CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

The Mongols. — Description of Lake Baikal. — Mongol conquests. The British in India. — Sketch of the history of Siberia. — Southern Siberia first visited by Russian princes. — Ivan the Great divides Yugria (Siberia). — Stroganoff builds trading posts on the Tobol River. — Yermak, the national hero of Siberia. — Prince Bolhovski, first government official sent to Siberia. — Death of Yermak. — Founding of Tiumen and Tobolsk. — Founding of Pelym, the first place to which exiles were sent. — The exile of a church bell. — Ivan and Vassili Romanoff, brothers of the founder of the Romanoff dynasty, the first exiles of distinction sent to Siberia. — Discovery of the Yakuts. — Russians meet the Buriats. — Founding of Irkutsk. — Buriats become Russian subjects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 1

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CHAPTER II

My journey to the Buriats. — Description of Irkutsk and the Angara River. — Exorbitant prices. — Preparations for a journey. — A Siberian exile. — A race up hill. — Post stations. — A harelipped driver. — Buriat dogs. — Arrival at Andrei Mihailovitch’s. — Death of Mihailoff’s son. — Arrival at Usturdi. — Donkeys of Assuan. — Mongol horses. — Lazareff, the cross-eyed widower. — Mongol wedding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

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CHAPTER III

A walk and talk with Andrei Mihailovitch. — The mission church. — Search for “wise men.” — Taking down myths. — Appearance of Manshut, a man wise in ancient lore. — Arrival of convicts from Russia. — A visit to Andrei Mihailovitch’s summer home. — Photographing Ongons (gods) Ongons: spirits or idols worshiped by the Buriats. — Preparation for Horse Sacrifice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

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CHAPTER IV

The Horse Sacrifice. — Multiplication of food and drink. — Prayer to the gods. — Buriat religion. — Difficulties of introducing a new religion. — Preparations for a journey to the sacred island of Olkhon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44