314 SIBERIA 



sledge or conveyance, and do not sit down to tea until you see him 

 on his way for horses and sledge. One word, "skorey," is very 

 handy, as it means hurry. You stop on the road at wooden huts, 

 which in winter are heated by a stove and are very warm. The 

 peasant is very sociable, and willingly brings out the best he has, 

 leaving the price to you. Plenty of Keating's powder is a necessity. 

 The tarakan is the insect that will trouble you most, but this insect 

 is not caused by dirt, as the post stations are kept clean. 



The pleasure of Siberian sledging or travelling bydrosky depends 

 upon the condition of the roads. The country interests you, and 

 you are able to look about with freedom. You can stop the bells 

 if you object to the noise they make. You have to take pack horses 

 and saddled ponies at times, and this is very slow travelling, probably 

 not more than 30 miles a day, while on a drosky you may cover 

 75 miles a day. Beyond Bysk you must arrange for your own 

 food, etc. Take methylated spirits in liquid and a good methylated 

 spirit lamp and stove, also blocks of spiritine, which are very handy, 

 as they go in your pockets. June or July are the two best months 

 for the mountains. If you start on the ist of May the following 

 programme could be carried out : — 



Leave London ist May. 



Arrive St. Petersburg 6th May. 



Leave St. Petersburg (evening) 7th May. 



Arrive Moscow (morning) 8th May. 



Arrive Novo-Nicolaevsk 14th May. 



Leave Novo-Nicolaevsk (by steamer) i6th May. 



Arrive Bysk 20th May. 



Leave Bysk (by tarantass) 23rd May. 



Arrive Katunda 26th May. 



Leave Katunda 28th May. 



Arrive Akkem Valley 2gth May. 



Base of Peaks 30th May. 



Fourteen days' hunting and climbing 13th June. 



Arrive back to Katunda isth June. 



Arrive back to Bysk i8th June. 



Leave Bysk 20th June. 



Arrive Novo-Nicolaevsk 24th June. 



Leave Novo-Nicolaevsk 2Sth June. 



Arrive Moscow 31st June. 



London 7th July. 



A day would have to be spent at Bysk in making purchases. The 

 return journey down the river with the fast current only takes two 

 and a half days. To go by boat from London to Riga and back is 



