and T'lmher Trade of the ' interior (^Russia. 69 
portionally less ; and for that sum, besides the labour already- 
bestowed, he engages to float it to the sea-port, or place of its 
destination, free of every expence. To balance this, the pro- 
prietor always receives his money in advance before the timber 
is sent off, and is insured against any loss ; whilst the foreign 
merchant has to advance the money, pay his travelling ex- 
pences, custom-house dues, &c. before he receives any return. 
The timber separated from the hraake^ is formed into rafts 
by the boors, by making the trees fast to each other at both 
extremities, and crossing these again with others. The rafts 
are made of a size proportioned to the depth and breadth of 
the water upon which they are to be floated. Upon each 
raft a small wooden hut is constructed to afford shelter and 
a place of residence for the boors who guide it along, and 
in which they keep the provisions necessary for their voyage., 
This work is performed upon the ice of the lake or river upon 
which the trees have been collected ; and as soon as it gives w ay at 
the opening of summer, the raft gets afloat. The timber of large 
dimensions must be rafted ; whilst that of a small size, or when 
cut into deals, which of late years the boors in this part of the 
country are enabled to do by means of mill-saws, may be placed 
in the large flat-bottomed barges peculiar to the country. Each 
raft is put under the charge of so many boors, according to its size, 
who live upon it, and direct it towards its destination. As these 
men are the feudal slaves of the noble, and as they carry their 
provisions with them, although absent for months on their 
, journey, they cost him very little. When they have once set off, 
they proceed along the lakes, canals, and rivers, through that 
vast extent of country lying betwixt the Biel Ozer or White 
Lake and Petersburgh. The rafts are propelled along by sails, 
by pushing with paddles, or by horses ; and when on the rivers, 
by the currents always running from the intei’ior towards the 
sea. In this way, winding along, day and night, they traverse 
many hundred versts. The, timber which my friend received, 
and marked off, during our journey, was rafted upon the water 
of the Biel Ozer or White Lake ; and in its course towards 
Petersburg, in the neighbourhood of which the nobleman had 
engaged to deliver it, traced its way along the Korja River, 
across the Maria Canal, part of the Onega Lake, the River 
