18 FORESTRY IN EASTERN RUSSIA. 



access ; and the higher the price which might be paid by 

 the ultimate purchaser, the more likely would he be to 

 value highly his purchase. 



From Nijni Novgorod the journey was prosecuted by 

 steamers on the Volga, 



The Volga shows a broad expanse of water and a rapid 

 current. In twenty-four hours after leaving Nijni, as the 

 town is curtly designated, the steamer reaches Kazan, 254 

 miles below, but a much longer time is taken by the 

 return voyage against the current. It is luxurious voy- 

 aging. There are steamers built like those on the large 

 rivers of the United States in America, and others 

 fashioned after the model of the sea-going steamers of 

 Europe. In all the fares are moderate, and the fare good, 

 while at every stopping-place there are crowds of people 

 offering for sale cooked provisions of various kinds, cold 

 roasted fowls, boiled eggs, fish-pies, and bread and cakes 

 of different kinds. The passengers are of all grades. 



Again I avail myself of the more graphic pen of Mr 

 Christie. In writing of his voyage from Nijni Novgorod 

 he tells : 



'Pursuing our course down the Volga, we may now 

 take a look for a few minutes at some of our fellow- 

 passengers. Seated on the upper deck at sunset, drinking 

 in the wonderful effects on river and land, three Tartars 

 the Tartars are Mohammedans mount one of the paddle- 

 boxes, and, spreading out their rugs, say their evening 

 prayers. One of them is an old man, another is middle- 

 aged, and the third is a youth. The old man is grave 

 his faith is supreme with him ; the middle-aged Tartar 

 wears a look of nonchalance he takes to his devotion as 

 a matter of course ; the youth is agile in all his move- 

 ments, and full of self-satisfaction. A fine-looking lad, it 

 is a pleasure to see him. Facing towards Mecca, the three 

 make their salaams, and then falling upon their knees, 

 perform their devotions Sometimes they lie prone on 

 the rug, with the face touching it. This lasts for a 



