268 SIBERIA 



The news of our return spread throughout Bysk 

 in a very short time and we had quite a royal 

 reception. Our friends had made up their minds 

 never to see us alive again, which was strikingly 

 illustrated by the words of Mr. N. A. Sitcheff, who 

 had lent me his heavy " shuba " (fur overcoat). He 

 said, when I handed it back to him very much the 

 worse for wear, that he had not expected to see either 

 me or his " shuba " in this world again. It was 

 Easter Monday when we arrived, so, as we had several 

 invitations for dinner, and one or two business friends 

 to interview besides, we decided to stay over Tuesday. 

 We made the very best of our time, and, judging 

 by the splendid reception accorded to us, and by the 

 profound interest that was taken in the expedition, 

 I think it very probable that the people of Bysk will 

 be visiting the mountains, either by themselves or in 

 company with some other travellers, if the expedition 

 is undertaken in the summer months and not, as mine 

 was, at the worst possible time of the year for the 

 purpose. Mr. Sitcheff and his friend. Judge Vinnit- 

 sky, both said they would be pleased to accompany 

 an Englishman. _ 



Several of the richest men in Siberia reside at 

 Bysk, and the architecture of the place, considering 

 its remoteness, is exceedingly fine. Mr. N. A, 

 Sitcheff has presented a pretty church to the town, 

 the great bell of which stood in front of the building 

 ready to be raised to the belfry when we arrived. 

 It was a very fine bell, about i6 feet in height 

 and about 2 feet thick. Bysk possesses several other 

 pretty churches, and is, in many respects, a very 

 nice little town. It is, besides, a most important 

 market centre. The drainage, however, is very un- 

 satisfactory, and the supply of drinking water is 

 obtained directly from the river, being either filtered 

 or boiled before use. In the spring, when the ice 



