Sledges--Sulky yemschiks--Progress to Achinsk--Limit of Eastern Siberia--Game--The Chulim--Difficult ferry-- Government of Tomsk--Bad roads again--Job's comforters-- Mariinsk--An accident--And another--Resources of a yemschik--A drive through a forest--Ishimskaya--A day too late--A sporting Pole--Disappointment--Annoying delay--Freezing river--A cold bath--Sledge travelling--A night scene--Early birds--Arrive in Tomsk--Our lodging-- Religion of Russians--Scruples of a murderer--Population and situation of Tomsk--Fire Insurance--Climate of Tomsk-- Supply of water--Carefulness and hardiness--Skating--Demure little boys--An extinct species--The gold diggings--The Siberian tribes 273 CHAPTER XVIII. TOMSK TO OMSK. Refitting--The optician--The feather-pillow question--A friend in need--A dilemma--Schwartz's folly--Old Barnaul leaves us--We leave Tomsk--A weary night--A Russian dormitory--Construction of houses--Cross the Tom--And the Ob--Enter the Baraba steppe--Kolivan--The telegraph--The ladies of Baraba--Game--Windmills--A frozen marsh--Kainsk-- Reach Oms--Outbreaks on the Kirghis steppe--Russian aggression--Its effects on different tribes 290 CHAPTER XIX. OMSK TO OCHANSK. Leave Omsk--Recruiting--Cross the Irtish--Tukalinsk-- Yalootorofsk--Reach Tumen--Improved posting--Snowroads-- Ekaterineburg--Mint--Precious stones--Iron works-- Englishmen in Siberia--Iron mines--Fish trade--A recruiting scene--Temperature rising--Game--The Urals--Disappointing-- A new companion--The boundary between Europe and Asia-- Yermak the Cossack--Discovery and conquest of Siberia-- Reach Perm--Too late again--Progress of inland navigation-- Facilities for application of steam--Water routes of Siberia--Railways--Tatars--Cross the Kama to Ochansk-- Dissolving view of snow roads 305 CHAPTER XX. RUSSIAN AND SIBERIAN PEASANTRY. Siberian and Russian peasantry--The contrast--Freedom and slavery--Origin of Siberian peasants--Their means of advancement--Exiles--Two classes--Their offences and punishments--Privileges after release--Liberality of the government--Its object--Extent of forest--One serf-proprietor in Siberia--Exemptions from conscription-- Rigour of the climate on the Lena and Yenisei--Settlers on Angara exempted from taxes--Improvement of Siberian peasants--A bright future--Amalgamation of classes--Slavery demoralising to masters--The emancipation of the serfs-- Its results 320 CHAPTER XXI. KAZAN.--POLISH EXILES.