KAINSK 95 



drosky of sledge froM Semipalatinsk. Mongolian 

 sheep hunters could come this way to Kobdo over the 

 Siberian line and take steamer from the Omsk land- 

 ing-stages. The river transit, owing to want of 

 competition, is dear and badly regulated. More- 

 over, the water in the rivers is very low in the 

 summer, and the currents too strong in spring, and 

 this renders navigation difficult and affects the rates 

 charged. A steamer takes from eighteen to twenty- 

 two days to go from Tomsk to Tumen. The steamers 

 of the Obi-Irtish line make about three trips during 

 the season. It is safe to prophesy, however, that 

 an intelligent use of the marvellous water system 

 will make Omsk a very important centre. 



Our next settlement of importance was Karachi, 

 20 rniles from the station of that name and the centre 

 of thirteen settlements, having a total population of 

 25,000. The inhabitants export flour, meat, fish, 

 poultry, and butter. Thirty miles south-west of the 

 station lies Lake Chany, which is the largest lake 

 in the Tomsk Government, and occupies an area of 

 1,916 square miles. It contains pike up to 30 lbs. 

 and carp up to 10 lbs. in weight. The lake is 

 leased to a. private firm, and yields about 1,500 tons 

 of fish annually, part of which is exported from' 

 this station. The water of Lake Karachi, 10 miles 

 from the station, is said to possess medicinal pro- 

 perties . The slime from the bottom has a, sulphurous 

 stnell, and bathing in the lake water and slime is 

 prescribed for rheumatism and diseases of the skin. 



FroirJ Omsk to Kainsk we took the post train, 

 which was not as comfortable as the Siberian express. 

 It was necessary to look after one's own food at the 

 stations during the long stops. A plentiful supply 

 of hot water from the hot-water house or a samovar ' 



" A self-heating urn for hot water. 



