SiketcJi of Siberia, d-c. ■ 27' 



•aad founcleries of Kolyvan employ forty thousand laborers, besides 

 the peasants of Tomsk and Kusnetz, who cut wood, transport ore, 

 and make charcoal for the founderies."* Twelve thousand horses 

 and oxen are also employed in the various processes relating to the 

 produce of the mines. This province is abundantly supplied with 

 provisions and wood — the scenery is picturesque and the soil fertile. 

 Tomsk, north east from Kolyvan, is the capital of the province which 

 hears that name. The fertility, plenty and industry of Kolyvan, ceases 

 at its borders — the intervening country gradually becomes cold and des- 

 olate, as you approach the capital, wood and cultivation disappear, and 

 the country wears the aspect of a desert. Tomsk is half way from To- 

 bolsk to L.'kutsk, contains five thousand inhabitants, and is distinguished 

 for hospitality to strangers. In the dreary wilds between Tomsk and 

 the river Jenesei, caravans of traders are met laden with teas, silks, and 

 nankeens from China for Moscow. The Jenesei rolls its course over 

 a picturesque district, well cultivated to a considerable extent. The 

 little river Katcha winds at the foot of the north western hills forming 

 a peninsula of sandy alluvion at its junction with the Jenesei, upon 

 which stands the town of Krasnojark, distinguished for the beautiful 

 scenery which surrounds it, but unpopular as a residence, from being 

 subject to fevers, and the epidemics incident to flat river countries. 

 Mines of the precious metals again occur in these hills, the vailies 

 abound in timber — and villages scattered every ten or fifteen miles in- 

 dicate the approach to the government of Irkutsk, where the increas- 

 ed attention to regularity and good order, reflects the highest credit 

 upon the governor of that province. The progress of improvement 

 within the last forty years is surprising, as since that period it has risen 

 to a government and a capital. f 



IRKUTSK. 



Irkutsk is one hundred and fifty miles west of the Lena. Civiliza- 

 tion has made considerable advances throughout the province. The 

 Russian inhabitants are numerous — the country lies over hill and dale, 

 and " except a few cornfields is one uninterrupted pasture." Post 

 houses and roads are good, and little villages frequent. The inhab- 

 itants of the villages are principally exiles who have been banished 



* See Coxe's account of the niiues of Russia, 

 i Cochrane, p. 136. 



