A Month in Hospital. 



Zaisan is a small Russian military post, 56 versts from the 

 Mongolian frontier, and hard by the great Zaisan Lake. To the 

 south lie the mountains of the Saur range, wherein a variety of 

 wild sheep is to be found, as also a large red bear, which is 

 doubtless of the same species as that encountered in the Altai. 



There is a considerable nomad population in the Zaisan 

 district, and during the summer months trade in horses and cattle 



HE AUTHOR AND TWO RUSSIAN OFFICERS. 



is carried on. The Zaisan Lake holds fish, and many are disposed 

 of in the settlement. Small river boats now ply on the lake and 

 down the Irtish River to Omsk in summer, so that the httle 

 frontier post is connected by water with the more populous part 

 of Siberia along the great railway. 



During the time I spent in hospital there was httle to do 

 beyond reading the few books remaining with me, and indulging 



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