File:Siberia and the exile system (1891) (14765641992).jpg

Identifier: siberiaexilesyst02kennuoft (find matches)
Title: Siberia and the exile system
Year: 1891 (1890s)
Authors: Kennan, George, 1845-1924
Subjects: Siberia (Russia) -- Description and travel
Publisher: new York : Century
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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e contrary you might supposeyourself to be separated from the Russian Empire by thewidth of a whole continent. The narrow, unpaved streetsare shut in by gray, one-story houses, whose windowlesswalls are made of clay mixed with chopped straw, and whoseroofs, ornamented with elaborate carving, show a tendencyto turn up at the corners; clumsy two-wheel ox-carts,loaded with boxes of tea and guided by swarthy Mongoldrivers, have taken the place of the Russian horses andtelegas; Chinese traders in skull-caps, loose flapping gowns,and white-soled shoes appear at the doors of the court-yards instead of the Russian merchants in top-boots, loosewaistcoats, and shirts worn outside their trousers whomyou have long been accustomed to see; and wild-lookingsunburned horsemen in deep orange gowns and dishpan- A KIDE THKOUGH THE TKANS-BAIKAL 109 shaped hats ride in now and then from some remote en-campment in the great desert of Gobi, followed, perhaps,by a poor Mongol from the immediate neighborhood,
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A STREET IN MAIMjCcHIN. mounted upon a slow-pacing ox. Wherever you go, andin whatever direction you look, China has taken the placeof Russia, and the scenes that confront you are full ofstrange, unfamiliar details. 110 SIBEEIA We drove with a Russo-Chinese interpreter to the resi-dence of the surgucheij or Chinese governor,—which wasdistinguished from all other houses by having two highpoles tipped with gilded balls erected in front of it,—andafter being introduced to his Excellency by Mr. Sulkofskiwere invited to partake of tea, sweetmeats, and mdigah,or Chinese rice-brandy. We exchanged with the governora number of ceremonious and not at all exciting inquiriesand replies relative to his and our health, affairs, and gen-eral well-being, drank three or four sdik-cmps of mdigalo,nibbled at some candied fruits, and then, as the hour forhis devotions had arrived, went with him by invitation tothe temple and saw him say his prayers before a largewooden idol to an accompaniment made b

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