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, 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 



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 ; 



