ng, in fact, storehouses for a large amount of valuable
merchandise. One of the most conspicuous buildings in this quarter is a
mosque, whose tall, pointed spire, surmounted by a glittering crescent,
towers above all others. This mosque is said to be the most northern
Mohammedan temple, with the exception of the humble little structure at
Moscow.

Our friends found the hotel in the upper part of the town far more
comfortable than they expected. The rooms and beds were tolerably
clean, and the eatables contained no larger amount of grease and garlic
than might reasonably be expected. Having refreshed themselves with a
quantity of fresh-water, which somewhat astonished the Russian
attendants, and partaken of a substantial meal, they sallied forth to
visit the fair. Mr Allwick, who had been there before, acted as their
guide. The upper part of the town presented no unusual bustle, but as
they descended to the plain they found themselves among dense crowds of
human beings in every variety of costume. Long-coated, long-bearded,
and high-booted Russians predominated. By listening attentively, our
friends thought they could distinguish very many different languages and
dialects; and all were speaking in an earnest, energetic way, showing
that they had met for business, and not for pleasure. There was, in
truth, no gaiety either in their manner or their costume; for their
dresses also were of somewhat grave, sombre colours, though here and
there gay sashes, or caps, or vests, or turbans were to be seen. They
walked up and down the long lanes of booths, in which the traders sat in
state ready to dispose of their merchandise. But the more interesting
part of their employment was the visit they paid to the various
storehouses. In some were packages upon packages of tea, done up in
skins, in which mode it is brought all the way from China by caravans;
in another were piles of hides, in another heaps of dressed leather, in
another bales of hemp and wool, brought by the Volga and its tributaries
from far-off regions. There were also less bulky manufactured
articles--leather work and embroidery, slippers and belts, from Kazan,
shawls and cloths from Persia, and saddles from Tartary; indeed, it
would be difficult to name one-half of the articles exposed for sale.
There were no means of amusement, such as are to be seen at an English
or German fair. No jugglers, or actors, or roundabouts, or swings,
though there were eatin