Jottings. 379 



Medrioroivdiansk (near Nisck?ii Tagilsk), Aiig. ig, i8gj. 



We went down the gold mine, to which I referred ; a small, 

 new quartz mine, very clean, lighted by incandescent lights 

 and easy and interesting to see. The mill was primitive, a sort 

 of improved arastra process, and 1 suppose they may save 50 

 or 60 per cent of the gold. We were then served to a cold 

 lunch by the mine people, and visited a neighboring village, an 

 entirely new type, which we took to be characteristic of the 

 Siberian Steppe, but it may not be so. The houses are 

 wretched affairs of mud, two-thirds under ground, with a single 

 window flush with the earth, and a heavy roof of earth resting 

 upon birch brush. We went into one of the hovels and found 

 it stuffy and miserable, but despite the earth floor and dark- 

 ness it seemed clean and habitable. The effect of these low 

 huts, with their dome-like roofs merging with the soil all about, 

 was very queer and miserable. 



After returning and looking about the town, we took a train 

 for the next station, Kychtym, this time on the Ural railway, 

 turning toward the north. Oh ! a queer incident in the market 

 at Tcheliabinsk. I stepped out of the carriage to look at some 

 wares in a little booth, and the first article 1 put my hand on 

 was a whetstone from Nezv Hajupshiref 



The afternoon of the 15th was consumed in preparation for, 

 and discussion of, a fme dinner given by the director of the 

 local iron works. His house was palatial in size, though very 

 plain in finish. The dinner was good and very lively. Before 

 sitting down you are ushered into a side room to partake of the 

 "Sakusska," or appetizer. Here is a table set with a variety 

 of dishes — cold and salt fish, caviar, cold meats, pickles, occa- 

 sionally some hot stew or made dish, and bread and butter. 

 The proper form is to take first a glass of vodke (the Russian 

 name for pure alcohol), or of the many other drinks set out, 

 such as port, sherry, cognac, bitters, etc.; then a bite of as 

 many of the edibles as you wish, and then another glass of the 

 liquors. Often the Russians eat what would be a good lunch 

 at this table. Then follozcs the 'pxo'per me3.\. We had soup, in 



