It cannot be said that the regulations were severe, or that they pressed heavily upon the foreign residents. As with all Russian ordinances there was laxity in enforcing the provisions of the proclamation. The correspondents found certain liberties curtailed. We certainly did ride out without permits to Russia-town, the flats by the forts, and to different villages. Sometimes we were stopped by a sentinel, but more often than not passed unchallenged. Only once, when I was re-entering by the south gate from a ride to the fort, did the guard go so far as to stop me by seizing my bridle. I urged the horse forward, and the bold man went with her a short way, then he and his rifle fell to the earth. I went on, expecting a shot to be fired after me, but hearing only the loud laughter of the guards at their comrade’s discomfiture. The censorship was somewhat of a nuisance. Etzel submitted a test message which the censor obligingly amended: the revised copy was presented and passed, but it was not sent, for the message which went was of quite different import and uncensored. There were also ways of getting a censor’s stamp and signature on a blank form, or by writing in or altering the censored message, news of a somewhat different character could be substituted. But there were so many ways of getting news out without the authorities knowing of it, that troubling the censor was quite unnecessary, and done only in order to keep on good terms with the officials. The order against crossing the river was the most irksome restriction. The bank was patrolled, and the sentinels fired at whatever they saw moving, and inquired afterwards. When there was good cause to cross over, a permit could be obtained, and the passenger took the risk; or even a ferry could be obtained in one of the official launches, the privileged boats, which were not fired upon. There were no steam launches or tug-boats in private hands.