120 SIBERIA 



the East has ceased, except to the Russian troops in 

 Manchuria and the East. 



With a view to making the most of the time at 

 my disposal, I decided to call upon the Governor of 

 Tomsk with a letter of introduction from a member 

 of the Government Council at St. Petersburg. The 

 Governor's house was one storey high and was 

 entered through a large hall or vestibule, in which I 

 kicked off toy goloshes and hung up my furs and 

 cap. I gave my card to the servant and was 

 announced without delay. I had to pass through a 

 large room in which five " Ispravniks "—chiefs of 

 police — were waiting their turns to be received by 

 the Governor. They eyed me and my companion 

 very inquiringly as we passed into the Governor's 

 rooto. The latter, worthy man, appeared in a very 

 sombre mood, and, without shaking hands, sternly 

 demanded to see my passport. His manner towards 

 toe was not unnatural in view of the student riots 

 which had recently taken place and of the fact that 

 a Minister had been assassinated by one of them only 

 a few days before. After reading my passport and 

 my letters of introduction his manner relaxed and he 

 became smilingly anxious to toake me comfortable 

 and at home. He procured a map and repeated the 

 professor's warning that we should find it impossible 

 to accomplish our undertaking, as the road might 

 break up at any moment and imprison us in some 

 remote village for five or six weeks. I mentioned 

 my plan of coming back another way, but, owing to 

 my interpreter giving his own ideas about the scheme, 

 the Governor strongly deprecated my tempting 

 Providence in the winter. He promised to send me 

 a letter which would help us through, but up to the 

 time of my leaving the hotel I had not received it. 



After taking leave of the Governor we paid a 

 visit to the shops of Tomsk in order to complete our 



