SIBERIA— FUR-TRADE AND GOLD-DIGGINGS. 



207 



wagoners belong to this class. They endeavored to excite his compassion by 

 Iiypocrisy. " It was the will of God !" is their standing phrase, to which they 

 tried to give a greater emphasis by turning up the whites of their eyes. But, 

 in spite of this pious resignation to the Divine will, Hofmann never met with a 

 worse set of drunkards, liars, and thieves. 



As to the free Siberian peasant, who is generally of exile extraction, all 



cwm 



Tf:f^r> 



SIBERIAN PEASANT. 



travellers are agreed in his praise. " As soon as one crosses the Ural," says 

 Wrangell, " one is surprised by the extreme friendliness and good-nature of 

 the inhabitants, as much as by the rich vegetation, the well-cultivated fields, 

 and the excellent state of the roads in the southern part of the government of 

 Tobolsk. Our luggage could be- left without a guard in the open air. ' Ne- 

 boss !' ' Fear not !' was the answer when we expressed some apprehension ; 



