From the mountains to Verkne Udinsk most of our drivers were Bouriats.  They were quite as skillful and daring as the Russian yemshicks, and took us at excellent speed where the road was good.  The station-masters were Russian, but frequently all their employees were of Mongol blood.  Some part of the carriage gave way on the road, and it was necessary to repair it at a station.  A Bouriat man-of-all-work undertook the job and performed it very well.  While waiting for the repairs I saw some good specimens of iron work from the hands of native blacksmiths.  The Bouriats engage in very little agriculture.  Properly they are herdsmen, and keep large droves of cattle, horses, and sheep, the latter being most numerous.  I saw many of their flocks near the road we traveled or feeding on distant parts of the plain.  The country was open and slightly rolling, timber being scarce and the soil more or less stony.  Each flock of sheep was tended by one or more herdsmen armed with poles like rake-handles, and attached to each pole was a short rope with a noose at the end.  This implement is used in catching sheep, and the Bouriats are very skillful in handling it.  I saw one select a sheep which became separated from the flock before he secured it.  The animal while pursued attempted to double on his track.  As he turned the man swung his pole and caught the head of the sheep in his noose.  It reminded me of lasso throwing in Mexico and California.

[Illustration:  CATCHING SHEEP.]

In looking at these flocks I remembered a conundrum containing the inquiry, “Why do white sheep eat more hay than black ones?” The answer was, “Because there are more of them.”  In Siberia the question and its reply would be incorrect, as the white sheep are in the minority.  In this the sheep of Siberia differ materially from those I ever saw in any other country.  The flocks presented a great variety of colors, or rather, many combinations of white and black.  Their appearance to an American eye was a very peculiar and novel one.

At one station a beggar crouched on the ground near the door asked alms as we passed him.  I threw him a small coin, which he acknowledged by thrice bowing his head and touching the earth.  I trust this mode of acknowledging courtesy will never be introduced in my own country.

We frequently met or passed small trains of two-wheeled carts, some laden with merchandise and others carrying Bouriat or Russian families.  Most of these carts were drawn by bullocks harnessed like horses between shafts.  Occasionally I saw bullocks saddled and ridden as we ride horses, though not quite as rapidly.  A few carts had roofs of birch bark to shield their occupants from the rain; from appearances I judged these carts belonged to emigrants on their way to the Amoor.

At the crossing of a small river we found the water full of floating ice that drifted in large cakes.  There was much fixed ice at both edges and we waited an hour to have it cut away.  When the smotretal announced that all was ready we proceeded to the river and found it anything but inviting.  The Bouriat yemshick pronounced it safe, and as he was a responsible party we deferred to his judgment.  While we waited a girl rode a horse through the stream without hesitation.