126 FOEESTRY IN EASTERN RUSSIA. 



water motive power, and a regular permit for the cutting 

 of this was yearly given, but much more was used, and 

 sometimes by appropriate manipulation more than three 

 times that quantity might be obtained on the same 

 permit. If the permit were sent to the forest inspector, 

 unaccompanied by a private communication, it might be 

 courteously received, attested, and returned with direc- 

 tions as to the localities in the forests whence the supply 

 was to be obtained ; but it might be found that these 

 were situated some 60 or 80 versts (40 or well nigh 60 

 miles) from the works; in which case the expense of 

 transport would be more by far than the current price of 

 wood delivered at tbe zavod. But I was informed on 

 credible authority that if, as provision against such an 

 occurrence, there were handed to the inspector, along with 

 the permit, a sum of money enclosed in an envelope, much 

 more satisfactory arrangements might be made. And if 

 the amount enclosed amounted to 200 roubles, or £20, 

 arrangements might be made for the wood being cut in 

 forests within a tenth of that distance ; but then all the 

 officials who were under the inspector must also be silenced 

 by hush money, as otherwise some fatal objection might be 

 raised. The forest guard might be satisfied with 20 or 30 

 kopecs — about 6d — but his superiors must receive much 

 more, according to their rank; and then though 1000 cubic 

 feet might be felled and delivered, in the official records 

 everything would be found in order — 300 cubic feet 

 granted, 300 cubic feet felled, 300 cubic feet delivered — 

 the exact amount and nothing more. 



But sometimes it happened that ere the delivery was 

 made the staff of the officials was changed, and then all 

 that had been done went for nothing ; and the whole pro- 

 cess of administering hush money had to be gone through 

 again. If this were not done with every man amongst 

 them, they would be found every man of them, or some 

 one of them at least, the very paragon of just, upright, 

 incorruptible officials I 



But even such a case as this might be met. An instance 



