HOT SPRINGS 47 



At Bisk we were most comfortably entertained at 

 one of the merchant's houses, and, though rather 

 tired, started early next morning for Ongudai. The 

 distance from Bisk to this village was about 220 

 versts, or 190 miles. By means of ferry-boats we 

 crossed the two tributaries of the Ob, Bia and 

 Katoun, without accident, and were soon trotting 

 along the steppes. We could now plainly dis- 

 tinguish ahead of us, through a dim blue haze, the 

 first outlines of the Altai peaks. At first the country 

 presented a similar appearance to that between 

 Barnaoul and Bisk, but as we approached the 

 mountains, woods began to appear on all sides, 

 principally cedar and larch. The villages we passed 

 bore the same aspect as those we had seen before. 

 Deep mud prevailed everywhere, especially at a place 

 called Bielokourikha, where in some places people 

 were unable to leave their houses in consequence 

 of it. There were said to be hot springs around 

 the village, and perhaps a mud bath might have 

 cured our aching limbs. Its curative powers at all 

 events had been tried by people from Tomsk, who, 

 we were told, had succeeded in getting rid of their 

 rheumatism. 



We left this Siberian Franzensbad, however, after 

 a hard struggle, and succeeded in reaching a village 



