Frequently it was impossible to discover any trace of an opening half a mile in our front.

Had we been ascending an unexplored river I should have half expected to find it issuing like a huge spring from the base of a high mountain.
The Russian villages in these mountains are located in the valleys of streams flowing to the Amoor.

In one bend we found a solitary house newly-erected and waiting its occupants who should, keep the post-station in winter.

We sent a Cossack ashore in a skiff at this point, and he came near falling into the river while descending the steps at the steamer's side.

While returning from the bank one of the men in the skiff broke an oar and fell overboard, which obliged us to back the steamer nearly half a mile down the river to pick him up.