38 THE FOREST LANDS OF NORTHERN RUSSIA. 



ground towards the lake ; and they present generally the 

 characteristics of mountain streams. The most striking 

 feature of the country is the great quantity of boulders 

 upon its surface, the number of which, if stated, would be 

 almost incredible. They consist exclusively of granite and 

 other primary or transition formations, covered partially 

 by drift, in which is a red sand in considerable quantity. 

 There are also projecting from the ground granite hills in 

 whole or in part quite bare, or covered only with lichens. 

 Having examined the works I proceeded further. On the 

 right hand was a magnificent view of the Onega Lake, the 

 breadth of which at this place is above 80 versts (about 54 

 miles). On the left side of the road were hills, the 

 continuation of those of Finland, which pass into the 

 Government of Olonetz, but fall away towards the south 

 till they present an altitude not exceeding 420 feet above 

 the level of the country around. The surface of the hills 

 seen from this point is covered with forests, which consist 

 of four different kinds of trees, intermixed in varying 

 proportions fir, pine, birch, and aspen. The height of 

 these trees, judging by the eye, seemed to be low compared 

 with like vegetable productions. The only impression I 

 have retained of the course of the whole journey to Petro- 

 zavodsk, with such opportunities of observation as I had, 

 was a feeling that I had gotten into a comparatively 

 northern region, and that I must be nearing the polar 

 circle ; granite hills and interminable forests, a stony soil, 

 with abundance of waters but a sparse population these 

 are my remembrances of my first acquaintance with the 

 Government of Olonetz. 



' Every twenty or thirty versts (14 and 20 miles) there 

 were small villages inhabited by Karrells, a tribe of Finns 

 who have retained the Finnish language, but in every 

 other respect they are like the population from Novgorod 

 found in the south and east, and in parts of the central 

 portion of this government. 



' Within two weeks after my arrival at Petrozavodsk I 

 was once more on the road in my kibitka speeding onward 



