The Morning herald., 1878-10-12

Descent Over a Cata-
ract.
stNTn'l Ill
The great plsiH SG sb&iS &tsndids
from the Chimes ,fbHtiG MA sAqpal5
descending from ths harsl3eS o. thS ihdfet
Of the Frozen Sea, is intersected by numsrf
GUS rivers, rising in the Aital mountains, on
the southern border Of the plain, traversinS
au sxtsntin 4 .nOrtheflytd direction. These1
|riy4 d renArhable Aof bsing cut up bi
Erspids md dNagursd b rocks, which
Tsss7e I'll RHStfP a'ns1y asas;,a s'as''3 ans 7
these rapids are made with solemnity
which fills the mind with dread. As soop
as the boat arrives near the falls, and the
white-crested waves are visible, breaking ip]
spray on the rocks, and overwhelming eY
ery obstruction ipu utheiT Rrscipitats course 4
sas 4Hata sssohtfHel99Ei4'", rhey WV
ers rest on their oars. The next order p
"Pray to God," on which the crew bow
down before the image of q saint elevated
in their sigAt, and sas spilos pfenounces q
prayer in loud voice. The sailors imme-
diately resume their position at the OAR,
and at the words "Pull hard !" strike with
all their strength. The pilot stands at the
PROV, holding in bis hand white handker-
chief, with which he signals to those In the
poop, when the sound of his voice is lost In
the roar of the IA ling waters. Four men
staLd at the helm, prepared to obey instant
| " the first signal. When the fail 10 unu-
sually dangerous, two or more of the crew
manages an oar, at the decisive moment, /,
rapidly turning the prov of the boat In
the direction, and every soul on board must
perish. s.
Such is a general description of the
perils suffered by travellers in this different
country, which are brought, more viyidly
before uslby the Recount pfs a .recent travel
Ter in Siberia. Among Other things. he
says:
fioated down one of these rivers In Q
boat resembling Noah's Ark, the vast pros
portions of This unweidy vessel increasing
my anxiety but y days peaceful paviga-
tion gave me time 70 recover myself
Finally, however, I beheld the great waves;i
the oars were lifted the boat was borne on
by the current; the rapidity of its motion
increased every moment; the tumult of the
waves was deafening; every nerve In the
body was effected; the sensation was indes-
cribable. IL.
flew over the waves; the water ceased
to below; the pilot descended to the PROV,
turned his face towards us, and In q cheer
full voice called out to the principal man on
board II give you joy, my lord;" he paid q
similar compliment to the captain, and we
all exclaimed together "God be praised !"
and the profound silence which had pres
vailed In the moment of danger was
broken by loud and joyous shout. la
4 S0n thelmorntpg ofthe 9th Off June I sent
to Brafzkef one Of my Gossacks, with q let
ter for the Governor-General, requesting
that the number Of my men might be in
creased by eight. The pilot OF Padinakoi,
venerable old man white locks, came on
board, and we continued our route. For
about nine hours 1--WE descended Prochele-
mie; and In an hour afterwards had crossed
the radius of Pianoi, with the customary
ceremonial.
Next day we approached Padun, the prin
pal fall. The pilot.".and captain both de-
clAred that we needed a more favorable
wind and ca'mer water for the descent of
this terrible cascade; that Our difictltIes
Ewsre ipcfeasedi by two rocks placed Lat q
short distance on'y from eath other, ard
between which 1t was necessary we should
pass. We cast anchor on the left bank OF
the river, whore we escaped in some degree
the violence of the current. On the day
after went ashore, the little island where
I pitched my tent.was covered with verdure
and foliage, refreshed by the showers Of
the preceding day; the Landscape, lighted
by brilliant sunshine and backed by sky
Of intensest blue, presented scene fully as
delightful as could be afforded by the faYor-
ed regions of the earth VII
When returned on board was apprised
the captain and the two pilots were OF
opinion that we should attempt the passage
of the Padun. I went into my cabin,
packed up my instruments, 1tegether with
q roleau Of notes, and srmed myself with q
poniard, which Thought might be useful
10 case of shipwreek. Twas interrupted In
my preparations BY Gustave, my interpre-
ter: he came to tell me that the old pilot
refused to take the boat over the falls unless
the master would give him blessing. Gus
tave showed me how this ceremony was to
be accomplished. made the sign of the
sign of the cross on tn old mans forehead, /,
and he was then quite satisfied. The SAIL
ors demanded the image Of their saint, but
in the confusion IT wss impossible to find it.,
The boat during this bad been put in mo
tion; the old pilot, with his white locks,
stood immovablp at the prov; one of my
servants he'd within bis hand a white cloth
to serve as signal, fisherman stood at
the rudder, and the crew went to prayers.
1.-The silence was dep and solemn tberewas
something! !3eatblike in the scsns., We sp-
preached tie falls; the white spray was
around us; we were in the midst Of the