144 SIBERIA 



to the fierce glare of the summer sun, as it meanders 

 through the level steppeland, while the water evapo- 

 rated in this way is only inadequately replaced by 

 that from the mountain sources of the river and its 

 tributaries ; but little snow falls on the mountains 

 in summer, and the hard, frozen glaciers contribute 

 very little towards filling the streams during the short 

 summer months. It is for this reason that the boats 

 plying on the Obi must be flat-bottomed, and fitted 

 with sufficiently powerful engines to enable them" to 

 make head against the swollen floods in spring. 

 When proceeding down stream the, boat could drift 

 with the current and reserve her fuel. The re- 

 frigerator plant and engine could be taken into the 

 country free of duty, and cheap labour can be 

 obtained on the Obi for their erection. The existing 

 boats carry passengers at much cheaper rates than 

 those which obtain on the road, and, as they are 

 not too strict in the matter of passenger luggage, 

 it is far the best and cheapest, and most comfortable 

 way of travelling. 



The hotel at Barnaoul is a good one for Siberia, 

 and not expensive. There was a large organ in 

 one of the rooms, driven by steam, which was a pass- 

 able substitute for a band of wind instruments. When 

 started it was powerful enough almost to blow the 

 roof off. I paid a visit of inspection to the market 

 and was very much interested. " The shops sold a 

 very complete assortment of articles, from a. needle 

 to a sledge. The motor-car does not seem to have 

 penetrated so far as Siberia, which is to be regretted, 

 as a good machine would sell well among the rich 

 merchants, while one or two cheap motor vans or 

 carts would be invaluable on the flat steppes. 



After a stay of two days we left Barnaoul for 

 Bysk. The weather had been warmer and very fine ; 

 it now became colder. The roads were very rough 



