As we entered the slobodka and descended rapidly toward the river, the bells were clanging loudly and the population was generally on its way to church.  The men were in their best shoobas and caps, while the women displayed the latest fashions in winter cloaks.  Several pretty faces, rosy from the biting frost, peered at the strangers, who returned as many glances as possible.  Our yemshick took us to the Hotel de Berlin, and, for the first time in eighteen hundred versts, we unloaded our baggage from the sleighs.  Breakfast, a bath, and a change of clothes prepared me for the sights of this Uralian city.

For sight-seeing, the time of my arrival was unfortunate.  Every kind of work was suspended, every shop was closed, and nothing could be done until the end of the Christmas holidays.  I especially desired to inspect the Granilnoi Fabric, or Imperial establishment for stone cutting, and the machine shop where all steam engines for Siberia are manufactured.  But, as everything had yielded to the general festivities, I could not gratify my desire.

Ekaterineburg is on the Asiatic side of the Urals, though belonging to the European government of Perm.  It has a beautiful situation, the Isset being dammed so as to form a small lake in the middle of the city.  Many of the best houses overlook this lake, and, from their balconies, one can enjoy charming views of the city, water, and the dark forests of the Urals.  The principal street and favorite drive passes at the end of the lake, and is pretty well thronged in fine weather.  There are many wealthy citizens in Ekaterineburg, as the character of the houses will attest.  I was told there was quite a rage among them for statuary, pictures, and other works of art.  Special care is bestowed upon conservatories, some of which contain tropical plants imported at enormous expense.  The population is about twenty thousand, and increases very slowly.

[Illustration:  VIEW OF EKATERINEBURG.]

The city is the central point of mining enterprises of the Ural mountains, and the residence of the Nachalnik, or chief of mines.  The general plan of management is much like that already described at Barnaool.  The government mines include those of iron, copper, and gold, the latter being of least importance.  Great quantities of shot, shell, and guns have been made in the Urals, as well as iron work for more peaceful purposes.  Beside the government works, there are numerous foundries and manufactories of a private character.  In various parts of the Ural chain some of the zavods are of immense extent, and employ large numbers of workmen.  At Nijne Tagilsk, for example, there is a population of twenty-five thousand, all engaged directly or indirectly in the production of iron.

The sheet iron so popular in America for parlor stoves and stove pipe, comes from Ekaterineburg and its vicinity, and is made from magnetic ore.  The bar iron of the Urals is famous the world over for its excellent qualities, and commands a higher price than any other.  Great quantities of iron are floated in boats down the streams flowing into the Kama and Volga.  Thence it goes to the fair at Nijne Novgorod, and to the points of shipment to the maritime markets.