Overland through Asia; Pictures of Siberian, Chinese, and Tartar - Life

Thomas Wallace Knox

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• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 95
• Langue: English
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Title: Overland through Asia; Pictures of Siberian, Chinese, and Tartar Life

Author: Thomas Wallace Knox

Release Date: October 20, 2004 [eBook #13806]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OVERLAND THROUGH ASIA; PICTURES OF SIBERIAN, CHINESE, AND TARTAR LIFE***

E-text prepared by Ronald Holder and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team

Note:

Two spellings, "Tunguse" and "Tunguze," are us ed throughout the book for the same tribe.

The caption of Illustrations #55, 58, 103, 144 differ from the captions given in the table and were not changed.

OVERLAND

THROUGH ASIA.

PICTURES OF

SIBERIAN, CHINESE, AND TARTAR

LIFE.

TRAVELS AND ADVENTURES IN KAMCHATKA, SIBERIA, CHINA, MONGOLIA,

CHINESE TARTARY, AND EUROPEAN RUSSIA, WITH FULL ACCOUNTS

OF THE SIBERIAN EXILES, THEIR TREATMENT,

CONDITION, AND MODE OF LIFE, A DESCRIPTION

OF THE AMOOR RIVER, AND

THE SIBERIAN SHORES OF THE

FROZEN OCEAN.

WITH AN APPROPRIATE MAP,

AND

NEARLY 200 ILLUSTRATIONS.

BY

THOMAS W. KNOX.

AUTHOR OF "CAMP FIRE AND COTTON FIELD."

1871.

PREFACE.

Fourteen years ago Major Perry McD. Collins traversed Northern Asia, and wrote an account, of his journey, entitled "A Voyage Down the Amoor." With the exception of that volume no other work on this little known region has appeared from the pen of an American writer. In view of this fact, the author of "Overland Through Asia" indulges the hope that his book will not be considered a superfluous addition to the literature of his country.

The journey herein recorded was undertaken partly as a pleasure trip, partly as a journalistic enterprise, and partly in the interest of the company that attempted to carry out the plans of Major Collins to make an electric connection between Europe and the United States by way of Asia and Bering's Straits. In the service of the Russo- American Telegraph Company, it may not be improper to state that the author's official duties were so few, and his pleasures so numerous, as to leave the kindest recollections of the many persons connected with the enterprise.

Portions of this book have appeared in Harper's, Putnam's, The Atlantic, The Galaxy,

and the Overland Monthlies, and in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. They have been received with such favor as to encourage their reproduction wherever they could be introduced in the narrative of the journey. The largest part of the book has been written from a carefully recorded journal, and is now in print for the first time. The illustrations have been made from photographs and pencil sketches, and in all cases great care has been exercised to represent correctly the costumes of the country. To Frederick Whymper, Esq., artist of the Telegraph Expedition, and to August Hoffman, (Photographer,) of Irkutsk, Eastern Siberia, the author is specially indebted.

The orthography of geographical names is after the Russian model. The author hopes it will not be difficult to convince his countrymen that the shortest form of spelling is the best, especially when it represents the pronunciation more accurately than does the old method. A frontier justice once remarked, when a lawyer ridiculed his way of writing ordinary words, that a man was not properly educated who could spell a word in only one way. On the same broad principle I will not quarrel with those who insist upon retaining an extra letter in Bering and Ohotsk and two superfluous letters in Kamchatka.

Among those not mentioned in the volume, thanks are due to Frederick Macrellish, Esq., of San Francisco, Hon. F.F. Low of Sacramento, Alfred Whymper, Esq., of London, and the many gentlemen connected with the Telegraph Expedition. There are dozens and hundreds of individuals in Siberia and elsewhere, of all grades and conditions in life, who have placed me under numberless obligations. Wherever I traveled the most uniform courtesy was shown me, and though conscious that few of those dozens and hundreds will ever read these lines, I should consider myself ungrateful did I fail to acknowledge their kindness to a wandering American.

T.W.K.

ASTOR HOUSE, N.Y., Sept. 15, 1870.

1. FRONTISPIECE, THE AUTHOR IN SIBERIAN COSTUME

2.CHARACTER DEVELOPED

3.ASPINWALL TO PANAMA

4.SLIGHTLY MONOTONOUS

5.MONTGOMERY STREET IN HOLIDAY DRESS

6.SAN FRANCISCO, 1848

7.CHINESE DINNER

8.OVER SIX FEET

9.STEAMSHIP WRIGHT IN A STORM

10.A SEA SICK BOOBY

11.WRECK OF THE SHIP CANTON

12.ALEUTIANS CATCHING WHALES

13.BREACH OF ETIQUETTE

14.UNEXPECTED HONORS

15.RUSSIAN MARRIAGE

16.RUSSIAN POPE AT HOME

17.A SCALY BRIDGE

18.RUSSIAN TEA SERVICE

19.CHANGE FOR A DOLLAR

20.COW AND BEAR

21.A KAMCHATKA TEAM

22.REPULSE OF THE ASSAILANTS

23.VIEW OF SITKA

24.PLENTY OF TIME

25.RUSSIAN OFFICERS AT MESS

26.ASCENDING THE BAY

27.TAKING THE CENSUS

28.LIGHT-HOUSE AT GHIJIGA

29.TOWED BY DOGS

30.KORIAK YOURT

31.DISCHARGING A DECK LOAD

32.REINDEER RIDE

33.TAIL PIECE, REINDEER

34.WAGON RIDE WITH DOGS

35.YEARLY MAIL

36.DOGS FISHING

37.TEACHINGS OF EXPERIENCE

38.BOAT LOAD OF SALMON

39.AN EFFECTIVE PROTEST

40.NOTHING BUT BONES

41.TAIL PIECE—NATIVE WOMAN

42.SEEING OFF

43.LIFE ON THE AMOOR

44.A GILYAK VILLAGE

45.ABOUT FULL

46.TAIL PIECE—A TURN OUT

47.ON THE AMOOR

48.CASH ACCOUNT

49.WOODING UP

50.BEAR IN PROCESSION

51.PRACTICE OF MEDICINE

52.MANJOUR MERCHANT

53.GILYAK MAN

54.GILYAK WOMAN

55.PEASANTS BY MOONLIGHT

56.TAIL PIECE—THE NET

57.TEN MILES AN HOUR

58.GOLDEE HOUSE AT NIGHT

59.THE HYPOCONDRIAC

60."NOT FOR JOE"

61.TAIL PIECE—SCENE ON THE RIVER

62.RECEPTION AT PETROVSKY

63.ARMED AND EQUIPPED

64.GENERAL ACTIVITY

65.TAIL PIECE—FLASK

66.MANJOUR BOAT

67.A PRIVATE TEMPLE

68.FISHING IMPLEMENTS

69.CHINESE FAMILY PICTURE

70.MANJOUR TRAVELING CARRIAGE

71.TAIL PIECE—TOWARDS THE SUN

72.THE AMMUNITION WAGON

73.FINISHING TOUCH

74.EMIGRANTS ON THE AMOOR

75.SA-GA-YAN CLIFF

76.RIFLE SHOOTING

77.TAIL PIECE—GAME

78.PREPARING FOR WINTER

79.TAIL PIECE

80.STRATENSK, EASTERN SIBERIA

81.A SIBERIAN TARANTASS

82.TAIL PIECE

83.FAVORITE BED

84.CONCENTRATED ENERGIES

85.PRISONERS AT CHETAH

86.ON THE HILLS NEAR CHETAH

87.BOURIAT YOURTS

88.A MONGOL BELL

89.A MONGOL BELLE

90.CATCHING SHEEP

91.A COLD BATH

92.TAIL PIECE

93.OUR FERRY BOAT

94.EQUAL RIGHTS

95.AMATEUR CONCERT IN SIBERIA

96.CHINESE MANDARIN

97.INTERIOR OF CHINESE TEMPLE

98.THROUGH ORDINARY EYES

99.THROUGH CHINESE EYES

100.LEGAL TENDER

101.RUSSIAN PETS

102.PONY EXPRESS

103.A DISAGREEABLE APPENDAGE

104.SUSPENDED FREEDOM

105.PUNISHMENT FOR BURGLARY

106.CHOPSTICK, FORK, AND SAUCER

107.CHINESE THEATRE

108.CHINESE TIGER

109.CHINESE PUNISHMENT

110.PROVISION DEALER

111.CHINESE MENDICANTS

112.THE FAVORITE

113.FEMALE FEET AND SHOE

114.A LOTTERY PRIZE

115.A PEKIN CAB

116.A CHINESE PALANQUIN

117.PRIEST IN TEMPLE OF CONFUCIUS

118.COMFORTS AND CONVENIENCES

119.FILIAL ATTENTION

120.TAIL PIECE—OPIUM PIPE

121.A MUSICAL STOP

122.NANKOW PASS

123.RACING AT THE KALGAN FAIR

124.STREET IN KALGAN

125.IN GOOD CONDITION

126.LOST IN THE DESERT OF GOBI

127.MONGOL DINNER TABLE

128.CROSSING THE TOLLA

129.THE SCHOOLMASTER

130.TAIL PIECE

131.WILD BOAR HUNT

132.A WIFE AT IRKUTSK

133.NO WIFE AT IRKUTSK

134.A SOUDNA

135.AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE

136.LAKE BAIKAL IN WINTER

137.A SPECIMEN

138.TAIL PIECE—THE WORLD

139.GOV. GENERAL KORSACKOFF

140.VIEW—IRKUTSK

141.A COLD ATTACHMENT

142.QUEEN OF GREECE

143.EMPEROR OF RUSSIA

144.TAIL PIECE—TWIN BOTTLES

145.HOME OF TWO EXILES—REAL, IMAGINARY

146.TAIL PIECE—QUARTERS

147.TARTAR CAVALRY

148.SIBERIAN EXILES

149.TAIL PIECE

150.A VASHOK

151.A KIBITKA

152.FAREWELL TO IRKUTSK

153.OUR CONDUCTOR

154.JUMPING CRADLE HOLES

155.VALLEY OF THE YENESEI

156.WOLF HUNT

157.HYDRAULIC MINING

158.TAIL PIECE

159.DOWN HILL

160.DOGS AMONG ICE

161.JUMPING THE FISSURES

162.THE TEAM

163.TAIL PIECE

164.IN THE MINE

165.STRANGE COINCIDENCE

166.TAIL PIECE

167.THE ELOPEMENT

168.THE FIGHT

169.THE CATASTROPHE

170.TAIL PIECE

171.THE POLKEDOVATE

172.MAKING EXPLANATION

173.AFTER THE BATH

174.TAIL PIECE

175.THE DRIVER'S TOILET

176.WOMEN SPINNING

177.FLOGGING WITH STICKS

178.TAIL PIECE

179.LOST IN A SNOW STORM

180.FATAL RESULT

181.TAIL PIECE

182.EXCUSE MY FAMILIARITY

183.FROSTED HORSES

184.VIEW OF EKATERINEBURG

185.EUROPE AND ASIA

186.A RUSSIAN BEGGAR

187.BEGGARS IN KAZAN

188.THE IMMERSION

189.RUSSIAN PRIEST

199.TAIL PIECE

191.GREAT BELL OF MOSCOW

192.VIEW OF THE NEVSKI PROSPECT, ST. PETERSBURG

193.TAIL PIECE—MEETING AN OLD FRIEND

194.MAP TO ACCOMPANY THOS. W. KNOX'S "OVERLAND THROUGH ASIA"

CHAPTER I.

Off from New York—Around the world by steam—Value of a letter of credit—A cure for sea sickness—Doing the Isthmus—An exciting porpoise race—Glimpse of San Francisco—Trip to the Yo Semite Valley—From the Golden Gate into the Pacific

CHAPTER II.

A strange company—Difficulties of sea life—A tall man and a short room—How the dog went to sleep—A soapy cabin—Catching a booby—Two Sundays together—A long lost wreck—Incidents at sea—Manner of catching whales in Alaska—A four footed pilot—Dog stories—How to take an observation—Coast of Asia—Entering Avatcha bay—An economical light keeper

CHAPTER III.

In a Russian port—Hail Columbia—Petropavlovsk—Volcanoes and earth-quakes —Directions for making a Russian town—A Kamchadale wedding—Standing up with the bride—A hot ceremony—A much married pope—Russian religious practices —Drinking with the priest and what came of it

CHAPTER IV.

Vegetation in Kamchatka—Catching salmon—A scaly bridge—An evening on shore —Samovars and tea drinking—The fur trade—Bear hunting—What a cow brought home one day—Siberian dogs—A musical town—The adventures of Norcum —Training a team—Sledges and how to manage them—A voyage under the Polish flag—Monument to Captain Clerke—The allied attack—The battle of Petropavlovsk

CHAPTER V.

Bering's voyages—Discovery of Alaska—Shipwreck and death of Bering—The Russian-American Company—The first governor of Alaska—Promushleniks —Russian settlement in California—Account of Russian explorations—Character of the country—Its extent and resources—Advantages and disadvantages of the Alaska purchase

CHAPTER VI.

Leaving Kamchatka—Farewell to the ladies—A new kind of telegraph—Entering the Ohotsk sea—From Steam to sail—Sleeping among chronometers—Talking by-signs —A burial at sea—A Russian funeral—Land in sight—Ghijiga bay

CHAPTER VII.

Baggage for shore travel—Much wine and little bread—A perplexing dilemma—How to take the census—Siberian beds—Towed by dogs—Encounter with a beast —Coaxing a team with clubs—The Koriaks—Their manners and customs—Comical cap for a native—A four footed currency—Yourts and Balagans—Curious marriage ceremony—Lightening a boat in a storm—Very strong whisky—Riding on a reindeer —An intoxicating mushroom—An electric devil—a Siberian snow storm—How a party was lost

CHAPTER VIII.

How a pointer became a bull dog—Coral in high latitudes—Sending Champagne to Neptune—Arrival at Ohotsk—Three kinds of natives—A lunch with the ladies—A native entertainment—A mail once a year—A lover's misfortune—An astonished American—Hunting a bear and being hunted—An unfortunate ride

CHAPTER IX.

At sea again—Beauties of a Northern sky—Warlike news and preparing for war —The coast of Japan—An exciting moment—A fog bell of sea lions—Ready for fight —De Castries' bay—A bewildered fleet—Goodbye to the Variag—In the straits of Tartary—A difficult sleeping place—A Siberian mirage—Entering the Amoor river

CHAPTER X.

On shore at Nicolayevsk—An American Consul—Visiting the Governor—Machine shops on the Amoor with American managers—The servant girl question—A Gilyak boat full of salmon—An unfortunate water carrier—The Amoor Company—Foreign and native merchants—Raising sheep among tigers—Rats eating window glass —Riding in a cart

CHAPTER XI.

Up the Amoor—Seeing off a friend—A Siberian steamboat—How the steamboats are managed—Packages by post—Curiosities of the Russian mail service—An unhappy bride—Hay barges—Gilyak villages—Visiting a village—Bad for the nose—Native dogs—Interviewing a Gilyak lady—A rapid descent

CHAPTER XII.

The monastery of Eternal Repose—Curious religious customs—Features of the scenery—Passengers on our boat—An adventurous merchant—Captured by the Chinese—A pretty girl and her fellow passenger—Wooding up—An Amoor town —The telegraph—How it is built and operated—A native school—Fighting the tiger —Religious practices of the Gilyaks—Mistaken kindness

CHAPTER XIII.

Stepanoff and his career—A Manjour boat—Catching salmon—A sturgeon pen—The islands of the Amoor—A night scene at a woodingstation—A natural cathedral—The