PETROPAVLOVSK 



91 



chatka. Such a fleet had never been witnessed in 

 Petropavlovsk Harbour since its defence, in 1854, 

 aofainst the combined Anglo-French attack on the 



town 



Great animation soon reigned on board the Bai- 

 kal, where the local authorities, the captain of the 



THE S.S. "BAIKAL" IN PETROPAVLOVSK BAY. 



Yakut, and several others, gathered for news. 

 Strange to say, in this remote corner of the world, 

 the chief inquiries made were on the subject ot 

 the Transvaal War! The Ispravnik, who here re- 

 joices in the exceptional title of "Natchalnik Oblasti," 

 or Chief of the District (ispravniks are usually at the 

 head of the district police), together with his lieutenant, 



