File:Siberia and the exile system (1891) (14596324957).jpg

Identifier: siberiaexilesyst01kenn (find matches)
Title: Siberia and the exile system
Year: 1891 (1890s)
Authors: Kennan, George, 1845-1924
Subjects: Siberia (Russia) -- Description and travel Siberia (Russia) -- Exiles
Publisher: New York : Century Co.
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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e exiles talked eagerly with one another, and occasion-ally we could hear the wail of a sick child from one of thefeMgas, or a faint jingle of chains as some of the men, tiredof standing, changed their positions or threw themselveson the ground. The officer in charge of the party, a heav-ily built man with yellowish side-whiskers, light-blue eyes,and a hard, unsympathetic face, stood near the telegas,surrounded by women and children, who were begginghim to let them ride. Please put my little girl in a wagon, said one pale-facedwoman, as I approached the group. She is nt ten yearsold and she has a lame ankle; she can never walk thirtyverstsJ^ What s the matter with her ankle? inquired theofficer impatiently, looking down at the childs thin barefeet and legs. I dont know; she says it hurts her, replied the mother. Please let her ride, for Gods sake! She cant ride, I tell you — there s no room, said theofficer, still more impatiently. I dont believe there s A SIBERIAN CONVICT BARGE 109
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A MAi;( lllNi; EXII.K PARTY. 110 SIBERIA anything the matter with her ankle, and anybody can seethat she s more than twelve years old. Stupai! (Move on!), he said sternly to the child; you can pick flowers better if you walk. The mother and the child shrank away without a word,and the officer, to escape further importunities, shouted theorder to Form ranks! The hum of conversation suddenlyceased ; there was a jingling of chains as the prisoners whohad been lying on the ground sprang to their feet; the sol-diers of the guard shouldered their rifles; the exiles crossedthemselves devoutly, bowing in the direction of the prisonchapel; and at the word March ! the whole column wasinstantly in motion. Three or four Cossacks, in dark-greenuniforms and with rifles over their shoulders, took the lead;a dense but disorderly throng of men and women followed,marching between thin, broken lines of soldiers; next camethe telegas with the old, the sick, and the small children;then a rear-guard of hal

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