EXPEDITION TO THE ALTAI 165 



get away again, as the nioujiks were pretty generally 

 of the opinion that we would not be able to get a:ny 

 one to take us any farther. For the first lo miles the 

 road was level and the scenery very fine. At the 

 end of that section of the road we turned away to 

 the left from the River Koksa and began to ascend 

 the Korgomskie Mountains, 5,000 feet above the 

 level of the sea. At one place the track ran for 

 a distance of about 200 yards along the edge of a 

 sheer precipice overhanging the River Koksa. The 

 track, moreover, had a deep hole running along in 

 the centre, and, as we drove along that ledge, one 

 runner of the sledge kept in the hole, causing it 

 to lean over in a dangerous and exciting position. 

 We did not dare to tell the driver to stop, as, had 

 we done so, he would probably have jumped off the 

 sledge, a very dangerous thing to do with the vehicle 

 in so precarious a position. We were going at a 

 very good rate, however, and soon had the ledge 

 behind us, emerging into one of the most beautiful 

 valleys I have ever seen. The mountains around 

 were clad with pines, firs, and birches, but there 

 was a scarcity of trees in the valleys. Everything 

 was as still and quiet as the grave. When we 

 stopped to arrange the harness on the horses 'we 

 heard no sotmd except the murmuring of the river. 

 All the birds seemed to have migrated and to be 

 waiting for the return of the spring weather. The 

 air had become much warmer after we crossed the 

 Korgomskie Mountains, but the snow became more 

 troublesome for the horses. In spite of this draw- 

 back, however, our team on this section was a very 

 hardy and enduring one, and gave an excellent 

 exhibition of what a Siberian horse can do. The 

 driver stopped at his farm', which was on the way, 

 to change horses, and while waiting we had sottie 

 ref reshttients . The moujik showed us an old wooden 



