Sketch of Siberia^ ^c. 33 



itself in the Baikal. Verchney Udinsk, a populous city on the banks 

 of the transparent Selenga, is on the frontier line, and is the great 

 mart between Irkutsk and Kiakhta, by way of Selenginsk, which is 

 seventy miles distant from Verchney Udinsk, on the frontier. Ki- 

 akhta is a regular built town, placed in the centre of a stony, sterile 

 basin, but the surrounding hills rising in an imposing manner, spread 

 away, and almost redeem the desolation of the vallies, by the grace- 

 fulness of their outline. The little brook Kiakhta runs in front of 

 the fortress, and is, at this place, the boundary hne between these 

 mighty empires. A little beyond, is what is called Old Kiakhta or 

 tlie town of Commerce — the residence of the merchants only — no 

 officers, or strangers, or women, being permitted to remain in it. It 

 contains a great number of rich stores, surrounding an oblong hollow 

 square, in the centre of which the Chinese reside, and around the 

 sides display their goods in the most fantastical manner. These 

 men are courteous and affable, but maintain with scrupulous jealousy 

 the antiquity of the great empire, and its superiority, and that of its 

 descendants, over all other lands and tribes ; guarding their borders 

 from the profane curiosity of foreigners, with the same suspicious 

 policy which is exercised in Canton. In this little district, by com- 

 mon consent, they dismiss ceremony in entering the Russian and 

 Chinese villages ; the best understanding prevails, and the business 

 of the Fair, is transacted vdth liberality and good faith. The Chi- 

 nese give no credit, but credit is given by the Russians. This is the 

 grand place of exchange between Russia and China, where the for- 

 mer send their furs, woollens, and Walrus ivory, and receive in re- 

 turn, the teas, muslins, nankeens, silks, porcelain, pictures, and carv- 

 ed trinkets of China. The distance from Kiakhta to Pekin, is one 

 thousand five hundred miles, one thousand of which is through Mon- 

 golian Tartary, a well peopled territory, nominally subject to China. 

 The consumption of tea almost surpasses belief; it is used not only 

 by tlie refined and polite, but throughout Siberia, the wildest savages 

 receive it for their furs, and seem not to hold it second in value even to 

 spirits and tobacco. Three millions of pounds have been imported by 

 Russia in one year, and the annual amount, it is presumed, does not 

 vary materially. The choicest furs are not sold in China, but the 

 precious ermines of Yakutsk — the best sables — and the finest fiery 

 red foxes, are sent to Moscow, and Novogorod, for the use of the Rus- 

 sians, Turks and Persians. 

 Vol. XVII.— No. 1. 5 



