212 LIFE OF ELIE METCHNIKOFF 



Drs. Tarassevitch and Choukevitch, and at Astrakhan 

 by the physicians of the Russian plague mission. 

 The Institut Pasteur party left Paris on May 14, 1911, 

 full of spirits ; Metchnikoff, eager to make the journey 

 pleasant for his companions, was doing the honours 

 of his country to the best of his ability ; he fully 

 succeeded, owing to the warm welcome and liberal 

 hospitality which they received in Russia, where 

 every one tried to contribute not only to the success 

 of the expedition but to the comfort and pleasure 

 of its members. The latter, indeed, preserved a most 

 pleasant recollection of this journey, and, in later 

 years, always spoke of it with pleasure. 



Navigation on the Volga from Nijni Novgorod to 

 Astrakhan was full of peculiar charm. That five days' 

 journey was one of the rare periods of complete 

 rest in MetchnikofFs life. He indulged in the dolce 

 far niente as he watched the peaceful landscape on 

 the passing banks. The Volga, then in flood, covered 

 immense spaces. Here and there, whole forests 

 emerged from the river which reflected them as in an 

 enchanted dream. From time to time, little isolated 

 villages appeared with the gilt cupola of a church 

 or a monastery, then meadows, forests, steep cliffs, 

 or gentle slopes down to the river. What poetry, 

 what grandeur in simplicity ! As in a kaleidoscope, 

 types of varied populations and pictures of local 

 customs followed upon each other. 



Along the banks now and then were seen proces- 

 sions of pilgrims. Their humble, gray, stooping 

 figures breathed deep faith and resignation. Some- 

 times popular songs arose from the Volga, sad, 

 expressive, soul-penetrating chants. 



This contemplative quietude was only interrupted 



