CHAPTER VII. 
FORESTS OF ARCHANGEL. 
THE report of M. Judrze does not embrace any account of 
the forests in Archangel. Of these, and of the aspects of 
forests along a different route from that followed by him, 
some idea may be formed from the graphic accounts of 
Hepworth Dixon, in the volume entitled Free Russia. 
His journey was from north to south—from Archangel 
towards the central districts of the empire—and it thus 
supplies an account of what might have been seen on a 
return journey from Archangel or from beyond it by 
another route. It is in accordance with what I have 
myself seen travelling in other parts of Russia, and with 
what I have heard from others of what they have experi- 
enced in travelling through the forest lands of the Empire. 
Speaking of his tour through Russia, he says :—‘ My 
line from the Arctic Sea to the southern slopes of the 
Ural Range ; from the Straits of Yeni-Kale to the Gulf of 
Riga; runs over land and lake, forest and fen, hill and 
steppe. My means of travel are those of the country ; 
drojki, cart, barge, tarantass, steamer, sledge, and train. 
The first stage of my journey from north to south is from 
Solovetsk to Archangel ; made in the provision boat, under 
the eyes of Natha John. This stage is easy, the grouping 
picturesque, the weather good, and the voyage accomplished 
in the allotted time. The second stage is from Archangel 
to Vietegra ; done by posting in five or six days and nights ; 
a drive of 800 versts through one vast forest of birch and 
ine. 
It is the narrative of this journey to which I have 
referred as conveying some idea of what travelling in 
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