DIFFICULTIES WITH SNOW-SHOES, 



CHAPTER XL 



Religious processions Costumes of the peasants A Russian holiday Drunken- 

 ness Prejudices of the Old Believers Field-work House-building New 

 birds The Siberian chiffchaff Prices of provisions Arrival of waders. 



THE 21st of May was St. Michael's Day, one of the greatest 

 holidays in this country. A long procession of " Old 

 Believers," consisting mostly of women and children carrying 

 banners and pictures, wended its way through the town. 

 The women were dressed in their best, and decked with 

 all the jewelry that they possessed, some of which was 

 very ancient and valuable. Many of the dresses, too, were 

 antique ; heirlooms handed down from mother to daughter. 



I 



