PETCHORA 257 



place the runner of our ' pavoska ' passed within a few 

 feet of open running water. 



At our next long stage of 32 versts from Vosjegorskaia 

 to Promorskaia, leaving the former at 3.30 p.m., we 

 experienced some trouble and delay. The fresh snow had 

 almost obliterated the track, and the driver of Piottuch's 

 pavoska, which was ahead, made a cast to the left, 

 and got through the sludge after a struggle. Our 

 heavier pavoska was not so fortunate, and our three 

 horses were soon floundering up to their bellies and quite 

 unable to move the pavoska one inch. As it was now 

 freezing, the sledge rapidly became frozen round the 

 runners and the ice had to be cleared off with the axe. Of 

 course we got out, and then the men and ourselves at last 

 succeeded in forcing up first one runner and then the 

 other. The horses were then yoked abreast, and after a 

 sharp hard struggle they at last bravely pulled the sledge 

 out of the ' slough of despond.' We lost nearly an hour 

 over this business, and for the 32 versts took six hours, 

 arriving at the hut-station at 9.30 p.m. 



This is the first of the hut (or temporary) stations on 

 the 240 versts winter road (and dirty enough they appear 

 to be) between Nojgorskaia and Ust Zylma. 



Again, on offering the men some schnapps, one refused. 

 1 Na peota tarn ' (' He doesn't drink '), the others said. 



April 14. 



On Wednesday, the 14th of April, our next stage, from 

 Skegmaskaia to Cheblaskaia, we named the 'Via Diabolica.' 

 We went at a fair pace through the forest, the motion of 

 our pavoska exactly answering the description given, I 

 think, by Erman ( ' Travels in Siberia ' ), who says it 

 cannot be more aptly compared than to the motion of a 

 heavy boat in a chopping sea. The thumping of the 

 runners on the uneven track, and the lurching from side 



VOL. i. 1 8 



