Skeich of Siberia, §c. Q7 
and founderies of Kolyvan employ forty thousand laborers, besides 
the peasants of ‘Tomsk and Kusnetz, who cut wood, transport ore, 
and make charcoal for the founderies.”* Twelve thousand horses 
and oxen are also employed in the various processes relating to the 
produce of the mines. This province is abundantly supplied with 
provisions and wood—the scenery is picturesque and the soil fertile. 
Tomsk, north east from Kolyvan, is the capital of the province which: 
bears thatname. The fertility, plenty and industry of Kolyvan, ceases 
int ing try gradually | cold and des- 
olate, as you approach the capital, wood and cultivation disappear, and 
e country wears the aspect of adesert. 'Tomsk is half way from To- 
bolsk to Irkutsk, contains five thousand inhabitants, and is distinguished 
for hospitality to strangers. In the dreary wilds between Tomsk and 
the river Jenesei, caravans of traders are met laden with teas, silks, and 
nankeens from China for Moscow. ‘The Jenesei rolls its course over 
a picturesque district, well cultivated to a considerable extent. The 
little river Katcha winds at the foot of the north western hills forming 
a peninsula of sandy alluvion at its junction with the Jenesei, upon 
which stands the town of Krasnojark, distinguished for the beautiful 
scenery which surrounds it, but unpopular as a residence, from being 
subject to fevers, and the epidemics incident to flat river countries. 
Mines of the precious metals again occur in these hills, the vallies 
abound in timber—and villages scattered every ten or fifteen miles in= 
dicate the approach to the government of Irkutsk, where the increas- 
ed attention to regularity and good order, reflects the highest credit 
upon the governor of that province. The progress of improvement 
within the last forty years is surprising, as since that period it has risen 
to a government and a capital.+ 
at ite hardere th 
IRKUTSK. 
Irkutsk is one hundred and fifty miles west of the Lena.  Civiliza- 
tion has made considerable advances throughout the province. The 
Russian inhabitants are numerous—the country lies over hill and dale, 
and “except a few cornfields is one uninterrupted pasture.” Post 
houses and roads are good, and little villages frequent. The inhab- 
itants of the villages are principally exiles who have been banished 
* See Coxe’s account of the mines of Russia. 
t Cochrane, p. 136. 
, 
