MEMOIR OF PALLAS. 57 
pearances, and excited an interest which has since 
yielded an abundant harvest.* 
Our Naturalist set off from Petersburg in June 
1768, and having passed through Moscow, and 
crossed the plains of European Russia, spent the 
winter at Simbirsk on the Volga, in the midst of 
those Tartars who were originally masters in Russia, 
but who have since devoted themselves to agricul- 
ture. He then moved forwards to Orenburg, which 
is the great rendezvous for the migratory hordes 
who wander over the salt deserts on the north of 
the Caspian, and who conduct the caravans which 
convey the commerce of India across the deserts. 
Descending the river Jaik, or Oural, he stopped at 
Gurief, a small Russian fortress upon the Caspian, 
and with much care examined that great sea, which 
formerly, according to him, was much more exten- 
sive, and whose ancient shores may still be recog- 
nized at a great distance from its present waters 
towards the north and west. Returning through 
the province of Orenburg, he spent the second win- 
ter at Ufa. 
The year 1770 was employed in visiting the two 
slopes of the Oural mountains, and the numerous 
iron mines which have been worked among them ; 
and which have supplied to many families, in a 
few generations, fortunes equal to those of European 
princes. In December he reached Tobolsk, the 
capital of Siberia, and there wintered. In 1771 he 
* Nov. Com. Petro. t. xiii. 
