1..] 



RUSSIAN MERCHANTS AT CHABAROVA. 



61 



lights which were lighted on the occasion of our visit. Right 

 above our landing-place there were lying a number of sledges 

 laden with goods which the Russian merchants had procured 

 by barter, and which were to be conveyed to Pustosersk the 

 following autumn. The goods consisted mainly of train oil 

 and the skins of the mountain fox, common fox, Polar bear, 

 glutton, reindeer, and seal. The bears' skins had often a very- 

 close, white winter coat, but they were spoiled by the head and 

 paws having been cut off. Some of the wolf skins which they 

 showed us were verv close and fine. The merchants had besides 



I 



CHURCH OF CHABAROVA. 



After a photograph by L. Palander. 



collected a considerable stock of goose quills, feathers, down, 

 and ptarmigans' wings. For what purpose these last are used 

 I could not learn. I was merely informed that they would be 

 sold in Archangel. Perhaps they go thence to the dealers in 

 fashions in Western Europe, to be afterwards used as orna- 

 ments on our ladies' hats. Ptarmigans' wings were bought as 

 long ago as 1611 at Pustosersk by Englishmen.^ 



^ " Letter of Richard Finch to Sir Tliomas Siiiitli, Governor ; and to the 

 rest of the Worshipful Companie of P^nglish Merchants, trading into 

 Russia." — Purchas, iii. p. 534. 



