. In the land of Tolstoi; experiences of famine and misrule in Russia . d a few days longer at the farm. With the break-up of the winter, all communication on thesteppes is interrupted, because of the swollen streams, fed bythe melting snow. We had, in consequence, to wait a fortnightfor our letters. It was time to begin the years agriculture, but no mushikswere seen in the fields, except one or two who were working fora hulack. The others had neither seed for sowing nor horsesfor ploughing. There was seed in the public storehouses ofthe Government, about one-third of what was needed, but when
. In the land of Tolstoi; experiences of famine and misrule in Russia . d a few days longer at the farm. With the break-up of the winter, all communication on thesteppes is interrupted, because of the swollen streams, fed bythe melting snow. We had, in consequence, to wait a fortnightfor our letters. It was time to begin the years agriculture, but no mushikswere seen in the fields, except one or two who were working fora hulack. The others had neither seed for sowing nor horsesfor ploughing. There was seed in the public storehouses ofthe Government, about one-third of what was needed, but whenthe peasants sent to inquire of the authorities, they received noreply. Despairing, they appealed to the Count for aid. Buthe could at first do nothing, having no means; fortunately,however, he received considerable remittances from CountessTolstoi in Moscow, who sent on money collected in Americaand other places. At once he got horses and seed, and byworking night and day, two hundred of the most needy werehelped to sow their holdings. Large numbers left their homes. Spring Scenes in Samara. Ill to look for work, but there were not many who could afford tohire labour. My stay with Count Lyeff drew to a close. It had beendecided that when the Volga traffic was open, I should go toSouthern Samara and Saratoff to arrange for the opening offree eating-rooms for the sick and convalescent. The evening before my departure I paid a number of farewellvisits to friends in Patrovka. As I returned, I saw a curiouspiece of evidence of the straits to which the peasants werereduced. A poor mushik, with a shaggy little horse, wasdriving a plough over the land made altogether of wood. Ifound that many peasants had pawned all their implements tog et money to pay their taxes, or to buy food. There was still one visit to pay. I was up at sunrise nextm orning, and went to the cemetery to have a last look at thegraves of those who had died in the famine. All was quiet inthe village, except for seve
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