146 SIBERIA 



twice we were obliged to pull to one side to allow 

 caravans of sledges loaded with butter and other 

 produce to pass. These caravans were often very- 

 long, consisting of 50 to 60 sledges. One man in 

 charge of about five horses took it in turn to lead 

 the caravan, while the rest followed very slowly 

 behind, the drivers taking their sleep in turn on 

 the sledges. The butter is wrapped in mats and 

 covered with hay to keep the sun off. It is during 

 these journeys across the steppes that butter is 

 occasionally exchanged for snow and rubbish, which 

 finds its way to the English market. Very unfairly, 

 the blame has been laid upon the Russian merchant, 

 although he is nearly always quite ignorant of any 

 fraud having been perpetrated. It is true that cases 

 have occurred of bricks being neatly wrapped in 

 parchment and placed in the centre of casks of 

 butter, but tricks of this kind are easily traced to 

 the particular dairy. The Government should pro- 

 vide the vehicles for the conveyance of butter through 

 the steppes. Some form of mechanical traction with 

 a locked-up refrigerator van would meet the require- 

 ments of the case, and the vans could be replenished 

 with cold air at certain stations. An arrangement 

 of the kind suggested is imperative, in order to 

 render the efficiency of the railway more complete, 

 while its introduction will increase the confidence of 

 every one connected with the butter trade. 



We enjoyed some excellent shooting by the way. 

 There were numerous white hares in the district, 

 and these afforded first-rate sport. One wolf was 

 seen by us at a distance of about 100 yards and 

 accommodated with a shot, but he only howled his 

 dissatisfaction at the treatment he had received and 

 vanished round the corner of a farmhouse, near which 

 he was evidently on the lookout for a stray meal. 

 A little later the driver called out " Volki I " which 



