The only perambulating resident was very drunk and manifested a desire to embrace me, but as I did not know his language and could not claim relationship I declined the honor.

Near the river there was a large building for government stores and a smaller one for the men guarding it.

A few hundred yards distant there was a Goldee village, and for want of something better Borasdine proposed that we should call on one of its inhabitants.

We took a Russian peasant to guide and introduce us, our credentials and passports having been left on the steamer.
As we approached the first house we were greeted by at least a dozen dogs.

They barked on all keys and our guide thought it judicious to provide himself with a stick; but I must do the brutes the justice to say that they made no attempt at dentistry upon our legs.