THE BANKS OF THE SHILKA 



45 



Cossacks, who were the first colonists of Siberia. 

 We spent that night at anchor for fear of another 

 perekat, and on the morning of June 4 advanced 

 at the slowest speed. A lifeboat was despatched 

 in front in order to measure the depths, and re- 



RIVER SHILKA. 



turned with the news that there was four feet of 

 water everywhere. The Suugari had not turned up. 

 and we began to fear another delay. In the after- 

 noon we came across the company's steamer, which 

 had been unable to move from the sandbank for 

 the last three weeks, and was awaitino- a lonoed-for 

 storm in the hills! That day we passed a village 



