GLIMPSES OF LIFE IN THE DISTRICT. 153 



f From the prominence given in maps of Europe to the 

 Ural chain, one is apt from childhood to expect something 

 grand. The entire length of the range, including its con- 

 tinuation in Novaia Zemlia, is about 1,700 miles. Its 

 highest peak, however, does not attain to more than 6000 

 feet, and many parts of the range are not more than 2000 

 feet above the sea level. No part of it is permanently 

 covered with snow. Travellers by the old route describe, in 

 passing it, a never-failing object of interest on the frontier 

 in the shape of a stone, on one side of which is written 

 " Europe " and on the other " Asia," across which, of course, 

 an English boy could stride, and announce that he had 

 stood in two quarters of the globe at once. Travellers by 

 the new route miss this opportunity ; but they have its 

 equivalent in three border stations, one of which is called 

 " Europa" the next " Ural," and the third " Asia" through 

 which those who have journeyed can say what no other 

 travellers can, that they have passed by rail from one 

 quarter of the globe into another.' 



I have, in a preceding chapter, brought forward accounts 

 of the floral beauty and forest character of the country. 

 No less interesting accounts have been given of the social 

 intercourse and luxurious living to be enjoyed in Ekater- 

 ineburg. Some of the accounts of this given by visitors have 

 savoured more of animal than intellectual enjoyment; but 

 even this is not in keeping with the views generally enter- 

 tained in regard to life in Siberia. My deceased friend, 

 Mr Wilkinson, gives yet another peep into life here. 



There is a monastery in Ekaterineburg which is of 

 some fame in that region, and deservedly so. My friend, 

 writing to me of a visit which he made to it, told: ' We 

 have heard a great deal of the dead weight of innumer- 

 able drones and non-producers hanging like a millstone on 

 the neck of Russia, a vast army, consisting of monks and 

 nuns, and chinovnicks great and small, &c., &c. There are 

 said to be eight or nine millions residing in monasteries 

 alone; and yet besides these, apparently you meet with 



