The river was four or five miles wide where the gale caught us, and the banks on both sides were low.

The islands in this part of the river were numerous and extensive.

At one place there are three channels, each a mile and a half wide and all navigable.

From one bank to the other straight across the islands is a distance of nineteen miles.
The wind and weather prevented our making much progress on that day; as the night was cloudy we tied up near a Russian village and economised the darkness by taking wood.

At a peasant's house near the landing four white-headed children were taking their suppers of bread and soup under the supervision of their mother.