ON THE WAY HOME 303 



After leaving the foot of the Urals the difference in 

 the people is very marked. ,We crossed the very fine 

 bridge over the River Belaya. This river had over- 

 flowed its banks in both directions, making the 

 country look like one large swamp. About forty 

 miles before Samara we came across what appeared 

 to be a huge lake, but which turned out, on a nearer 

 acquaintance, to be caused by the enormous spring 

 floods of the Volga. The town is elevated and out 

 of reach of the water. iWe did not stop long at the 

 station. From Samara the line takes a more 

 southerly direction and runs several miles from the 

 Volga, but the water of the floods came a little way 

 up the railway embankment. .When we arrived at 

 the Volga Bridge all cameras were got ready and 

 quite a number of snapshots of this famous bridge 

 were taken from the rear of the train. 



The next station we stopped at was Tula, noted for 

 the manufacture of "samovars." Several of the 

 passengers bought samovars, which are here very 

 good and cheap. I purchased one myself at the stall, 

 which had a large assortment. A little farther on we 

 were buying lilies of the valley and other beautiful 

 flowers . 



At 1.45 that afternoon we beheld Moscow's golden 

 domes and spires from the distance, a welcome sight 

 not only to myself but to all the home-sick 

 passengers. At two o'clock we had reached that 

 ancient city. 



