sessed generally by travellers, but absolutely unfelt by me. In the extraordinary situation in which I was, I could experience no kind of pleasurable emotion, and I viewed all things with utter indifference. I found nothing to hurry me on-nothing that was worthy to engage my attention, or to stimulate my curiosity. I felt no desire, whatever, to see any of the places or the scenery on the road. My wishes were never outstripping-were never in advance of my sledge. My hours were quite at liberty to pass by as they pleased; my will had no share, no interest in them.

In this frame of mind, I had traversed a great part of the territory of the government of Tcherniechov, and crossed the extensive steppes of the government of Orel, so called from the city of that name, situated on the river Oka, and at length arrived at Tula. While the horses were being changed at this town, I entered the post-house, driven in by the cold, from which I was suffering severely. Here I happily found an old soldier of the Minsk regiment of infantry, who some time. back, when that regiment was stationed in our province, had his quarters in a village belong

ing to myself.

This circumstance, trifling as it may appear, made us consider each other in the light of old acquaintances; such as had seen the same objects and places, or, at least had some reminiscences in common, which alone speaks volumes to those who, removed from their native place, happen to meet in a distant land. I shall for ever remember the few moments of conversation I had with the veteran soldier.

In the reception room, at the same posthouse, my attention was not a little attracted by various articles from the iron manufactory of Tula, admirable for their polish and lustre. They formed an agreeable exhibition, and were evidently exposed to view as a bait to travellers-such, at least, they were to me. Charmed by the display, I experienced a strong desire to make a choice of some of the more useful of the articles, and take them with me as souvenirs from Tula. I thought, too, they would be of service to me, as I was going to a country which scarcely possessed any manufactures; and having but little luggage, they would be no incumbrance. I made a selection of such as I considered

CHAPTER XVIII.

The library at Tobolsk-Popularity of novels at Berezov -Tale-tellers-Samoiedes-Their tents, habits, and religion Tragic incident at Samarov Kapustka fête-Anna Piotrowna-Public opinion on seduction -Alarm at the appearance of a bear

273

REVELATIONS OF SIBERIA.

CHAPTER I.

Journey from Kiov to Tobolsk-Departure-Prostration -Government instructions-Tula-Veteran soldier -Iron-works-Russian currency-Murom ForestNijny Novgorod-Its fair.

ON the 11th of March, old style, 1839, I left Kiov. The sun was shining in all his brilliancy, yet the cold was intense, and no signs of the approach of spring were as yet visible. We passed the Dnieper which was still icebound, in a sledge, by the road leading to Orel, and thus I set out on my long journey.

No sooner had we crossed the Dnieper, than the post-horses commenced a gallop. I still tried to catch one more glimpse of Kiov, gazing

VOL. I.

B

towards that ancient city again and again. At last it vanished in the dimness of distance, and then, unconscious of all around me, I could neither see nor hear anything. The only outward impressions that I was yet capable of receiving were the continuous ringing of the bells on the post-horses, ceaselessly tinkling in my ear, and the violent jerks and jolts when the sledge was tumbling up and down, over ruts and deep snow-holes on the road. These interruptions in some degree aroused me for a time from my state of abstraction and complete torpor; but at last even they ceased to produce the slightest impression on me. Arrivals at the station-houses, relays of horses, and numberless upsettings of the sledge, did indeed remind me at times of external objects; but then, an excruciating headache, an acute pain in all the joints of my body, and the shortness of time in which post-horses were again fastened to the sledge, did not allow me an instant for observation; for no sooner had the bells begun to tinkle, than the sledge was again on its rapid breath-stifling course, leaping in and out of holes and hollows, tumbling over ruts, and thus, without interruption, continuing on-on