TIUMEN 



473 



In one of the villages I 



uncommon, and its meek -iss, us did not pass unnoticed 



As we neared Tiumen a small flock of peewits appeared, 



feeding on the water's edge and flying before us from 



bank to bank of the river, 



examined a peasant's 



stock of swan's skins ; 



they were the wild swan 



and Bewick's swan in 



about equal numbers ; 



so that there can be no 



doubt that both species 



are found in the valley 



of the Ob. 



We reached Tiumen 

 just as the sun was set- 

 ting, and went to the 

 best hotel. The town 

 was one mass of mud, 

 and the streets full of 

 deep holes. Noprovision 

 being made for lighting 

 them, when darkness fell 

 they became utterly de- 

 serted. No doubt it was 

 the business of some 

 official to see something 

 done to improve mat- 

 ters. No doubt also he 



was paid so much a year by the inhabitants to permit 

 nothing to be done, and so long as he could fill his 

 own pockets he was perfectly satisfied, I doubt not, 

 and the streets might go to the dogs. The Wirthschaft 

 in the hotel was not much better ; if a guest was pro- 

 vided with a lofty room having plenty of windows and a 



DOLGAN QUIVER 



{Border of Yurak sovik in background) 



