300 SIBERIA 



irresponsible critics sent over to rake up sensational 

 stories. I had a unique opportunity of learning 

 something of the truth from unprejudiced merchants 

 who were not afraid to talk to me in confidence, and 

 have felt it my duty to give my opinion of this 

 much-talked-of Empire, in order that I may correct 

 false ideas that have been created by prejudiced or 

 misguided writers.' 



As the train slowly forged its way to Europe the 

 weather became more spring-like. At almost every 

 station peasants were selling flowers. As soon as 

 the train stopped at Zlatoust the Russian naval officers 

 made for the stall on the station to buy some of 

 the manufactured articles which this district is noted 

 for. They brought some handsome presents into 

 the carriage, probably for those whom they had been 

 thinking of while locked up during the siege of Pekin. 

 I bought several articles, including a dozen knives 

 and forks, which are a speciality of the town's manu- 

 facture. They were of beautiful white metal, like 

 silver, and were engraved with the name of the town 

 in artistic Russian letters. 



Owing to its being situated in a hollow, Zlatoust 

 was seriously affected by the spring floods, and, in 

 one part of the town, the water had risen as far as 

 the second storey windows of the house, and the in- 

 habitants were using boats. From Zlatoust to Ufa 

 we passed over the Ural Mountains. The line ran 

 through extensive cuttings of chalk, and, as it passed 

 along the banks of the River Ai, we could see that 

 this stream had done very serious damage by over- 

 flowing its banks. All day long we passed emigrant 

 trains loaded with rough-and-ready Russian peasants. 

 The carriages indicated that they were ordinarily 



' There is a club being formed to help to promote a better feeling 

 ibetween Great Britain and Russia, showing that others share my 

 opinion. 



