Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

THE CITY OF IKON.191

Another city, and it is, I believe, the most extensive and curious of all, serves as a depot for the iron of Siberia. I walked for a quarter of a league under galleries, in which are to be found, artistically arranged, every known species of iron bar, grating, and wrought iron; pyramids built of the utensils of husbandry and house-keeping, magazines full of vessels of cast-iron ; in short, a city of the metal which forms one of the principal sources of the wealth of the empire. The sight of sueh wealth made me shudder. How many criminals must it not have required to dig up those treasures ? and if there are not criminals enough in that subterranean world which produces iron, their number is made up by the unfortunate victims of despotism. The system which regulates the miners of the Ural would be a curious subject of inquiry, if it were permitted, to foreigners. But the means of pursuing this study would be as difficult for an European from the West as the journey to Mecca is for a Christian.

All these towns form only ehapels-of-ease to the principal fair, round which, as a common centre, they extend without any plan or order. Their outer, or general cireumferen.ee, would equal that of the larger European capitals. A dajr would not afford sufficient time to pass through all the temporary suburbs. Amid sueh an abyss of riches it is impossible to see everything; the spectator is obliged to select.

I must abridge my descriptions. In Russia we resign ourselves to monotony ; it is a condition of existence : but in France, where I shall be read, I have no right to expect the reader to submit to it with the same 2;00d grace that I do here. He has not the