Page:Letter from T.H. Barker to his wife Mary, 27 November 1903.pdf/5

 valet, who insisted on dressing me like a baby. The poor men here are from all parts of the Russian Empire, and commit murder and offences often through vodka spirit, and have to live in repentance ever after. Most of those I spoke to had committed murder, or man-slaughter, one confessed to making false coins, and others to robberies. The Greek Church only allows   to be put to death, and the knot or whip is not now used, unless by the military. They have a large Greek Church joining the Central Prison and I went there at 5, and saw a Greek service through; it lasted 2 hours. However, I must stop for I want to post this with the other very long letter, which I hope you will receive safely. The express for Tomsk is due to leave here today and will probably be late, so I hope to get away by it, and should be in Tomsk Thursday morning. A day or so must do for me there, and the same at Omsk, and then to Moscow, whence I will wire. I want to see the great gold refinery before leaving.

IRKUTSK Nov. 30th, 1903

Just a line of supplement to my last letter of this morning which I gave to the Bank to post.

I have been to the gold Refinery and was shown round by the Director, who spoke French and German. I saw lots of gold ingots ready for despatch to St. Petersburg. It comes largely from the valley of the Lena. I heard from M. the Director that young Keighley had been here with the Earl of Ronaldsay a month ago, and had gone to Port Arthur. I suppose he is having a run round during the winter season; they say here he does not stick long to anything.

Afterwards I had a long walk and crossed the Angara to the