KHABAROVSK 



287 



against the window-panes of the saloon. It was a 

 warm wind, reminding one of the desert simoun: and 

 such was its strength that none of the passengers 

 dared to remain on deck for fear of being blown 

 overboard. It was indeed a strange sight to watch 



(i^l9^Q|SR9J9^1r4 



HUGE RUDDERS TO THE BARGES ON THE AMUR RIVER. 



the water carried off above the surface of the river 

 and the spray whirling round and whizzing up to a 

 o-reat heioht. Several planks from the floor of the 

 lower deck were literally smashed to atoms and washed 

 away. Our steamer advanced at the rate of three 

 miles an hour, and, nearing Khabarovsk, we saw 

 numbers of sailing boats and launches cast ashore 



