Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER X Irkutsk The police are few, escaped convicts and ticketof-leave men many. In Irkutsk, and all towns east of it, the stranger should not walk after dark. If a carriage cannot be got, as Is often the case, the only way is to tramp noisily along the planked walk. Be careful in making crossings, and do not stop, or the immense mongrel mastiffs, turned loose into the streets, as guards, will attack. To walk in the middle of the road is to court attack from the garroters, with which Siberia abounds.--Bradshaw's Through Routes to the Chief Cities of the World, latest edition, 1907, under "Irkutsk." Safety Corroborating this quotation from Bradshaw--the vade-mecum of every loyal British traveler--but giving more minute particulars, writes William Oliver Greener as follows: "Siberian towns, even capitals like Tomsk, Irkutsk, and Kharbarovsk, are squalid, mean, and unkempt. The streets are badly illuminated, and after dark are roamed by great yard-dogs--mastiffs and other fierce brutes--which are trained to take little or no attention of the few pedestrians who tramp noisily along the sidewalks, but approach and commence to attack if one hesitates but so long as necessary to determine whether to turn to right or left. The dogs of Constantinople are lapdogs in comparison to these savage mongrels turned loose in all Siberian towns and villages after dark. Crime is prevalent in all Siberian towns; murders, assaults, outrages, and burglary are the common forms. Garroting is the usual device of the footpad. With a short stick or a noose of twine, he approaches his victim stealthily from the rear, slips the cord over his head, and strangles the man, woman, or child, who is unable to utter a cry. Then he strips the body of everything likely to...
