4 THE FOREST LANDS OF NORTHERN RUSSIA. 
opportunity several times in the course-of the summer to- 
admire a steamboat which visits the place; but - beyond‘ 
this and fishing, change they: have none. 
‘ Almost all the vessels which leave the landing-place of: 
Povonetz are laden with boards produced at this mill. In- 
the fullest: sense of the word, Povonetz is a timber town, 
and on arriving here I felt proud while I thought that my- 
profession was the principal profession of its inhabitants, : 
and. had to. do. with the very source of its-wealth: To: 
determine ‘and specify what is the trade-of the place must- 
occasion no difficulty to any one. Its imports consist of‘ 
everything excepting wood and fish, and its exports consist’ 
of wood and fish alone, the latter principally Triska. 
‘The discharge of my professional duties led me further: 
in the north. 
‘For nine versts or six miles beyond Povonetz it is pos- - 
sible to travel by wheel, but beyond this point the journey- 
has to be made by water in very uncomfortable boats on: 
narrow lakes and-rivers connected with them. From the 
Lake Volozer issues the river Povetchanka, which flows 
through a very picturesque country. Thanks to the high. 
hilly shores, the general rapid current of the river, and the 
frequent. occurrence of considerable rapids, this little river, 
or ‘rivulet, is in spring changed into a very dangerous: 
torrent, tearing along, and threatening to engulf and carry, 
along with it. whatever may. tumble into its waters: It 
has.a-course of about eleven versts, nearly eight miles, and 
by dt are floated some 20,000: logs a-year to-the saw-mill 
at. Polonetz.. 
‘The construction ofa road: from near the Lake Volozer 
tothe: White Sea has been: projected, and the initiative of: 
the.execution has been taken, but: nothing more seems to- 
have been done. The proposal created great excitement: 
throughout the-district; where. there are ‘very few roads of 
any kind or other ‘facilities .for:communication with other: 
parts, Scarcely could the. projection .of a railroad in. any: 
other partof Russia produce so much discussion,-and-excite 
so many hopes,as would the making of a-common road:in: 
