PETROPAVLOVSK 77 



An iirttnigrant station has been established, from 

 which immigrants are drafted to the north-western 

 portions of the Akmolinsk territory. 



I was not sorry when it came to My turn to 

 emigrate from the Kourgan hotel. The bedroom 

 accommodation at that establishment is extremely 

 poor, and, in order to secure a good night's rest, 

 a plentiful supply of insect powder is essential. The 

 hotel is all on the ground floor, and the greater 

 part of the space is occupied by the billiard-tables 

 and refreshment-bar, at which the merchant or 

 peasant is supplied with " vodka," ' or enabled to 

 gamble away his savings during the long winter 

 nights. The result has been that the proprietor has 

 succeeded in putting together a very respectable 

 fortune. 



On the way to the station the sledge we occupied 

 raced with that of our friends. These small express 

 sledges travel at a good speed, and the drive through 

 the keen, dry air is pleasant and exhilarating. The 

 thermometer registered 50 degrees below freezing 

 point, Fahr., in March, but it frequently falls to iio 

 degrees in the winter months. In the summer, how- 

 ever, it rises as high as 114 degrees. The early 

 frosts in the autumn and the morning frosts in spring 

 have a m'ost disastrous effect on the crops. The 

 temperature is often very low in September, but 

 the coldest months are December, January, and 

 February. 



The railway runs through flat, uninteresting land 

 until it reaches Petropavlovsk, which is approached 

 by ,a bridge over the Ishim. The town is situated 

 on the right bank of the river and is about one 

 and a half miles from the railway. 



' Brandy, usually made from barley or rye. A cheaper kind is 

 made from potatoes. 



