,P>T #c3 ,SIB]IA1 ,SECTION #e 

#ahiiahii 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,PET] ,KROPOTK9 

,TEXT 3 

  

,PHOTO BY ,>T ,GALL]Y ,]GS,>T1 ,PUBLIC ,DOMA9 ,I DID NOT /AY LONG AT ,/4 ,PET]SBURG1 BUT RETURN$ TO ,IRKUTSK ! SAME W9T]4 ,MY BRO!R WAS GO+ TO JO9 ME !RE 9 A FEW MON?S3 HE WAS ACCEPT$ AS AN (FIC] ( ! ,IRKUTSK ,COSSACKS4 

,TRAVEL+ ACROSS ,SIB]IA 9 ! W9T] IS SUPPOS$ TO BE A T]RIBLE EXP]I5CE2 BUT1 ALL ?+S CONSID]$1 IT IS ON ! :OLE MORE COM=TABLE ?AN AT ANY O!R SEASON ( ! YE>4 ,! SN[-COV]$ ROADS >E EXCELL5T1 & AL?\< ! COLD IS 9T5SE1 ONE CAN /& IT WELL 5\<4 ,LY+ FULL L5G? 9 ! SL$GE1 AS EV]Y ONE DOES 9 ,SIB]IA1 WRAPP$ 9 FUR BLANKETS1 FUR 9SIDE & FUR \TSIDE1 ONE DOES NOT SUFF] MU* FROM ! COLD1 EV5 :5 ! TEMP]ATURE IS =TY OR SIXTY DEGREES BEL[ Z]O1 ,FAHR5HEIT4 ,TRAVEL+ 9 C\RI] FA%ION1 ?AT IS1 RAPIDLY *ANG+ HORSES AT EA* /ATION & /OPP+ ONLY ONCE A DAY = ONE H\R TO TAKE A MEAL1 - ,I REA*$ ,IRKUTSK N9ETE5 DAYS AFT] LEAV+ ,/4 ,PET]SBURG4 ,TWO HUNDR$ MILES A DAY IS ! NORMAL SPE$ 9 SU* CASES1 & ,I REMEMB] HAV+ COV]$ ! LA/ #ff MILES ( MY J\RNEY 9 SEV5TY H\RS4 ,! FRO/ WAS NOT SEV]E !N1 ! ROADS W]E 9 AN EXCELL5T CONDITION1 ! DRIV]S W]E KEPT 9 GOOD SPIRITS BY A FREE ALL[ANCE ( SILV] CO9S1 & ! TEAM ( ?REE SMALL & LI<T HORSES SEEM$ TO 5JOY RUNN+ SWIFTLY OV] HILL & VALE1 ACROSS RIV]S FROZ5 AS H>D AS /EEL1 & ?R\< =E/S GLI/5+ 9 !IR SILV] ATTIRE UND] ! RAYS ( ! SUN4 

,I WAS N[ APPO9T$ ATTA*E TO ! ,GOV]NOR-,G5]AL ( ,EA/ ,SIB]IA = ,COSSACK AFFAIRS1 & HAD TO RESIDE AT ,IRKUTSK2 BUT !RE WAS NO?+ 9 P>TICUL> TO DO4 ,TO LET EV]Y?+ GO ON ACCORD+ TO ! E/ABLI%$ R\T9E1 ) NO MORE REF]5CE TO *ANGES1 - SU* WAS ! WAT* WORD ?AT CAME N[ FROM ,/4 ,PET]SBURG4 ,I !RE=E GLADLY ACCEPT$ ! PROPOSAL TO UND]TAKE GEOGRAPHICAL EXPLORATION 9 ,MAN*URIA4 

,IF ONE CA/S A GLANCE ON A MAP ( ,ASIA1 ONE SEES ?AT ! ,RUSSIAN FRONTI] :I* RUNS 9 ,SIB]IA1 BROADLY SPEAK+1 ALONG ! FIFTIE? DEGREE ( LATITUDE1 SUDD5LY B5DS 9 ,TRANSBAIKALIA TO ! NOR?4 ,IT FOLL[S = ?REE HUNDR$ MILES ! ,>GUN ,RIV]2 !N1 ON REA*+ ! ,AMUR1 IT TURNS S\!A/W>D1 ! T[N ( ,BLAGOVES*5SK1 :I* WAS ! CAPITAL ( ! ,AMUR L&1 BE+ SITUAT$ AGA9 9 AB\T ! SAME LATITUDE ( FIFTY DEGREES4 ,BETWE5 ! S\!A/]N CORN] ( ,TRANSBAIKALIA 7,NEW ,TSURUKHAITU7 & ,BLAGOVES*5SK ON ! ,AMUR1 ! DI/ANCE WE/ TO EA/ IS ONLY FIVE HUNDR$ MILES2 BUT ALONG ! ,>GUN & ! ,AMUR IT IS OV] A ?\S& MILES1 & MOREOV] COMMUNICATION ALONG ! ,>GUN1 :I* IS NOT NAVIGABLE1 IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT4 ,9 ITS L[] P>TS !RE IS NO?+ BUT A M\NTA9 TRACK ( ! WILDE/ DESCRIPTION4 

,TRANSBAIKALIA IS V]Y RI* 9 CATTLE1 & ! ,COSSACKS :O OCCUPY ITS S\!A/]N CORN] & >E WEAL?Y CATTLE-BRE$]S WANT$ TO E/ABLI% A DIRECT COMMUNICATION ) ! MIDDLE ,AMUR1 :I* W\LD BE A GOOD M>KET = !IR CATTLE4 ,!Y US$ TO TRADE ) ! ,MONGOLS1 & !Y HAD HE>D FROM !M ?AT IT W\LD NOT BE DIFFICULT TO REA* ! ,AMUR1 TRAVEL+ EA/W>D ACROSS ! ,GREAT ,KH+AN4 ,GO+ /RAI<T T[>DS ! EA/1 !Y W]E TOLD1 ONE W\LD FALL 9 ) AN OLD ,*9ESE R\TE :I* CROSSES ! ,KH+AN & LEADS TO ! ,MAN*URIAN T[N ( ,M]<5 7ON ! ,NONNI ,RIV]1 A TRIBUT>Y TO ! ,SUNG>I71 :5CE !RE IS AN EXCELL5T ROAD TO ! MIDDLE ,AMUR4 

,I WAS (F]$ ! LEAD]%IP ( A TRAD+ C>AVAN :I* ! ,COSSACKS 9T5D$ TO ORGANIZE 9 ORD] TO F9D ?AT R\TE1 & ,I ACCEPT$ IT ) 5?USIASM4 ,NO ,EUROPEAN HAD EV] VISIT$ ?AT REGION2 & A ,RUSSIAN TOPOGRAPH] :O W5T ?AT WAY A FEW YE>S BE=E WAS KILL$4 ,ONLY TWO ,JESUITS1 9 ! TIMES ( ! ,EMP]OR ,KAN-SI1 HAD P5ETRAT$ FROM ! S\? AS F> AS ,M]<51 & HAD DET]M9$ ITS LATITUDE4 ,ALL ! IMM5SE REGION TO ! NOR? ( IT1 FIVE HUNDR$ MILES WIDE1 & SEV5 HUNDR$ MILES DEEP1 WAS TOTALLY1 ABSOLUTELY UNKN[N4 ,I CONSULT$ ALL ! AVAILABLE S\RCES AB\T ?IS REGION4 ,NOBODY1 NOT EV5 ! ,*9ESE GEOGRAPH]S1 KNEW ANY?+ AB\T IT4 ,BESIDES1 ! V]Y FACT ( CONNECT+ ! MIDDLE ,AMUR ) ,TRANSBAIKALIA HAD ITS IMPORTANCE1 & ,TSURUKHAITU IS N[ GO+ TO BE ! HEAD ( ! ,TRANS-,MAN*URIA ,RAILWAY4 ,WE W]E ?US ! PIONE]S ( ?AT GREAT 5T]PRISE4 

,!RE WAS1 H[EV]1 ONE DIFFICULTY4 ,! TREATY ) ,*9A GRANT$ TO ! ,RUSSIANS FREE TRADE ) ! 0,EMPIRE ( ,*9A1 & ,MONGOLIA40 ,MAN*URIA WAS NOT M5TION$ 9 IT1 & C\LD AS WELL BE EXCLUD$ AS 9CLUD$ 9 ! TREATY4 ,! ,*9ESE FRONTI] AU?ORITIES 9T]PRET$ IT ONE WAY1 & ! ,RUSSIANS ! O!R WAY4 ,MOREOV]1 ONLY TRADE BE+ M5TION$1 AN (FIC] W\LD NOT BE ALL[$ TO 5T] ,MAN*URIA4 ,I HAD ?US TO GO AS A TRAD]2 SO ,I B\<T AT ,IRKUTSK V>I\S GOODS & W5T DISGUIS$ AS A M]*ANT4 ,! GOV]NOR-G5]AL DELIV]$ ME A PASSPORT ',TO ! ,IRKUTSK SECOND GUILD M]*ANT1 ,PETR ,ALEXEIEV1 & HIS COMPANIONS2' & HE W>N$ ME ?AT IF ! ,*9ESE AU?ORITIES >RE/$ ME & TOOK ME TO ,PEK91 & !NCE ACROSS ! ,GOBI TO ! ,RUSSIAN FRONTI]1 - 9 A CAGE1 ON A CAMEL'S BACK1 WAS !IR WAY ( CONVEY+ PRISON]S ACROSS ,MONGOLIA1 - ,I MU/ NOT BETRAY HIM BY NAM+ MYSELF4 ,I ACCEPT$1 ( C\RSE1 ALL ! CONDITIONS1 ! TEMPTATION TO VISIT A C\NTRY :I* NO ,EUROPEAN HAD EV] SE5 BE+ TOO GREAT = AN EXPLOR] TO RESI/4 

,IT W\LD NOT HAVE BE5 EASY TO CONCEAL MY ID5TITY :ILE ,I WAS 9 ,TRANSBAIKALIA4 ,! ,COSSACKS >E AN EXTREMELY 9QUISITIVE PEOPLE1 - REAL ,MONGOLS1 - & AS SOON AS A /RANG] COMES TO !IR VILLAGES1 :ILE TREAT+ HIM ) ! GREATE/ HOSPITALITY1 ! MA/] ( ! H\SE :]E HE /AYS SUBJECTS HIM TO A =MAL 9T]ROGATORY40,A T$I\S J\RNEY1 ,I SUPPOSE10 HE BEG9S2 0A LONG WAY FROM ,*ITA1 IS IT NOT8 ,& !N1 P]HAPS1 LONG] /ILL = ONE :O COMES FROM SOME PLACE BEYOND ,*ITA4 ,MAYBE FROM ,IRKUTSK8 ,TRAD+ !RE1 ,I BELIEVE4 ,MANY TRADESM5 COME ?IS WAY4 ,Y\ >E GO+ ALSO TO ,N]*9SK1 >E Y\ NOT8 ,YES1 PEOPLE >E (T5 M>RI$ AT Y\R AGE3 & Y\1 TOO1 MU/ HAVE LEFT A FAMILY1 ,I SUPPOSE4 ,MANY *ILDR58 ,NOT ALL BOYS1 ,I %\LD SAY80 ,& SO ON = QUITE HALF AN H\R4 

,! LOCAL COMM&] ( ! ,COSSACKS1 ,CAPTA9 ,BUXHOVD51 KNEW HIS PEOPLE1 & CONSEQU5TLY WE HAD TAK5 \R PRECAUTIONS4 ,AT ,*ITA & AT ,IRKUTSK WE (T5 HAD HAD AMATEUR !ATRICALS1 PLAY+ BY PREF]5CE DRAMAS ( ,O/ROVSKY1 9 :I* ! SC5E ( ACTION IS NE>LY ALWAYS AMONG ! M]*ANT CLASSES4 ,I PLAY$ SEV]AL TIMES 9 SU* DRAMAS1 & F\ND SO GREAT PLEASURE 9 ACT+ ?AT ,I EV5 WROTE ON ONE OCCASION TO MY BRO!R AN 5?USIA/IC LETT] CONFESS+ TO HIM MY PASSIONATE DESIRE TO AB&ON MY MILIT>Y C>E] & TO GO ON ! /AGE4 ,I PLAY$ MO/LY Y\NG M]*ANTS1 & HAD ACQUIR$ SUFFICI5TLY WELL !IR WAYS ( TALK+ & GE/ICULAT+ & TEA-DR9K+ FROM ! SAUC]1 - ,I LE>N$ ?OSE WAYS 9 MY ,NIKOLSKOYE EXP]I5CES1 - & N[ ,I HAD A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO ACT IT ALL \T 9 REALITY = USEFUL PURPOSES4 

0,TAKE Y\R SEAT1 ,PETR ,ALEXEIEVI*10 ,CAPTA9 ,BUXHOVD5 W\LD SAY TO ME :5 ! BOIL+ TEA URN1 ?R[+ \T CL\DS ( /EAM1 WAS PLAC$ ON ! TABLE4 

0,?ANK Y\2 WE WILL /AY H]E10 ,I W\LD REPLY1 SITT+ ON ! $GE ( A *AIR AT A DI/ANCE1 & BEG9N+ TO DR9K MY TEA 9 TRUE ,MOSC[ M]*ANT FA%ION1 ,BUXHOVD5 MEAN:ILE NE>LY EXPLOD+ ) LAU<T]1 AS ,I BLEW UPON MY SAUC] ) 0/>+ EYES0 & BIT (F 9 A SPECIAL WAY 
MICROSCOPIC P>TICLES FROM A SMALL LUMP ( SUG> :I* WAS TO S]VE = HALF A DOZ5 CUPS4 

,WE KNEW ?AT ! ,COSSACKS W\LD SOON MAKE \T ! TRU? AB\T ME1 BUT ! IMPORTANT ?+ WAS TO W9 A FEW DAYS1 & TO CROSS ! FRONTI] :ILE MY ID5TITY WAS /ILL UNDISCOV]$4 ,I MU/ HAVE PLAY$ MY P>T PRETTY WELL1 = ! ,COSSACKS TREAT$ ME LIKE A PETTY M]*ANT4 ,9 ONE VILLAGE AN OLD WOMAN BECKON$ TO ME AS ,I PASS$1 & ASK$1 0,>E !RE MORE PEOPLE COM+ BEH9D Y\ ON ! ROAD MY DE> 80 

0,NONE1 GR&MO!R1 ?AT WE HE>D (40 

0,!Y SAID A PR9CE1 ,RAPOTSKY1 WAS GO+ TO COME4 ,IS HE COM+8 

0,OH1 ,I SEE4 ,Y\ >E RI<T1 GR&MO!R4 ,HIS HI<NESS 9T5D$ TO GO1 TOO1 FROM ,IRKUTSK4 ,BUT H[ CAN '!Y '8 ,SU* A J\RNEY6 ,NOT SUITABLE = !M4 ,SO !Y REMA9$ :]E !Y W]E40 

0,( C\RSE1 H[ CAN HE 60 

,TO BE BRIEF1 WE CROSS$ ! FRONTI] UNMOLE/$4 ,WE W]E ELEV5 ,COSSACKS1 ONE ,TUNGUS1 & MYSELF1 ALL ON HORSE-BACK4 ,WE HAD ) US AB\T =TY HORSES = SALE & TWO C>TS1 ONE ( :I*1 TWO-:EEL$1 BELONG$ TO ME1 & CONTA9$ ! CLO?1 ! VELVETE51 ! GOLD BRAID1 & SO ON1 :I* ,I HAD TAK5 9 MY CAPACITY ( M]*ANT1 ,I ATT5D$ TO MY C>T & MY HORSES 5TIRELY MYSELF1 :ILE WE *OSE ONE ( ! ,COSSACKS TO BE ! 0ELD]0 ( \R C>AVAN4 ,HE HAD TO MANAGE ALL ! DIPLOMATIC TALK ) ! ,*9ESE AU?ORITIES4 ,ALL ! ,COSSACKS SPOKE ,MONGOLIAN1 & ! ,TUNGUS UND]/OOD ,MAN*URIAN4 ,! ,COSSACKS ( ! C>AVAN KNEW ( C\RSE :O ,I WAS1 ONE ( !M KNEW ME AT ,IRKUTSK1 BUT !Y NEV] BETRAY$ ?AT KN[L$GE1 UND]/&+ ?AT ! SUCCESS ( ! EXP$ITION DEP5D$ UPON IT4 ,I WORE A LONG BLUE COTTON DRESS1 LIKE ALL ! O!RS1 & ! ,*9ESE PAID NO ATT5TION TO ME1 SO ?AT1 UNNOTIC$ BY !M1 ,I C\LD MAKE ! COMPASS SURVEY ( ! R\TE4 ,ON ! FIR/ DAY1 :5 ALL SORTS ( ,*9ESE SOLDI]S HUNG AB\T US1 9 ! HOPE ( GETT+ A GLASS ( :ISKEY1 ,I HAD (T5 TO CA/ ONLY A FURTIVE GLANCE AT MY COMPASS1 & TO JOT D[N ! BE>+S & ! DI/ANCES 9SIDE ( MY POCKET1 )\T TAK+ MY PAP] \T4 ,WE HAD ) US NO >MS :ATEV]4 ,ONLY \R ,TUNGUS1 :O WAS GO+ TO BE M>RI$1 HAD TAK5 HIS MAT*LOCK GUN & US$ IT TO HUNT FALL[ DE]1 BR++ US MEAT = SUPP]1 & SECUR+ FURS ) :I* TO PAY = HIS FUTURE WIFE4 

,:5 !RE WAS NO MORE :ISKEY TO BE OBTA9$ FROM US1 ! ,*9ESE SOLDI]S LEFT US ALONE4 ,SO WE W5T /RAI<T EA/W>D1 F9D+ \R WAY AS BE/ WE C\LD ACROSS HILL & DALE1 & AFT] A F\R OR FIVE DAYS' M>* WE ACTUALLY FELL 9 ) ! ,*9ESE TRACK :I* W\LD TAKE US ACROSS ! ,KH+AN TO ,M]<54 

,TO \R A/ONI%M5T1 WE F\ND ?AT ! CROSS+ ( ! GREAT RIDGE1 :I* LOOK$ SO BLACK & T]RIBLE ON ! MAPS1 WAS V]Y EASY4 ,WE OV]TOOK ON ! ROAD AN OLD ,*9ESE FUNCTION>Y1 MIS]ABLY WRET*$1 TRAVEL+ 9 A TWO-:EEL$ C>T4 ,= ! LA/ TWO DAYS ! ROAD WAS UP-HILL1 & ! C\NTRY BORE TE/IMONY TO ITS HI< ALTITUDE4 ,! GR\ND BECAME M>%Y1 & ! ROAD MUDDY2 ! GRASS WAS V]Y POOR1 & ! TREES GREW ?91 UNDEVELOP$1 (T5 CRIPPL$1 & COV]$ ) LI*5S4 ,M\NTA9S B>E ( =E/S ROSE TO RI<T & LEFT1 & WE W]E ?9K+ ALREADY ( ! DIFFICULTIES WE %\LD EXP]I5CE 9 CROSS+ ! RIDGE1 :5 WE SAW ! OLD ,*9ESE FUNCTION>Y ALI<T+ FROM HIS C>T BE=E AN OBO1 - ?AT IS1 A HEAP ( /ONES & BRAN*ES ( TREES TO :I* BUNDLES ( HORSEHAIR & SMALL RAGS HAD BE5 ATTA*$4 ,HE DREW SEV]AL HAIRS \T ( ! MANE ( HIS HORSE1 & ATTA*$ !M TO ! BRAN*ES4 0,:AT IS ?AT80 WE ASK$4 0,! OBO ! WAT]S BE=E US FL[ N[ TO ! ,AMUR40 0,IS ?AT ALL ( ! ,KH+AN80 0,IT'S ALL6 ,NO MORE M\NTA9S TO CROSS UNTIL WE REA* ! ,AMUR1 ONLY HILLS60 

,QUITE A COMMOTION SPREAD 9 \R C>AVAN4 0,! RIV]S FL[ TO ! ,AMUR1 ! ,AMUR60 %\T$ ! ,COSSACKS TO ONE ANO!R4 ,ALL !IR LIVES !Y HAD HE>D ! OLD ,COSSACKS TALK+ AB\T ! GREAT RIV] :]E ! V9E GR[S WILD1 :]E ! PRAIRIES EXT5D = HUNDR$S ( MILES & C\LD GIVE WEAL? TO MILLIONS ( M52 !N1 AFT] ! ,AMUR HAD BE5 ANNEX$ TO ,RUSSIA1 !Y HE>D ( ! LONG J\RNEY TO IT1 ! DIFFICULTIES ( ! FIR/ SETTL]S1 & ! PROSP]ITY ( !IR RELATIVES SETTL$ 9 ! UPP] ,AMUR2 & N[ WE HAD F\ND ! %ORT WAY TO !M6 ,WE HAD BE=E US A /EEP SLOPE1 ! ROAD LEAD+ D[NW>D 9 ZIGZAGS TO A SMALL RIV] :I* PI]C$ ITS WAY ?R\< A *OPPY SEA ( M\NTA9S1 & L$ TO ! ,AMUR4 ,NO MORE OB/ACLES LAY BETWE5 US & ! GREAT RIV]4 ,A TRAVEL] WILL IMAG9E MY DELI<T AT ?IS UNEXPECT$ GEOGRAPHICAL DISCOV]Y4 ,AS TO ! ,COSSACKS1 !Y HA/5$ TO DISM\NT & TO ATTA* 9 !IR TURN BUNDLES ( HAIR TAK5 FROM !IR HORSES TO ! BRAN*ES ?R[N ON ! OBO4 ,! ,SIB]IANS 9 G5]AL HAVE A SORT ( AWE ( ! GODS ( ! HEA!NS4 ,!Y DO NOT ?9K MU* ( !M1 BUT !SE GODS1 !Y SAY1 >E WICK$ CREATURES1 B5T ON MIS*IEF1 & IT IS NEV] GOOD TO BE ON BAD T]MS ) !M4 ,IT IS F> BETT] TO BRIBE !M ) SMALL TOK5S ( RESPECT4 

0,LOOK1 H]E IS A /RANGE TREE2 IT MU/ BE AN OAK1 !Y EXCLAIM$1 AS WE DESC5D$ ! /EEP SLOPE4 ,! OAK DOES NOT GR[ 9 ,SIB]IA AT ALL1 & IS NOT F\ND UNTIL ! EA/]N SLOPE ( ! HI< PLATEAU HAS BE5 REA*$4 0,LOOK1 NUT TREES60 !Y EXCLAIM$ NEXT4 0,& :AT TREE IS ?AT 80 !Y SAID1 SEE+ A LIME-TREE1 OR SOME O!R TREES :I* DO NOT GR[ 9 ,RUSSIA1 & :I* ,I KNEW AS P>T ( ! ,MAN*URIAN FLORA4 ,! NOR!RN]S1 :O = MANY YE>S HAD DREAM$ ( W>M] L&S1 & N[ SAW !M1 W]E DELI<T$4 ,LY+ UPON ! GR\ND COV]$ ) RI* GRASS1 !Y C>ESS$ IT ) !IR EYES1 - !Y W\LD HAVE KISS$ IT4 ,N[ !Y BURN$ ) ! DESIRE TO REA* ! ,AMUR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE4 ,& :51 A =TNI<T LAT]1 WE /OPP$ AT \R LA/ CAMP-FIRE )9 TW5TY MILES ( ! RIV]1 !Y GREW IMPATI5T LIKE *ILDR54 ,!Y BEGAN TO SADDLE !IR HORSES %ORTLY AFT] MIDNI<T1 & MADE ME />T LONG BE=E DAYBREAK2 & :5 AT LA/ FROM AN EM95CE WE CAU<T A SI<T ( ! MI<TY /REAM1 ! EYES ( !SE UNIMPRESSIONABLE ,SIB]IANS1 G5]ALLY DEVOID ( POETICAL FEEL+1 GLEAM$ ) A POET'S >DOR AS !Y LOOK$ UPON ! BLUE WAT]S ( ! MAJE/IC ,AMUR4 ,IT WAS EVID5T ?AT1 SOON] OR LAT]1 ) OR )\T ! SUPPORT1 OR EV5 AGA9/ ! WI%1 ( ! ,RUSSIAN GOV]NM5T1 BO? BANKS ( ?IS RIV]1 A DES]T N[ BUT RI* ) POSSIBILITIES1 AS WELL AS ! IMM5SE UNPOPULAT$ /RET*ES ( ,NOR? ,MAN*URIA1 W\LD BE 9VAD$ BY ,RUSSIAN SETTL]S1 JU/ AS ! %ORES OT ! ,MISSISSIPPI W]E COLONIZ$ BY ! ,CANADIAN VOYAGEURS4 

,9 ! MEANTIME1 ! OLD HALF-BL9D ,*9ESE FUNCTION>Y ) :OM WE HAD CROSS$ ! ,KH+AN1 HAV+ DONN$ HIS BLUE COAT & (FICIAL HAT ) A GLASS BUTTON ON ITS TOP1 DECL>$ TO US NEXT MORN+ ?AT HE W\LD NOT LET US GO FUR!R4 ,\R 0ELD]0 HAD RECEIV$ HIM & HIS CL]K 9 \R T5T1 & ! OLD MAN1 REPEAT+ :AT ! CL]K :ISP]$ TO HIM1 RAIS$ ALL SORTS ( OBJECTIONS TO \R FUR!R PROGRESS4 ,HE WANT$ US TO CAMP ON ! SPOT :ILE HE %\LD S5D \R PASS TO ,PEK9 TO GET ORD]S1 - :I* WE ABSOLUTELY REFUS$ TO DO4 ,!N HE S\<T TO QU>REL ) \R PASSPORT4 

0,:AT SORT ( A PASSPORT IS ?AT80 HE SAID1 LOOK+ ) DISDA9 AT \R PASS1 :I* WAS WRITT5 9 A FEW L9ES ON A PLA9 %EET ( FOOLSCAP PAP]1 9 ,RUSSIAN & ,MONGOLIAN1 & HAD A SIMPLE SEAL+-WAX SEAL4 0,Y\ MAY HAVE WRITT5 IT Y\RSELVES & SEAL$ IT ) A COPP]1 HE REM>K$4 0,LOOK AT MY PASS3 ?IS IS WOR? SOME?+2 & HE UNROLL$ BE=E US A %EET ( PAP]1 TWO FEET LONG1 COV]$ ) ,*9ESE *>ACT]S4 

,I SAT QUIETLY ASIDE DUR+ ?IS CONF]5CE PACK+ SOME?+ 9 MY BOX1 :5 A %EET ( ! 0,MOSC[ ,GASETTE 0 FELL UND] MY H&4 ,! 0,GAZETTE10 BE+ ! PROP]TY ( ! ,MOSC[ ,UNIV]SITY1 HAD AN EAGLE PR9T$ ON ITS TITLE-HEAD+4 0,%[ HIM ?IS10 ,I SAID TO \R ELD]4 ,HE UNFOLD$ ! IMM5SE %EET & PO9T$ \T ! EAGLE4 0,?AT PASS WAS TO %[ TO Y\10 \R ELD] SAID1 0BUT ?IS IS :AT WE HAVE = \RSELVES40 0,:Y1 IS IT ALL WRITT5 AB\T Y\80 ! OLD MAN ASK$1 ) T]ROR4 0,ALL AB\T US10 \R ELD] REPLI$1 )\T EV5 A TW9KLE 9 HIS EYES4 ,! OLD MAN A TRUE FUNCTION>Y - LOOK$ QUITE DUMBF\ND$ AT SEE+ SU* A PR(ICI5CY ( WRIT+4 ,HE EXAM9$ EV]Y ONE ( US1 NODD+ ) HIS HEAD4 ,BUT ! CL]K WAS /ILL :ISP]+ SOME?+ TO HIS *IEF1 :O F9ALLY DECL>$ ?AT HE W\LD NOT LET US CONT9UE ! J\RNEY4 

0,5\< ( TALK+10 ,I SAID TO ! ELD]2 0GIVE ! ORD] TO SADDLE ! HORSES40 ,! ,COSSACKS W]E ( ! SAME OP9ION1 & 9 NO TIME \R C>AVAN />T$1 BIDD+ GOOD-BY TO ! OLD FUNCTION>Y1 & PROMIS+ HIM TO REPORT ?AT %ORT ( RESORT+ TO VIOL5CE :I* HE WAS NOT ABLE TO DO - HE HAD DONE ALL 9 HIS P[] TO PREV5T US FROM 5T]+ ,MAN*URIA1 & ?AT IT WAS \R FAULT IF WE W5T NEV]!LESS4 

,A FEW DAYS LAT] WE W]E AT ,M]<51 :]E WE TRAD$ A LITTLE1 & SOON REA*$ ! ,*9ESE T[N ,>GUN ON ! RI<T BANK ( ! ,AMUR1 & ! ,RUSSIAN T[N ( ,BLAGOVES*5SK ON ! LEFT BANK4 ,WE HAD DISCOV]$ ! DIRECT R\TE & MANY 9T]E/+ ?+S BESIDES3 ! BORD]-RIDGE *>ACT] ( ! ,GREAT ,KH+AN1 ! EASE ) :I* IT CAN BE CROSS$1 ! T]TI>Y VOLCANOES ( ! ,UYUN ,KHOLDONTSI REGION :I* HAD SO LONG BE5 A PUZZLE 9 GEOGRAPHICAL LIT]ATURE1 & SO ON4 ,I CANNOT SAY ?AT ,I WAS A %>P TRADESMAN1 = AT ,M]<5 ,I P]SI/$ 79 BROK5 ,*9ESE7 9 ASK+ ?IRTY-FIVE RUBLES = A WAT*1 :5 ! ,*9ESE BUY] HAD ALREADY (F]$ ME =TY-FIVE2 BUT ! ,COSSACKS TRAD$ ALL RI<T4 ,!Y SOLD ALL !IR HORSES V]Y WELL1 & :5 MY HORSES1 MY GOODS1 & ! LIKE W]E SOLD BY ! ,COSSACKS1 IT APPE>$ ?AT ! EXP$ITION HAD CO/ ! GOV]NM5T ! MODE/ SUM ( TW5TY-TWO RUBLES1-- ELEV5 DOLL>S4 

7,S\RCE3 ,MEMOIRS ( A ,REVOLUTIONI/1 ,FIR/ ,$ITION1 ,H\<TON ,MIFFL9 ,COMPANY1 ,BO/ON & ,NEW ,YORK1 #a#h#i#i47 

,FROM 3 ,AN>*Y ,>*IVES4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahih 3 ,P>T #c3 ,SIB]IA1 ,SECTION #e -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,JANU>Y #b#a1 #bag 3 ,P>T #c3 ,SIB]IA1 ,SECTION #e -- ,ADD$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/