Looking at this steamer struggling against the current and impeded by the barges, brought to mind Pope's needless Alexandrine: "That, like a wounded snake, drags its slow length along." Each barge has a crew, subordinate, of course, to the captain of the tow-boat.

This crew steers the barge in accordance with the course of the steamer, looks after its welfare, and watches over the freight on board.

In case it fastens on a sand bar the crew remains with it, and sometimes has the pleasure of wintering there.

The barge is decked like a ship, and has two or three hatchways for receiving and discharging freight.

Over each hatchway is a derrick that appears at a distance not unlike a mast.
Above Petrovsky the banks generally retain their level character on the Russian side.