54 



that it is very doubtful whether any general measure of repression 

 at present could remedy the evil. In order fully to understand the 

 economic condition of this region we must go back some fifty years 

 or so, and look at things with other eyes. I consider that this 

 unauthorized felling originally was legal and reasonable suitable for 

 the place where the forests are very dense ; but as a principle it admits 

 of some formal limitation. And this, according to these reports, 

 appears to have been attempted in the government of Olonetz in 18G7. 

 Of the system of operations carried on by this people, it is said the 

 first settlers in the country were satisfied with small plots of ground 

 of easy cultivation, but as they increased in number they were 

 obliged to have recourse to land which was more fertile indeed, but 

 marshy or covered with forests, and requiring labour to prepare it for 

 culture, and care and thought. Cultivation such as may be seen in 

 civilized communities was not attainable by these people, were it 

 only from their want of agricultural implements and manure. In 

 the same book, on the page following, it is stated, ' In these virgin 

 soils, previously covered with forest or bush, the produce of rye in the 

 first year was tenfold frequently twelvefold. ; and there were places 

 generally places where there had been old dense high forests in 

 which the produce was fiflyiold, and in the second year the produce 

 was from ten to fifteen fold/ 



" Within two weeks after my arrival at Petrozavodsk I was once 

 more on the road in my kibitka speeding onward to the most northern 

 town in the government of Olonetz, where according to the opinion 

 among the population is the end of the world. This town is called 

 Povonetz. At about 20 versts, or 14 miles, from Petrozavodsk is the 

 village of Thouya, the first post station on the river of the same 

 name, across which there is a barge ferry. The river Thouya flows 

 into the Onega Lake, and has throughout its course a very rapid current. 

 Where I crossed there was wood being floated down from the Govern- 

 ment mining forest estates situated further up, from whence the 

 strength of the current brought them down. 



" The current brought them with such rapidity and force that the 

 barge was in danger, and with difficulty we reached the opposite 

 shore. 



" The rapid current is not favourable for the flotage of timber, 

 and there has been formed what may be called a dam at the mouth 

 of the river; but this having been broken, a great quantity of 

 wood has been carried out into the Onega Lake, whereby the naviga- 

 tion of it in this part by steamers has been impeded. It is to be 

 desired that some effective measures were taken to prevent this loss, 

 which increases the cost of what fores 4 : timber is secured. 



