40 A SHOOTING TRIP TO KAMCHATKA 



paper. Our first step was to let in some fresh air 

 by removing- the window-panes, our second to sprinkle 

 the walls and fioor with eau de Cologne and Keat- 

 ing's powder. The line being as yet closed to the 

 public, we were glad enough to find some means of 

 conveyance, and presently settled down for our sixty 

 hours' journey in comparative comfort. Unfortunately 

 our carriages had no springs, which considerably in- 

 creased the shaking we received over the newly 

 constructed line, and reminded one of a drive in a 

 Russian "tarantass." Towards evening our train 

 started amidst the cheers of the I^uriat population, 

 which had gathered to witness our departure. At 

 first the line ran alouQ^ the shores of the lake, branch- 

 ing off eastwards through the dense /^^/>c^ of the 

 Buriat country. The night was exceedingly cold. 

 Numerous wood fires on either side pointed to the 

 carelessness of the inhabitants ; we could count seven 

 or eight of these fires at a time, and the trees close 

 to the railway were almost all burnt, probably by 

 sparks from the engine. 



We followed the valleys of the Selenga and Khilok 

 rivers, which at places widened to a couple of miles. 

 The scenery was dreary and monotonous, with great 

 stretches of bircli and pine forest. On the following 

 dav we dined at Petrovskv Zavod, a Government 



