e rest;
indeed, the inhabitants of Russia may be said to be a long-coated,
boot-wearing population. There were women passengers, but there was
nothing very peculiar in their appearance. The upper classes wore
bonnets, and the lower had handkerchiefs tied over their heads, or caps,
with thick-padded cloaks. They all had brought huge leather pillows,
and cloaks, and shawls, to make themselves comfortable in the carriages.

No sooner did the train stop than all the men lighted their cigars and
pipes, and began to puff away most assiduously. Our friends were much
amused at seeing a servant bring his master, an old gentleman, his pipe
at every station. It was the servant's business not only to light it
but to draw it up, and the cunning rogue took good care to get as many
whiffs out of it as possible before he removed it from his own mouth.

"That's what I call smoking made easy," said Harry. "I've heard of a
man being another's mouthpiece, and this old gentleman seems to make use
of his serf for the same purpose."

Some of the priests wore fur caps and dark gowns, and others had on
broad-brimmed hats and green gowns, with dark overcoats; some had
several crosses on their breasts, frizzy or straggling hair being common
to all. One of them, who was in a first-class carriage, pulled out a
comb and began combing his beard and hair with great assiduity--an
operation more pleasant, doubtless, to himself than to his neighbours.
There was a fine Abasian officer--Abasia is a province bordering on the
Caucasus, conquered by the Russians. He wore a black fur cap with a
red-and-white top to it,--night-cap fashion,--a white coat with
cartridge cases in the breast and trimmed and lined with fur, a
silver-lace belt round his waist, white gloves with fur backs, and green
trousers with a silver stripe down the legs; yellow boots, a curved
scimitar behind, and a richly-jewelled dagger in his belt in front
completed his costume. He was a very fine-looking fellow, and was most
evidently aware of the fact. He was on good terms with every one, and
laughed and chatted with all the officers of rank. Such were some of
the companions our friends had on their journey.

Mr Evergreen said that he considered it his duty to taste the tea at
each stopping-place, to ascertain whether it was really superior to any
to be found out of China. At some places he took only a tumblerful, but
at others the samovar, with the little teapot on the top o