256 SIBERIA 



We then tied our luggage more firmly and resumed 

 our journey, singing " Soldiers of the Queen " in 

 order to keep up the circulation. We were beginning 

 to congratulate ourselves on having got over the 

 worst of our difficulties when our drosky plunged 

 into a drift. The horses were in up to their necks", 

 and the cart was buried over the wheels. Once more 

 we had to alight and wade into the snow up to our 

 hips in order to extricate the drosky, while the stupid 

 driver managed to free the horses. This was, how- 

 ever, our last misadventure. Thence to Katunsk, a 

 drive of about an hour and a half, the road was 

 smooth and easy. 



We dried ourselves at the post station, an operation 

 which practically wasted the morning. When we 

 were about to start we heard singing in the street 

 and became aware of a procession, consisting of the 

 priest bearing a crucifix, followed by a crowd of 

 peasants making a hideous noise. This was the 

 usual Easter procession, a rather lucrative institution 

 for the priest, who blesses the people and, in ex- 

 change, receives presents of money or goods, accord- 

 ing to the means or inclination of the giver. 



A mile beyond the village we came to the River 

 Katun, which we had to cross . We were surprised 

 to find the ice only partially started, the nearer half 

 of the river being open for boat traffic, while the 

 remainder had to be negotiated on foot, half-a-dozen 

 carriers assisting to convey the luggage. Just before 

 crossing we met a friend with whom, when starting 

 on our journey, we had arranged to do some bear- 

 shooting at Pestchan, a day's journey in a south- 

 easterly direction from Altaiskoe. We had contrived 

 to get lost in the steppes, however, the night on which 

 we should have arrived at Altaiskoe, and the idea was 

 given up. It was a coincidence that he should be 

 crossing the River Katun at the same time as our- 



