They have a curious mode of reckoning by means of a frame with a number of parallel wires, on which are strung ten black balls and ten white balls, or sometimes a greater number, the lowest being taken as units, the next as tens, and the third as hundreds, &c.
Among the public buildings we also observed several towers or fire signals—high buildings, from which with rods of iron in various directions are given the earliest intimation of fire, which is communicated by a flag in the day or lamps in the night. These towers were formerly more necessary when a large part of the city was built of wood.
We should not omit to mention an immense Bazaar, of 400 yards frontage and nearly the same backward, containing almost every article for sale.
After staying a week at St. Petersburg we set off to Moscow by railway, starting at 12 o'clock at noon. After getting our tickets, paying about the same as in this country, with a little extra for luggage, we passed into a large waiting room, and there remained till the doors were opened upon the platform about five minutes before setting off.
Many of the travellers, particularly ladies, were seen carrying large pillows or cushions to repose upon, thereby filling the carriages to suffocation, and this in July.
The carriages are much like ours in appearance, but instead of three there are nine carriages joined together, with a passage down the centre, the same as in America.
The first class has a small compartment for one of the conductors or guards, then a saloon, with a sofa on each side, and the remainder, two seats on one side and one on the other, which, with the passage, require a wider gauge, something like the Great Western.
The second class is much the same, with rather less upholstering; and the third without cushions.
The rail appeared strong and very substantially laid, and is carried in a straight level line for miles together through forests of great extent. At each station a person goes round striking the wheels and axles to see that all is sound. The engines are supplied with wood fuel, and seemed powerful, dragging us along in some parts with great rapidity.
The forest trees, consisting chiefly of pine, birch, and mountain ash, with a few oaks and beech, did not appear so large as I expected, nor was our monotonous course enlivened by the sight of an occasional bear or eagle, being, we suppose, gone from home. Along some parts of the line we observed the corduroy road (trees laid close together), and gates formed of long poles counterpoised by a thicker part at the other end.