SIBERIA— FUR-TRADE AND GOLD-DIGGINGS. 207 



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

 hypocrisy. " 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, Ilofmann never met with a 

 worse set of drunkards, liars, and thieves. 



As to thjl free Siberian peasant, who is generally of pxile extraction, all 



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 ; 



