292 



THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 



[chap. 



ing place is formed of a bedstead near the roof, so large that it 

 occupies a half or a third of the room, and at such a height 

 from the floor that one can stand upright under it. There 

 a tropical heat commonly prevails, the occupant of the bed 

 accordingly enjoying an almost constant sweat-bath, which does 

 not prevent him from going out immediately into the open air 

 at a temperature at which mercury freezes. Food is cooked in 

 large baking ovens, which are fired daily for that purpose, and 

 at the same time heat the cabin. Fresh bread is baked every 

 day, and even for the poor a large tea-urn {samovar) is an almost 

 indispensable household article. The foreigner is certain to 

 receive a hearty and friendly welcome when he crosses the 



SIBERIAN RIVER BOAT. 



Used by the Norwegian traveller Chr. Hansteen on the river Angara. 



threshold, and if he stays a short time in the cabin he will 

 generally, whatever time of the dav it be, find himself drink- 

 ing a glass of tea with his host. The dress everywhere closely 

 resembles the Russian : for the rich, wide velvet trousers stuck 

 into the boots, a shirt showily embroidered with silver thread, 

 and a large caftan often lined with fur ; for the poor, if not too 

 rasfored, the same cut, but the cloth inferior, dirtv, and torn. 

 During ^^^nter, how^ever, for going out of doors, the Samoyed 

 pcsk is said to be common to high and low, Russian and native, 

 settled and nomad. 



In my journey up the Yenesej in 1875 I met with only a 



