from Siberia. This caused a great sensation. Without giving time for any communication to be made to Ekaterineburg, the emperor sent an officer to search the works, and the houses of all persons connected with the Granilnoï Fabric. He found in the house of the director several gems of great value, which the latter declared were there for safe custody. This was thought somewhat strange, as other gems and valuable works were lying at the museum in the Fabric. The director was, without any investigation, sent to prison, and, after many years' confinement, died there; nor is it known to this day by whom these emeralds were stolen. In Siberia it is still believed that the man was innocent, but that, for the safety of persons of more consideration, it was absolutely necessary he should be imprisoned; in short, it has been hinted that the offense was committed by parties much nearer his imperial majesty. Since this period few emeralds of value have been discovered.

Amethysts are still found at Tushakalva, a village near Mursinsk: these stones are far superior to the Brazilian amethyst, have a much greater brilliancy, and are more valuable. Beryl is found in several parts of the Oural-some crystals exceedingly fine, of a blue, yellow, and rose color; those of the latter kind are rare, and, when perfectly transparent, of considerable value. I have seen some splendid specimens in Ekaterineburg most beautifully cut. Chrysoberyl is met with in the same locality as the emerald; occasionally very fine crystals are obtained, and cut into beautiful gems. Topaz is found at Alabaska and near Maïas; some of these magnificent crystals have been discovered six inches long, perfectly transparent, and sold at a very great price. I have seen fine specimens cut as gems, and exceedingly brilliant. Pink topaz is rare: up to this time only five small crystals have been met with at one of the gold mines in the South Oural; one of these was presented to me: I deeply regret to say that it is either mislaid or has been lost on the journey.

Rose tourmaline is found at the village of Sarapulsk, near Mursinsk. This is also a rare mineral; I have seen but one crystal pure and transparent. Small specimens cut into gems are sometimes to be got in Ekaterineburg under the name of "malina sherl." Smoke topaz is met with in many places in the Ouralsome beautifully transparent, which they cut into seals of most elegant form. Pure transparent quartz also passes under the name

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LAPIDARIES.-STEARINE.-VERKNE ISSETZSKOI.

of topaz: large quantities of seals are made of this, and sold in Ekaterineburg, on which the lapidaries cut figures, coats of arms, or ciphers at a very moderate cost. This forms quite a trade, as the workmen employed in the Granilnoï Fabric cut these articles at home in the evenings and holidays, using a small foot-lathe. Malachite is also worked into a variety of beautiful ornaments, such as vases, work-boxes, tables, paper-weights, brooches, and beads, for which they find a ready sale.

Aquamarina is brought to Ekaterineburg from Eastern Siberia. It is obtained near Nertchinsk, sometimes in very fine crystals of great value; these are cut into bracelets, brooches, ear-rings, stones for pins, rings, and other ornaments, and have a most sparkling and brilliant effect. Besides gems and seals, the lapidaries make tables, small vases, and paper-weights, in great numbers, of the different jaspers and porphyries, many of great beauty both in design and color. Some of the jasper paper-weights have a bunch of grapes in amethyst, with foliage on the top, beautifully exe

cuted.

An extensive manufactory of stearine has recently been established near Ekaterineburg; and as tallow is brought from Siberia and the Kirghis Steppe in enormous quantities, it is the intention of the company to make stearine, and send it in casks into Europe; also to make sufficient candles to supply the whole of Siberia. This will, no doubt, prove a most profitable concern, if properly carried on.

Two enterprising young engineers have established machine works in Ekaterineburg; they are both practical men; one of them a very superior man. There is every hope that they will succeed. I do not wish it for their advantage alone, but for the general good they will confer on the Siberians, by introducing into that region machinery required for various useful purposes. The late chief of the Oural created many difficulties, and retarded their operations; a more enlightened man will pursue a different course, and benefit the people.

Verkne Issetzskoi Zavod, about three versts from Ekaterineburg, belongs to the Yakovlif family, and here resides the chief director of the whole of their vast mining property. These works have long been celebrated for the quality of sheet iron, which stands unrivaled. This Zavod has the appearance of a considerable town,

SHEET IRON.-EXCELLENT ARRANGEMENT.

103 with its large furnaces, churches, and other buildings. There is one enormous pile, in which are all the offices for the administration of this vast mining property; beneath are large warehouses for iron and other produce. Here are blast-furnaces for smelting the ore, forging mills, tilting mills, and rolling mills for bar and sheet iron, including every process until finished for the market, and each department is admirably managed.

The sheet iron made in this Zavod, and at some of the other works belonging to it, surpasses all other productions of the kind either in the Oural or elsewhere. It is rolled for various purposes-for covering the roofs of houses, for sheet-iron stoves, also for the manufacture of a great variety of utensils. The metal is of so excellent a quality that I have seen it rolled as thin as post paper, without either crack or blemish, and with a jet black polish. An enormous quantity of the various sorts of this manufacture is sent to America, where it is most extensively used.

The chief director, and the different officers under him, deserve the highest praise, every thing in these works being conducted with the greatest order. The public buildings have been erected in good taste, and are well suited for the purposes intended. The cottages for the artificers are of a superior class, the streets are kept clean and in good order, and the people look healthy and very comfortable in their dwellings.

CHAPTER VII.

IRON AND GOLD WORKS.

I MUST now pass to the South Oural, down the valley of the Issetz to Nijne Issetzskoi Zavod-iron-works belonging to the crown, where most of the castings required for the machine works in Ekaterineburg are made, from which it is only twelve versts distant.

On both sides of the valley low hills rise up, covered to the top with pine and larch trees, among which are seen the silvery birch waving its delicate foliage. In the valley a large lake has been formed by carrying a high embankment across the Issetz; and here stand the blast-furnaces, belching forth their smoke and flame.

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FRUIT-TREES UNDER GLASS.

When seen from the lake on a dark night, with their reflections cast on the water, and black figures dimly lighted by the red glare flitting past—sometimes in groups, at others singly, but soon lost in gloom-the scene has a touch of the infernal about it; still, it is highly picturesque and grand. After passing the Zavod the valley extends in width, and in many parts is very pretty; clumps of trees with grassy meadows, with the river winding along, sometimes lost in woods, then again breaking forth, shining like frosted silver as it rolls over its rocky bed. Twenty-two versts from Ekaterineburg is the village of Aramilskoï: at this place the road leaves the valley of the Issetz, passing over some low hills more toward the ridge of the Oural. After traveling about ten versts it descends into the valley of the River Syssert, in which stands Syssertskoï Zavod-iron-works belonging to the family of Salemerskoï, one of whom has taken up his abode here. The situation is pretty, and well sheltered among wooded hills. On approaching the Zavod, the church, hospitals, furnaces, and warehouses have a very imposing appearance; the streets are well laid out, and the cottages built in a much better style than is usually adopted in the Oural. Altogether, the town was clean, and evidently kept under the eye of the master.

Mr. Salemerskoï is undoubtedly a man of good taste, and possesses some valuable works of art. He is a good musician as well as a horticulturist, and his garden, green-houses, and hot-houses are on an extensive scale. He has a large orangery, well stocked with lemon and orange trees, some in full fruit, others in blossom, giving out a delicious perfume. There is also a very large house in which cherries, plums, and peaches are grown in great perfection. It was, indeed, a pleasure to see these trees in full blossom; they reminded me of home and my childhood, bringing to my recollection scenes that can never return. As such trees can not stand this climate, it is only under glass that the fruit can be produced. His flowers and tropical plants are splendid, and well arranged in several different houses to suit their proper temperature: in one there was a collection of more than 200 sorts of calceolaria, and almost every plant in flower; I never saw any thing more gorgeous: the colors were perfectly dazzling, and were in all shades, from the deepest purple, crimson, scarlet, and orange, to a pale yellow; these, with the beautiful green of their foliage, pro

KASLINSKOI.-IRON ORNAMENTAL WORK.

105

duced an enchanting effect. Mr. Salemerskoï is also devoting his attention to the breeding of English horses, and possesses some very fine animals.

Having spent two days in this Zavod, sketching a view of the works, on I traveled over a wooded, undulating country. In some parts extensive tracts of rye were growing most luxuriantly, in others fine pastures for cattle extended far among the trees: the verdure and foliage indicated that I was going in a southerly direction. The country for about thirty-five versts after leaving Syssertskoï has not one single point either of interest or beauty, but on approaching Lake Silatch the scenery improves; to the west of the lake pine-clad hills rise up until overtopped by Mount Sugomac and the crest of the Oural. From this point the road passes into a fine woodland country, sometimes through rich pasture-land, with large clumps of birch and poplars. Occasionally the path was close on the shore of the lake, which was exceedingly shallow and rocky; again the road turned into the woods, winding along some park-like scenery, until at length Kaslinskoï was seen standing close upon the margin of the lake, with its Zavod sending up a dense black smoke; its churches and other large buildings, with their green domes and golden crosses sparkling in the sun, gave it a grand and imposing appearance.

These iron-works are famed throughout the Oural for the superior quality of castings they produce. On going through the warehouse, I was astonished by the sharpness and beauty of the different articles manufactured, consisting of tables, perforated in tracery and foliage, most delicately executed; chairs of a similar pattern, small boxes, baskets, and dishes for cards, in beautiful open-work; animals, paper-weights, and various other articles, cast equal to any thing produced in Berlin. With a good designer and carver in these works, they could cast any thing, as the metal used possesses much fluidity.

From this Zavod the road runs along the shore of the Irtiash Lake, which is near twenty versts in length, and in places ten broad, extending nearly up to the foot of Mount Sugomac. Some parts of the eastern shores are rocky, but of no great elevation; here and there very large masses have been detached from the rocks, and are now lying at a considerable distance. It is somewhat difficult to account for their removal; small blocks would be