170 SIBERIA 



The numerous tributaries from the same range, which 

 flow north for a distance of from forty to fifty miles, 

 are indebted for their tortuous courses to the pecuHar 

 shape of the mountains, which resemble a partially- 

 opened fan. In consequence of the flatness of the 

 valleys, a canoe could be used by huntsmen to bring 

 their trophies down the river. In summer, and par- 

 ticularly in July, the waters are very low, and safely 

 navigable by any small craft. In early spring, how- 

 ever, the rivers are much more dangerous for naviga- 

 tion, owing to the speed of the currents, which are 

 nowhere broken by waterfalls. The River Katun, 

 for instance, has an unbroken fall of 3,700 feet in 

 200 miles, and some of its tributaries falling into the 

 river from the mountains have a gradient of from 

 2,000 to 4,000 feet in a similar distance. 



The post-house of Katunda has two stories, double 

 windows, and is well-built. Two forms, one table, 

 and a stove constituted the dining and bedrooni 

 furniture. The peasant in charge of the house and 

 his wife lived below. 



It was not long before lunch was ready, and, 

 while we were enjoying that meal, quite a little crowd 

 of peasants came round the door and gazed at us 

 curiously. They asked all sorts of questions which 

 at home one would have considered very impertinent. 



We found that of the two hunters recommended 

 by Professor Sapozhnikov, one would not go because 

 it was winter, and the other wanted double pay. 

 He told us that as the ice had just broken he could 

 earn more by fishing ; a good catch that day had 

 made him' independent. As he was the only man at 

 Katunda who had been the way we wished to go, we 

 were compelled to take him, but we managed to 

 engage another Siberian at the correct price. .We 

 gave them a day in which to get ready. 



That evening we were visited by candle-light by 



