42 FORESTRY IN EASTERN RUSSIA. 



allowing any extended vision as far as our immediate 

 surroundings were concerned, but giving a view of the 

 starry heavens such as an astronomer would delight in if 

 not encumbered by the emharras de richesses. Our course 

 during the day and night was almost due south, from, if 

 I remember correctly, 37° to about 32°, in longitude about 

 74o. At Uralsk I made a mistake which has cost me 

 dear. Awakened out of sleep, while horses were being 

 changed, I preferred a walk (as I had done several times 

 the previous day) to breakfast, thinking that could be 

 obtained at next station. I got my walk, and even a nice 

 refreshing wash in a river just outside the village, but lost 

 all chance of food till we should reach our destination. 

 We soon entered the steppes, a series of swelling downs 

 well cultivated, — in fact the first part of the journey was 

 through a populous district, one or two villages being 

 generally within view, though not on our line of march. 

 After crossing the river Salmish we came to the mining 

 district, which I may note is being brought more and 

 more into cultivation — wheat being more profitable than 

 the small percentage of copper yielded by the mine. Not a 

 tree was visible for miles, though I should say my range of 

 vision was limited much by the natural conformation of the 

 grounds, as I do not remember anywhere seeing a plain, 

 but always a series of hills of no great height, and with a 

 long incline. The long rolling waves of the Pacific or 

 Atlantic, if suddenly solidified, would present the same 

 appearance. 



' Here my narrative must close. That day sixty versts 

 under a broihng sun, without food till 3 P.M., was more 

 than my poor frame could stand. Fever set in, and a 

 bilious attack, which made the visit to Orenburg impos- 

 sible, or any inspection of the mines, or search for fossils, 

 on which 1 had reckoned so much. After four days I was 

 placed in the conveyance for return, but to break the 

 journey at Verchotov, the other copper mine of Mr Pash- 

 koff. Here I first learned the secret of comfort in taran- 

 tass travelling. My brother-in-law, who accompanied me, 



