CHAPTER V. 
THE FALLS OF KEEWASH. 
I aM indebted greatly to the Forst-Meister in charge at 
Vosnisenya, and not less so to the Forst-Meister in charge 
at Petrazavodsk, and to the Oberforst-Meister Giinther, 
whom I met on my return voyage. Desirous of seeing 
something of the forests beyond, with the advice of the 
Forst-Meister in charge, and accompanied by his brother, 
-also a forest official, I proceeded from Petrozavodsk to the 
Falls of Keewash, which took me through some stretches of 
old forest, as well as extensive stretches of forests in a state 
of rejuvenescence, and land which, reclaimed from the 
forests, had been devoted to agriculture. The latter showed a 
fertility which justifies those who, though lamenting the 
inconsiderate destruction of wood, tell that the forests are 
not to last for ever, and that even the destruction of them 
may be made the means of promoting the advancement of 
a country. My excursions into the forests took me 
over well nigh a hundred miles, and were deemed sufficient 
to give me a general idea of the condition of those existing 
in the district. The road which we took brought us in 
sight of some beautiful lakes, sprinkled with beautiful 
islets, generally wooded to the water's edge. 
I had here an opportunity of seeing one of the Objest- 
chicks, or Forest Circuit Wardens, in his home. This was 
-anything but a palace. It consisted of but a single apart- 
ment, with a projection—I cannot call it a verandah— 
extending the whole breadth of the house, and some ten 
feet deep. My fellow traveller and I arrived at midnight, 
and the wife was immediately in attendance to make 
arrangements for our comfort. In this verandah were all 
