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diameter, these serve as springs, and upon them rests the body 
of the carriage, which is about 6 feet long; over the back part is 
a hood of leather that can be lifted up or dropped down, and in 
front the apron may be buttoned to the roof, so forming an 
enclosed chamber. The vehicle, although curious to look at, is 
very suitable to the climate. They started at midnight hoping to 
catch the mail steamer from Tjumen to Tomsk, but being dis- 
appointed preferred to continue the journey of 3,367 versts to 
Irkutsk by road, to waiting 4 days for the next steamer. The 
travelling was very rough, the roads very bad, sleep almost im- 
possible, and they went on day and night. They passed through 
small towns such as Jalutorovsk, Isjim, Tjukalinsk, Kainsk, &c. 
He gives a description of a Siberian peasant’s dwelling, with 
wooden chairs, gaudily painted chests, and coarsely coloured 
prints on the walls, members generally of the Imperial family of 
Russia or battle scenes, one room always with carpets on the floor. 
Frequently flowers in the windows, more so as you go farther East. 
Abundant pastures, immense herds of horses, sheep and cows, 
and in farmyards geese, fowls, dogs, &e. Milk and eggs always 
to be had, other food had to be taken with them. They passed 
many escaped convicts, who wander along begging, but are 
generally well behaved, as otherwise they are treated like wild 
beasts, and especially cruelly by the Buriats. They are called 
“‘ Brodiagi,” and generally go two together. In Winter they give 
themselves up again, and go back to the nearest prison. Their 
careless camping out at night is a frequent cause of forest 
fires. 
The gnats, larger than European ones, light yellow in colour, 
and with a more virulent sting were a great source of annoyance. 
A horse left cose on the plains will in a short time be stung to 
death by them. They frequently passed long caravans of emi- 
grants from the internal Government of Russia, going principally 
to the Tomsk or Amur districts. 
The stations are from 20 to 30 versts apart, but once they 
