There are several shops in the town, in which different articles can be purchased, as calico, tea, sugar, confectionary, wine, &c. Flour and other victuals, or what is commonly termed "the staff of life," are, according to the quantity required for home consumption, bought by the inhabitants from vessels when they arrive, and laid up for the whole winter.

There being no market, every householder must procure provisions elsewhere, or devise some means by which he may be enabled to obtain them himself. The river and the forest thus become the market-place, and skill and perseverance are disbursed in place of money.

Berezov is divided into two parishes of the Russo-Greek Church, and is the residence of a Pope and Protopope. It is also the seat of the district government, and of its jurisdiction in all its different ramifications, in accordance with the general regulation of the whole Russian empire, with the sole exception of the so-styled Marshal of the Noblesse, there being nobody here whom that dignitary could represent. The whole duty of the functionaries, after all, is almost nominal, as scarcely any cases come under their consideration.

In accordance with the general regulations, there is likewise a district school, composed of two classes, where the Cossacks, and nearly all the citizens, send their children to be taught reading and writing. The studies do not, however, extend very far; for no sooner do the parents perceive that their children have learned reading with facility, and the art of casting up accounts with the Ostiaks, than they take them away from school, as, in their opinion, any further learning would only be a waste of time.

CHAPTER X.

Mosquitoes - Visits

Bashfulness of a hostess - A

merchant widow's house - Objects of luxury and European taste-Not at home Summer heat Courtesy of the Berezovian maids-Flight-Arrival of Madame X-A Berezovian Bloomer-A Polish maid-servant.

WHAT a pity that one cannot profit by the fine but short summer moments at Berezov. The sight of a beautiful forest almost touching the threshold of the house, the deep shade beneath the far spreading branches of tall cedars, or of deep green larches, was deliciously inviting, and we often were tempted to seek refuge amidst it from the piercing rays of the sun; but no sooner did we venture into the shade, than we were surrounded by dense

swarms of mosquitoes, which starting from their ambuscades, attacked us on all sides. There was no possibility of repelling such myriads of blood-thirsty assailants. Yet after covering our faces with visors of hair, with which the lady of General Potemkin had provided us at Tobolsk, and our hands with thick gloves, and being otherwise armed, cap-à-pie, we stoutly marched on, nothing daunted, to the encounter, repelling their attacks as courageously as we could; but all our efforts proved unsuccessful. After a short and desperate combat, we were obliged to beat a retreat, blistered from head to foot. Finding it quite impossible to make excursions in the forest, we resolved to cultivate our acquaintance with the persons of the place; and, as the Horodnitchee was the principal inhabitant, and had already several times called on us, we thought it would be most becoming to commence our round of visits with him.

We accordingly called at his house, and were ushered in. Here we were welcomed by a young and handsome lady, who proved to be his wife. She said not a word, but showed by a pleasing smile that she was gratified at our

visit. Presently she left the room to look for her husband, who in a short time arrived. Meanwhile we looked round the apartments, which were particularly neat and clean.

A few minutes afterwards, the youthful lady of the house reappeared, more handsomely dressed. She was preceded by a servant with a tray loaded with a variety of sweetmeats and confectionary, of which, with divers signs and smiles, but not uttering a single word, she politely pressed us to partake. The expression of her countenance was that of exceeding bashfulness; but as she was very young, handsome, and of a mild disposition, I began to feel an instantaneous affection for her, such as is frequently experienced at the sight of a shy child shrinking at the appearance of strangers, and displaying only to the family circle all the genuine charms and beauty of her character.

I endeavoured in every possible way to reassure her, and therefore frequently addressed my conversation solely to herself. She appeared, however, scarcely to understand my friendly wishes, for her replies to my remarks were whispered in her husband's ears, and he, like an echo, repeated her words aloud. Fearing lest