128 FORESTRY IN EASTERN RUSSIA. 



interruptioD till the work was completed, and he was 

 about to deliver the wood felled, when one of the officials, 

 through whose hands the paper had to pass, coming to 

 him with the usual question, ' Ivan, Ivanowitch, what is 

 this ? ' said to him, ' This is an old permit which has already 

 passed through our office ; the date has been altered by some 

 one ; I am sorry for you, but all this wood must be confis- 

 cated.' Both parties knew well who was in fault ; the 

 man had to submit, shrugged his shoulders it may be, and 

 expressed his thanks that the official had not pressed 

 the matter further, and brought against him a criminal 

 charge. But he sent an account of the whole matter 

 to his brother, who was resident in the Government town. 

 He waited upon the Governor and informed him that his 

 brother had become iiivolved in a very unpleasant business, 

 but one which could be satisfactorily explained, notwith- 

 standing that appearances were much against him ; and he 

 gave his explanation of the matter, upon hearing which the 

 Governor said, ' All right ! It is an unfortunate occur- 

 rence ; but we can get it rectified.' The brother thanked 

 him, and left. In the evening he called again on the 

 Governor at the Residence. After having had a cup of 

 tea, they sat down to play a game at cards ; and before 

 they rose he managed to lose a large sum to the Governor 

 — the amount reported to me was 8000 roubles — and he 

 went away a happy man. Next day, on calling at the 

 chancellory or office, he found everything had been 

 arranged ! It had been discovered that it was altogether 

 a mistake — the supposed alteration of the date of the 

 permit ; and the wood which had been felled was restored 

 to the contractor. 



So much for the case having been brought before a 

 Governor who, in a long tenure of office, was never known 

 to have accepted a bribe ! The name of the Government 

 was supplied to me. 



I was told of other Governors who had a like reputation, 

 and who, had a bribe been offered to them, would have 



