202 
A VOYAGE TO 
1779’ can be well conceived more wretched than their fituation 
ii mull be during the winter months. They were at this time 
removing from their jourts into their balagans , which af¬ 
forded us an opportunity of examining both thefe forts 
of habitations ; and they will be hereafter more particu¬ 
larly defcribed. The people invited us into their houfes 
with great good-humour ; a general air of cheerfulnefs 
and content was every where vifible, to which the ap¬ 
proaching change of feafon might probably not a little 
contribute. 
' On our return to the Town’s, we found fupper prepared 
for us, which differed in nothing from our former repaft; 
and concluded with our treating the To ion and his wife with 
fome of the fpirits, we had brought with us, made into 
punch. Captain Gore, who had great generality on all oc- 
cafions, having afterward made them fome valuable pre- 
fents, they retired to the kitchen, leaving us in poiTeliion of 
the outward room, where, fpreading our bear-fkins on the 
benches, we were glad to get a little repofe, having fettled 
with our condudtors to refume our journey, as foon as the 
ground fhould be judged fit for travelling. 
About nine o’clock, the fame evening, we were aw'akened 
by the melancholy howlings of the dogs, which continued all 
the time our baggage was lafhing upon the fledges ; but, as 
foon as they were yoked, and we were all prepared to let out, 
this changed into a light cheerful yelping, which entirely 
ceafed the inflant they marched off. But, before we fet out, 
the Reader may expe6f to be made more particularly ac¬ 
quainted with this curious mode of travelling. 
The figure of the fledges will be bell conceived by the 
annexed engraving, which was taken from one I brought 
over with me, that is now in the poffeffion of Sir Afhton 
Lever. 
