6l4 Cochrane's Journey to the Frozen Sea and Kamtchatka. 



thouglit best to decline it, as perfectly receive a higher reward than a pipe of 



unmerited by the individual, and re- tobacco, or a glass of vodka (whisky), 



turned to Achitskaya Krepost. Thence In short, to prevent uselessly troubling 



to Bisserskaya Krepost, over eig!iteen the inhabitants, I was obliged to 



miles of uncultivated countrj, after 

 which I gently ascended a considerable 

 elevation into the bosom of the Ural 

 mountains, where not a vestige of cul- 

 tivation exists besides young firs and 

 birch. The air was exceedingly cold 

 on the summit. At noon I stopped at 

 tiie last European station, called 

 Kirgishantsky, Krepost, and at the 

 last European residence, where I dined. 

 The good people had resolved I should 

 not leave this paramount quarter of the 

 globe with any trace of dissatisfaction, 

 and young children continually pre- 

 sented me with wild strawberries and 

 cream : the strawberries were of an 

 excellent flavour, and it is the custom 

 of these poor people to present the 

 traveller with such fruit during the 

 season. I received Uie present, stand- 

 ing with one foot in Asia and the 

 other in Euiope, surrounded on all 

 sides by lofty mountains, covered, how- 

 ever, with nothing but brush wood. 



In the evening I reached the first 

 station in Asia, called Groborskoy, a 

 post-town, and next day, with a stout 

 heart, descended the Siberian part of 

 the Ural chain, to Belimbaiefsky 

 Zavod, or Iron Foundry, on the banks 

 of the Tschusova, where there are many 

 handsome buildings. Early the en- 

 suing morning 1 reached Ekatherine- 

 bourg, having passed in safety the 

 mighty barriers which divide Europe 

 from Asia. The ascent and descent are 

 so nearly imperceptible, that were it 

 not for the precipitous banks every 

 where to be seen, the traveller would 

 liardly suppose he had crossed a range 

 of hills. As far as this frontier town of 

 Siberia, I had travelled through one 



consign my almost exhausted purse to 

 the care of my knapsack, renouncing 

 the hacknied and unsocial custom of 

 paying for food. 



Quitting Ecatherinebourg, I directed 

 my steps towards Tobolsk, gratified 

 that I had already entered Siberia. 

 After ten miles of pleasant walking, I 

 reached the hospitable habitation of 

 Mr. Major, where I passed a couple of 

 days in an agreeable manner, with his 

 wife and three daughters, fine young 

 women, and either of them sufficiently 

 beautiful to arrest the progress of a 

 Siberian traveller. 



The country apj)eared well cul- 

 tivated, upon a soil of black mould. At 

 the last station, a small Tartar village, 

 I was regaled with pork, bread, and 

 eggs, at free cost, no purse being ne- 

 cessary among these Tartars. I partook 

 of their wholesome fare « la Tarlare, 

 shaking hands first with the host, and 

 receiving his blessing of " Peace be 

 with you;" then, squatting on ray hams, 

 like the rest of the company. 



TUMEN. 



Tumen is a city of some consideration, 

 and, from its local situation, enjoys a 

 considerable trade with the fair of Irbit, 

 as well as to the south-west and south- 

 cast of it. Its population is said to 

 consist of eight thousand, occupied 

 mostly in the preparation and export of 

 timber, tallow, hides, and embroidery. 

 It is situate on the banks of the Toura. 

 It owes its celebrity to Yermack, who 

 discovered and conquered the greater 

 part of Siberia. The environs of the 

 city are fine pasturages, and corn lands. 

 With this advantage of soil, added to 

 that of its being a depot or chanccllary. 



continued forest of pine-trees, and for as it is called, of the Russian American 



twenty miles nothing met the eye but 

 fire wood, grown for the use of the 

 Imperial fabricks. 



SIBERIA. 



On reaching the Asiatic side of the 

 Ural chain, I could not help remarking 

 that the inhabitants of all the villages 



Company, for the receipt and transport- 

 ation of their goods, as well as to enlist 

 volunteers, it may be said that Tumen 

 is a place of considerable promise. 

 The banks of tire Toura are steep, and 

 the current rapid. The country round 

 is populous, and more than ordinary in- 



wcre much more civil, more hospifable, dustry every where observable. 



and more cleanly dressed ; and in no 

 one instance would they accept of 

 money for the food 1 had' occasion to 

 procure. I never entered a cottage, 

 but shtshee (a cabliage soup), with 

 meat, milk, and bread,were immediately 

 placed before me unasked , nor could 

 :iny entreaty of mine induce them lo 



TOBOLSK. 



With the river Toura constantly at 

 my side, and the rain almost incessant, 

 I reached the tenth station ; and thence 

 Tobolsk, where I arrived half drowned 

 and famished, at three in the afternoon. 

 I had encountered considerable difficulty 

 in crossing the Irtish, in Consecjucncc 



of 



