112 FOEESTRY IN EASTERN EUSSIA. 



am afraid to say how many million roubles — I think it 

 was eight. It was brought to a standstill not many years 

 ago, and all sold off for not more than a tenth of what it 

 cost, and all because — no fuel, and none to be got for love 

 or money by them; bribery could not even help them 

 here. 



' There is in Eussia red tapeism enough in any conscience ! 

 But how does it work ? I was called to examine a boiler 

 at a certain manufactory in Ekaterineburg, and there I 

 saw lying a little turf and a great deal of firewood. I 

 inquired, " What is turf doing here ; you are not burning 

 turf?" "Actually, no ; ostensibly, yes. And that turf lies 

 there as a proof, when needed, to satisfy official inquiry. 

 But the paper roubles necessary to bandage the eyes and 

 stop the mouths of dangerous creatures costs us 4000 

 roubles a year to make them willingly insensible to the 

 fact that we are feeding our boiler with one vegetable 

 product instead of another." " Then why not get turf- 

 making machinery out from England and always burn 

 turf?" "Because we could not and cannot get the per- 

 mission. They (that is the authorities) would say, if we 

 open a door for turf timber will escape through in un- 

 known quantities." It was not doing so then ! It is 

 because everything must be in black and white that those 

 that are well posted up can succeed so cleverly in making 

 black look white. It is a saying, " That what can't speak 

 can't lie." But in the interior, far from the executive, 

 dumb-lying is most general, systematic, and convenient. 

 The Russians have a maxim, '•' If you live in a wood you 

 must be content to dwell with wolves." Now the owner 

 of this establishment thought he would end this un- 

 pleasant state of things, as he was always in hot water, and 

 as he never knew or could rely upon the future, or secure 

 himself against a more extensive application of the screw, 

 till all should be torn away and his work shut up. 



' He went to St. Petersburg ; spent a great deal of time 

 and money endeavouring to obtain from headquarters a 

 concession or the permission to buy and use timber, 



