NATIVE STEERING 227 



of raiding the Government House, where they knew 

 that a large sum of money was collected from local 

 taxes and the recent sale of skins. On hearing of this 

 the Ispravnik had mustered all the men he could find 

 — about eighty in number — with rifies and ammuni- 

 tion. These improvised troops had waited all night 



NATIVE METHOD OF STEERING ON THE AVATCHA RIVER. 



under arms ready to repell the Japanese fleet, and ex- 

 pecting the enemy every moment. But no one had 

 stirred, and the alarm proved to be wholly unjustified, 

 for on the following day a minute inspection of the 

 schooners showed the entire absence of guns of any 

 kind on board. He added that at one time he had 

 greatly regretted our absence, as reinforcements on 

 our part would have been most valuable *' for the 



