cannot go, and the Post has to be carried on the backs of 
horses. 
“It is much to be lamented that the indolence of the 
natives of this country, prevents their taking advantage of 
such circumstances as would mitigate the ills caused by the 
severity of the weather. For instance, though there is a 
large forest, but four wersts off the city, wood is extrava- 
gantly dear; and the same may be said of fish, though the 
Irtysch produces great quantities of salmon, trout, and 
sturgeon. The soil is fertile, and a return of tenfold on 
wheat sown, may be expected even in the very worst seasons. 
Still the necessaries of life are scarce and costly; nobody 
goes shooting or hunting the game which abounds; fishing 
is quite neglected, and the fertile soil often lies waste; and 
all through the laziness of the people.” 
M. Karéline keeps a full and accurate J ournal, in which he 
enters an immense number of interesting facts, relative to 
the Geography, Statistics, Finances, Physical history, and 
Meteorology of the countries he has visited, as well as a 
catalogue of his collections in every department. He has 
gathered upwards of 38,000 botanical specimens and 1120 
species, and has sent home, in all, sixty-four cases filled with 
the produce of his labours 3 skins of beasts and birds, insects. 
minerals, metals, and plants. 
The past summer was to be spent by M. Karéline on the 
Sayanian Mountains, beyond the Irtysch, and in exploring 
the provinces of Zongaria and the Semiretchinski (or Seven 
Rivers) Kirghis, lately annexed to the Russian dominions: 
