The division of the stations is very irregular, varying from fourteen to thirty wersti.  Between the second and third stations, I passed over a very short space of ground, where I found a kind of lava, exactly resembling the beautiful, brilliant, glassy lava of Iceland (black agate, also called obsidian), which was stated to be found in that island only.  The second stage led through a newly-erected Russian village, extending to Lake Liman.

August 27th.  Today I had another evidence of the pleasure of travelling by the Russian post.  On the previous evening I had ordered and paid for everything before-hand; yet I was obliged in the morning to awaken the post officers myself, as well as to see after the driver, and to be constantly about among the people, in order to get away.  At the third station I was kept waiting three hours for the horses; at the fourth they gave me none, and I was obliged to stay all night, although I had gone only fifty-five wersti the whole day.

The character of the country changes before reaching Delischan:  the valleys contract to narrow gorges, and the mountains seldom leave space for small villages and plots of ground.  The naked masses of rock cease, and luxuriant woods cover the heights.

Near Pipis, the last stage that I went today, beautiful cliffs and rocks rose close to the post-road, many of them presenting the appearance of enormous columns.

August 28th.  Continual trouble with the post people.  I am the greatest enemy of scolding and harsh treatment; but I should have best liked to have spoken to these people with a stick.  No idea can be formed of their stupidity, coarseness, and want of feeling.  Officers, as well as servants, are frequently found at all hours of the day sleeping or drunk.  In this state they do as they please, will not stir from their places, and even laugh in the faces of the unfortunate travellers.  By the aid of much quarrelling and noise, one is at last induced to drag out the car, a second to grease it, another baits the horses, which have often to be harnessed, then the straps are not in order, and must be first fastened and repaired; and innumerable other things of this kind, which are done with the greatest tardiness.  When, afterwards, in the towns I expressed my disapprobation of these wretched post establishments, I received as answer that these countries had been too short a time under Russian dominion, that the imperial city was too far distant, and that I, as a single woman without servants, might consider myself fortunate in having got through as I had.