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about 50 feet in length, 5 or 6 feet in width, and drawing perhaps 3 inches water.  The Commandant allowed us 5 soldiers to row the concern, and we got underweigh about 10 o'clock in the morning.  The current of the river drifted us about 3 miles an hour, and by the aid of a sail which we improvised from a couple of blankets made very fair progress.  In the first six hours made 47 versts to the village of Inkutch, where we dined at the Post station.  There is a Telegraph station here and half a dozen houses.

  The Post stations are established every 25 or 30 versts along the Amoor, where horses are maintained for Winter travelling.  Coming on to rain very hard.  Went ashore again shortly after dark and passed the night in a Russian hut.  Leaving before daylight the next morning, at noon we reached a good sized village called Great Makhilooski, containing some stores, telegraph &c and very good buildings, and is the only place of any consequence between Marinsk and Nicolaevski.  Had a very good dinner at the house of a merchant by the name of Ivanoff and proceeded, sleeping that night in the boat, allowing it to drift with the current.  Made about 30 versts during night and early in the evening of the third day arrived at Nicolaevsk, 305 versts from Mavinsk.  Went at once to the house of Mr. Chase, U. S. Vice Commercial Agent and Agent for the house of Boardman & Co, Boston, Mass. and were very respectfully received.  Called the next morning on the Govenor Edward Kavckavihl and presented

Transcription Notes:
verst is an obsolete Russian unit of length.