CARRIAGES PURCHASED. 203 



on the score of famine, and the whole of the lands of 

 Ferghana can consequently be given up to the pro- 

 duction of cotton, Russia will be on the highroad to 

 realising one of her ambitions — namely, to supply from 

 her own dominions the whole of the increasing demand 

 of those cotton factories which have sprung up in recent 

 years to make Moscow a modern manufacturing city. 



Until these lines are built, however, recourse must 

 be had to the post-roads to carry one over the huge 

 expanse of steppe -land of Turkestan and Southern 

 Siberia. Let me try and give some idea of what travel- 

 ling on a post-road in Asia is like. 



First, if, as in my case, you have much baggage, it 

 is advisable to purchase vehicles for yourself and your 

 belongings. For any one travelling light these can be 

 found at each post-station ; but if not, unpacking and 

 packing up the baggage involves much trouble and 

 delay, and it is better to have your own. I bought a 

 tarantass and another cart of similar construction for 

 £10 apiece, and, as I subsequently drove close upon 

 2500 miles in them, consider that they were cheap at 

 the price. The tarantass is not an ideal carriage for 

 comfort, being possessed neither of seats nor of springs ; 



prices of Siberian corn. The system is explained by Vladimir in his 

 ' Eussia on the Pacific ' : — 



" The price of tickets on Eussian railways is charged per verst only up 

 to a distance of 300 versts ; greater distances are charged according to 

 zone, 



of 25 versts for distances from 301 to 500 versts. 

 30 M .. 501 II 710 II 



35 n 11 711 II 990 II 



40 II II 991 II 1510 II 



For distances above 1510 versts, the zones are of 50 versts. Above 325 

 versts the price of each zone is 20 kopecks third class, 30 kopecks second, 

 and 50 kopecks first class. As the zones increase, the cost therefore rela- 

 tively decreases : thus to travel 1000 versts (over 660 English miles), from 

 1510 to 2510 versts in first, second, and third class, costs respectively 10, 6, 

 and 4 roubles." 



