THE FORESTS OF THE URAL. 391 



the copper mines of Bogoslowsk. The road led through 

 dense forests of pines, larches, and cedars; here and there 

 were birches and poplars. The underwood of these 

 forests was formed of wild roses in full bloom, and luxu- 

 riant junipers whose dark green shade was relieved with 

 the light hue of the birches. The richness and beauty 

 of the plants contrasted strongly with the poverty of 

 the fauna. The travellers saw hares and squirrels, and 

 " such small deer," and now and then a bird. No war- 

 bling was heard in these forests. They saw several 

 small hawks, and one finch, but no civilized birds, so to 

 speak, such as swallows, wagtails, etc. The excessive 

 vegetation of plants abounding in sap, produced myriads 

 of gnats, which were a great torment to the travellers. 

 To protect themselves against these gnats the inhabitants 

 of the country wore over their faces nets steeped in birch 

 tar, the smell of which was offensive to the insects. 

 Sometimes they carried pots on their backs, filled with 

 decayed wood ; or they burned the fungus of the birch, 

 the smoke of which was not injurious to the eyes. As 

 the travellers were not prepared to meet the gnats, they 

 suffered severely from their attacks: their only resource 

 was to drive rapidly through them. When they drove 

 slowly, or stopped, they were beset and stung by swarms. 

 Their horses were stung worse than themselves : the poor 

 beasts were in agonies. Along the road, which was being 

 mended at the time, were groups of peasants at work. 

 These peasants had lighted fires as a means of defence 

 against the gnats, and whenever the}' paused from their 

 labour they held their heads in the smoke, preferring to 

 suffer that rather than the intolerable torment of the in- 

 sects. 



