CHAPTER XIV.

LAKE BAIKAL TO IRKUTSK.

Morning scene at Pasoilské--Better late than never-- Victimised--Russian junks--Primitive navigators--Storms on the Baikal--Scene at the shipping port--Religious ceremony--A polite officer--Inconvenience of the Baikal route--Engineering enterprise--More delay--Fares by the Baikal steamer--Crowing and crouching--The embarkation--The General Karsakof--A naval curiosity--The lake--Its depth-- And area--The "Holy Sea"--The passage--Terra firma-- Custom-house delay--Fine country--Good roads--Hotels Amoor and Metzgyr 234