MARMOT HUNTING 45 



and there found a similar state of things. It took 

 lis a long time to reach the merchant's house where 

 rooms had been prepared for us. 



The Littledales had already passed on their way 

 to Ongudai, for which place we decided to start 

 the next morning". We found the authorities most 

 hospitable and kind, and the police officials were 

 placed at our disposal in case we needed anything. 

 Bisk is the second largest town of the district, and 

 is situated on the junction of the Bia and Katoun, 

 which rivers unite to form the Ob a little further 

 down. The impression conveyed to my mind was 

 that of a large dirty village. It is the last town of 

 any importance before reaching- the Siberian frontier, 

 and is inhabited by many Russian merchants who 

 own the best houses and are well off, owing to their 

 successful trade in tea and furs. Of late years Sable 

 has become exceedingly scarce, but Marmots are 

 found in great numbers in the Altai Mountains, and 

 constitute a large source of revenue to these merchants, 

 who buy the skins of these animals by thousands at 

 a low price (10 to 20 kopecks each) and send them 

 through the Irbit annual fair to Europe, where they 

 are dyed and sold at great profit. Kalmuk natives 

 shoot these Marmots in a curious manner ; they go 

 out after them with a fox's brush, which they carry 



