and which divides the frost of winter from the sultriness of summer? Here the leap is instantaneous. Yesterday the warmest clothing hardly sufficed to keep me warm; to-day again, the heat is so intense that we are obliged to cool the water we wish to drink with ice.

The day was everlasting, and whether we clothed our eyes or awoke from sleep, day-light was constantly streaming in at the windows, and circling over the horizon. No dew was to be met with here; and the earth had none the whole summer.

Oh, lovely spring of my country! how I shall ever remember, and ever long for thee!

CHAPTER IX.

Rapidity of vegetation-Preparations for the fisheries in the Oby Gulf-Performance of a religious rite— A family farewell-A touching scene-Site of Berezov -Streets-Structure of the houses-Churches-Burial places-Menzikov's corpse-His grave-Graves of other exiles-Classification of the inhabitants-Provisions-A Siberian school.

WITH all these drawbacks, however, I must confess that Berezov did not appear to me so terrible as various reports had represented it. There is a proverb which says, "that even the Devil was handsome when he was young;" and this might be as fitly applied to certain regions in the regenerating season of spring.

In July everything around Berezov, appeared in new and gay apparel. Larch trees were decked

with tiny leaves of the freshest verdure, filling the air with sweet perfume. The grass, quickened by the moisture of the thawing soil, grew incredibly fast. The river Soswa overflowing its banks far and wide, presented to the eye an immense expanse of water, encircling with her arms numberless islands covered with willows, and disappearing in the distance like a mirror of clear azure. Nearer us, it is rolling and roaring, and dashing its foaming billows against the precipitous banks of the town.

Along the shore lay a number of fishing-boats and barges, prepared for a voyage to the Oby sea. They formed a forest of masts, curiously rigged and decked with numberless coloured flags, which flaunted on the air. Smaller craft were plying to and fro between the shore, and the larger vessels freighted with stores and provisions. These preparations, unusual in this remote spot at any other season, rendered the town quite animated.

Our host, though an aged man, had engaged to take part with others in a fishing expedition; the fishing season on the Oby sea, being for the inhabitants of this part of the world, what the harvest season is in other countries.

Everybody in good health and vigour, not having any more important employment at home, participates in it. The necessary preparations being completed, the scene of taking farewell at home followed.

In one of our rooms, screened by curtains, was an image of the tutelar saint of the house, surrounded by a number of other images of saints of less dimensions, decked all in gold or silver apparel. On the eve of parting, the aged man, accompanied by all his family, entered the room, and knelt before this shrine, touching the floor several times with his forehead, and repeating a short prayer. All then arose, and the venerable old man, with tears in his eyes, bade farewell to his wife and children, and to us, whom he considered as belonging to his family. At the same time, he addressed a few words to his wife, commending us to her particular protection and care. Then amidst the tears of all, he proceeded to the place of embarkation.

He was accompanied by his family, and by a large number of his friends, who waited on the shore till they saw him safe on board the vessel.

My heart was full, and tears gushed involuntarily from my eyes. For my part, I am not conscious that greatness, or splendour, or the contrivances of luxury, have any attraction for me, or that I ever longed for the possession of them; but a neat and cleanly dwelling, however humble, where concord, order, and competence reign, has invariably had an uncommon charm for me. In such a place I have always been desirous to live and die. Throughout my life, feelings of the heart alone constituted my world, and from them alone sprung all my delights and sorrows, my hours of happiness and of pain. I derived my bliss more from the hand of nature than from society. But alas! this was but a dream-an idle reverie. It was just on that point that the thunderbolt had struck, and at one blow demolished all my joys.

As July advanced, a northern breeze cooled the air, and there were not so many mosquitoes. I now frequently walked out, in order to get a view of the town, and become acquainted, as far as possible, with its environs.

Berezov is a district town of the government of Tobolsk, situated 64° latitude, on the left