272 DOWN RIVER TO THE KAMIN PASS 



hospitably received by their black cousins, so much so 

 that they allowed them to intermarry in their families. 

 The consequence now is that perhaps seventy-five per 

 cent, of the Yeneseisk crows are thorough-bred carrion 

 crows, five per cent hooded crows, and twenty per cent, 

 hybrids of every stage between the two. Middendorff, 

 however, mentions the interbreeding of these birds as 

 long ago as 1843, so Boiling's story must be taken for 

 what it is worth. Now and then we saw a great tit, and 

 flocks of redpolls and snow-buntings frequented the 

 banks of the river, the latter bird, we were told, having 

 only just arrived. 



Our lodgings were very comfortable. The sitting- 

 room was large, with eight windows in it, of course 

 double. The furniture was light and elegant. A few 

 pictures, mostly coloured lithographs, and two or three 

 mirrors ornamented the walls ; and a quantity of shrubs 

 in pots materially assisted the general effect : among 

 them were roses, figs, and geraniums. 



Whilst we were resting at Yeneseisk the great 

 festival of Easter took place. Every Russian family 

 keeps open house on that day to all their acquaintances. 

 The ladies sit in state to receive company, and the 

 gentlemen sledge from house to house making calls. A 

 most elaborate display of wines, spirits, and every dish 

 that is comprised in a Russian zakuska, or foretaste of 

 dinner, fills the sideboard, and every guest is pressed to 

 partake of the sumptuous provisions. Captain Wiggins 

 had made a good many acquaintances during his previous 

 visit to Yeneseisk, so that we had an opportunity of 

 seeing the houses of nearly all the principal merchants 

 and official personages in the town. Some of the 

 reception-rooms were luxuriously furnished. 



The most important business which claimed my 



