South of the lower Amoor are the Shanalin mountains, which arrest the progress of birds.

On the upper Amoor and in Trans-Baikal very little snow falls, and there are no mountains of great height.
The day after leaving Sofyesk I observed a native propelling a boat by pulling both oars together.

On my expressing surprise my companion said: "We have passed the country of the Gilyaks who pull their oars alternately, and entered that of the Mangoons and Goldees.

The manner of rowing distinguishes the Gilyaks from all others." The Mangoons, Goldees, and Gilyaks differ in much the same way that the tribes of American Indians are different.

They are all of Tungusian or Mongolian stock, and have many traits and words in common.