Recollections of Siberia, in the Years 1840 and 1841

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J. W. Parker, 1842 - 410 sivua
 

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Sivu 65 - So sensible were the Romans of the influence of language over national manners, that it was their most serious care to extend, with the progress of their arms, the use of the Latin tongue.
Sivu 105 - When they shoot, they approach the object first on all-fours, and then crawl on their stomachs till they are at a proper distance for firing. They have usually two rests to their rifle, which they fix in the snow or ground when not frozen, and having taken a steady aim, rarely if ever miss. '' To an Englishman these rifles do appear, to be sure, the most extraordinary machines, and few would have the courage to use them. They prove, however, that success depends much more on the skill of the sportsman...
Sivu 210 - Here he found gold, but not in great quantities; and as the soil there is constantly frozen, the expense was very great; and all the necessaries of life extremely dear, no houses, and few workmen to be obtained.
Sivu 331 - The one between thirty and forty versts' distance belonging to M. Jacoblei; a gentleman of St. Petersburg, perhaps in absolute ready money, the wealthiest in the world : and the other three hundred versts off, which we had not time to visit, belonging to Mr. Demidof, who is known personally to many of our readers, and to many more by the fame of his colossal fortune, which is, however, far smaller than that of M. Jacoblef. The establish' ment of the latter gentleman is a complete town.
Sivu 318 - ... jumps over the chasm. He then fastens on other similar blocks from the opposite side. The bridge is clearly none of the most secure ; but the horses are unharnessed, and passed over first, and then the carriage is pulled over as rapidly as possible by ropes. Sometimes it occurs that a horse, going at full speed, is all of a sudden enfonce in the ice, which, instead of cracking, has become soft and. porous ; the driver in that case jumps on his back with great quickness, crawls over him, disengages...
Sivu 191 - It stands to reason that largo sums cannot be expended every year in presents to governors and others, unless the gold is rated higher than its real worth ; for otherwise there would be no object to gain, and it (the present to the chief) would be all dead loss. But where no one is allowed to get rid of his gold but through this channel, the temptation to fraud is great, and smuggling, even, goes on at Barnaoul. Gold is frequently bought, for something under the price the government allows, by other...
Sivu 191 - It is said that there are persons much higher in authority than even he is, who have their share of these largesses ; and if the system is so corrupt throughout, the revenue must lose considerably. It stands to reason that large sums cannot be expended every year in presents to governors and others, unless the gold is rated higher than its real worth ; for otherwise there would be no -object to gain, and it (the present to the chief) would be all dead loss. But where no one is allowed to get rid...
Sivu 181 - ... rock is in the first place blasted by means of gunpowder : and the masses thus separated are broken up into small pieces with hammers. These smaller pieces are finally pounded by large hammers worked by machinery. The stone so pounded is put into furnaces for the separation of the metallic particles from the dross ; this is done in immense smelting-houses, where a current of air is brought in from openings above to act the part of bellows, and create a draught in the furnace below ; from whence...
Sivu 106 - In the event of a spring breaking, the " gunner" readily replaces it by one of wood, generally of larch, which answers his purpose equally well, and he is thus independent of the gun-maker. With all these imperfections, they rarely or never miss, and always hit an animal whose fur is precious through the muzzle. Rifles of this sort cost here 25 roubles, powder 5 roubles per pound, and lead is also dear.
Sivu 210 - Popof, who was already possessed of a very considerable fortune, hoard accidentally that a deserter, concealed in the woods a hundred miles east of the town, had found gold in the sands. Popof found means, first, to discover the spot, and then to obtain a grant of it from the government. At first he was not very successful, the produce being only about half a zolotnik to a hundred puds of sand washed (onepart of gold in four hundred thousand parts of sand).

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