How powerless are words to describe a scene like this! The passengers of our boat were of less varied character than those on a Mississippi steamer.

There were two Russian merchants, who joined us at meal times in the cabin but slept in the after part of the boat.
One was owner of a gold mine two hundred miles north of Nicolayevsk, and a general dealer in everything along the Amoor.

He had wandered over Mongolia and Northern China in the interest of commerce, and I greatly regretted my inability to talk with him and learn of the regions he had visited.

He was among the first to penetrate the Celestial Empire under the late commercial treaty, and traveled so far that he was twice arrested by local authorities.

He knew every fair from Leipsic to Peking, and had been an industrious commercial traveler through all Northern Asia.
Once, below Sansin, on the Songaree river, he was attacked by thieves where he had halted for the night.