26 A SHOOTING TRIP TO KAMCHATKA 



was not yet open to the public, and that the shallows 

 along the river Shilka often delayed passengers. The 

 presence of a high official, however, would sniooth 

 down the trials which we might have to undergo, and 

 our distinguished fellow-traveller was of great help to 

 us, as will be seen later. M. Isvolsky and faniily, 

 consisting of his wife and two children, started a few 

 days before us in a special car, which was attached to 

 the Siberian express train at Tcheliabinsk, where we 

 met them. 



On the 1 8th of May our train left Moscow con- 

 veying my wife, Tallent, my valet Cristo, and my- 

 self On the following- dav we met Mr. St. Georcre 

 Littledale at the Slaviansky l^azaar (Mrs. Littledale 

 was not one of the party this time on account of her 

 health), and on the same evening the Siberian e.Kpress 

 carried us off to distant lands. The trai)i dc luxe 

 starts once a week, on Saturdays, and is due at 

 Irkutsk on the following Monday week. Our ac- 

 commodation was good, though there was none of the 

 luxury of the Paris Exhibition train. The restaurant 

 was moderate, and the food greasy. There are four 

 trains attached to the service of the Siberian express, 

 three of which are of the Russian model, and one of 

 the International Slecj)ing Car Company. We chanced 

 to take the latter, which, I believe, is not the best. 



