light was extinguished we could hear that an attempt was being made stealthily to effect an entrance.  Notwithstanding my efforts to remain awake, and on the watch, I at last fell asleep, and was suddenly aroused by some one grasping me tightly by the arm.  Instantly I sprang to my feet and endeavoured to close with my invisible assailant.  In vain!  He dexterously eluded my grasp, and I stumbled over my portmanteau, which was lying on the floor; but my prompt action revealed who the intruder was, by producing a wild flutter and a frantic cackling!  Before my companion could strike a light the mysterious attack was fully explained.  The supposed midnight robber and possible assassin was simply a peaceable hen that had gone to roost on my arm, and, on finding her position unsteady, had dug her claws into what she mistook for a roosting-pole!

When speaking of the peasantry of the north I have hitherto had in view the inhabitants of the provinces of Old-Novgorod, Tver, Yaroslavl, Nizhni-Novgorod, Kostroma, Kazan, and Viatka, and I have founded my remarks chiefly on information collected on the spot.  Beyond this lies what may be called the Far North.  Though I cannot profess to have the same personal acquaintance with the peasantry of that region, I may perhaps be allowed to insert here some information regarding them which I collected from various trustworthy sources.

If we draw a wavy line eastward from a point a little to the north of St. Petersburg, as is shown in the map facing page 1 of this volume, we shall have between that line and the Polar Ocean what may be regarded as a distinct, peculiar region, differing in many respects from the rest of Russia.  Throughout the whole of it the climate is very severe.  For about half of the year the ground is covered by deep snow, and the rivers are frozen.  By far the greater part of the land is occupied by forests of pine, fir, larch, and birch, or by vast, unfathomable morasses.  The arable land and pasturage taken together form only about one and a half per cent, of the area.  The population is scarce—­little more than one to the English square mile—­and settled chiefly along the banks of the rivers.  The peasantry support themselves by fishing, hunting, felling and floating timber, preparing tar and charcoal, cattle-breeding, and, in the extreme north, breeding reindeer.

These are their chief occupations, but the people do not entirely neglect agriculture.  They make the most of their short summer by means of a peculiar and ingenious mode of farming, well adapted to the peculiar local conditions.  The peasant knows of course nothing about agronomical chemistry, but he, as well as his forefathers, have observed that if wood be burnt on a field, and the ashes be mixed with the soil, a good harvest may be confidently expected.  On this simple principle his system of farming is based.  When spring comes round and the leaves begin to appear on the trees, a band of peasants,