Across the Roof of the World. 



that might easily be acc(3mpanicd by murder were tlie intruder 

 disturbed. 



After supper and a long conversation I returned to the post- 

 house to sleep, and had a good rest after the bumping of nearly 

 three hundred miles from Zaisan. 



On the morning of the loth my foot was still badly swollen 

 and much inflamed, so I had perforce to halt here a few days 

 pending its recovery to a condition enabling me to move with 

 any degree of comfort and safety. I had it examined by a 

 Russian doctor here and he was very dubious as to its 

 state. 



Khatimski had three brothers in Ustkhamenogorsk, all 

 married, and at their cordial and pressing invitations I divided 

 my time between them, dining that day with the elder brother 

 and supping at another's, all the ladies being dressed in the 

 smartest of toilettes and particularly kind and gracious. 



With these good people I obtained further insight into 

 Russian life, which varies considerably from our ideas, but 

 though it is wanting in several essentials has much to recom- 

 mend it. 



All Russians are gifted with voracious appetites and the 

 care of the inner man has been reduced to a fine art. At 

 dinner, which corresponds to our lunch, there is a formidable 

 array of viands, commencing with the " zakouska," consisting of 

 sardines, caviare, sliced tomatoes, raw fish and other delicacies. 

 In the afternoon there is tea, of which numerous glasses arc 

 consumed, and late at night, usually about ii o'clock, supper is 

 served, of dimensions warranted to give the untrained Anglo- 

 Saxon nightmares for a month. At the close of this meal, music 

 and singing supervenes until two or three in the morning, when 

 it is considered time to retire ! 



Russians are very affectionate and spend much of their time 

 in kissing each other, quite a popular pastime when indulged 

 in with the ladies but apt to fall rather flat where it is confined 

 to men. 



414 



