按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
required an ever…watchful surveillance。
This plain was now covered with booths symmetrically arranged
in such a manner as to leave avenues broad enough to allow
the crowd to pass without a crush。
Each group of these booths； of all sizes and shapes； formed a separate
quarter particularly dedicated to some special branch of commerce。
There was the iron quarter； the furriers' quarter； the woolen quarter；
the quarter of the wood merchants； the weavers' quarter； the dried
fish quarter； etc。 Some booths were even built of fancy materials；
some of bricks of tea； others of masses of salt meatthat is to say；
of samples of the goods which the owners thus announced were there to
the purchasersa singular； and somewhat American； mode of advertisement。
In the avenues and long alleys there was already a large assemblage
of peoplethe sun； which had risen at four o'clock； being
well above the horizonan extraordinary mixture of Europeans
and Asiatics； talking； wrangling； haranguing； and bargaining。
Everything which can be bought or sold seemed to be heaped up
in this square。 Furs； precious stones； silks； Cashmere shawls；
Turkey carpets； weapons from the Caucasus； gauzes from Smyrna
and Ispahan。 Tiflis armor； caravan teas。 European bronzes；
Swiss clocks； velvets and silks from Lyons； English cottons；
harness； fruits； vegetables； minerals from the Ural；
malachite； lapis…lazuli； spices； perfumes； medicinal herbs；
wood； tar； rope； horn； pumpkins； water…melons； etc
all the products of India； China； Persia； from the shores
of the Caspian and the Black Sea； from America and Europe；
were united at this corner of the globe。
It is scarcely possible truly to portray the moving mass of human
beings surging here and there； the excitement； the confusion；
the hubbub； demonstrative as were the natives and the inferior classes；
they were completely outdone by their visitors。 There were
merchants from Central Asia； who had occupied a year in escorting
their merchandise across its vast plains； and who would not again
see their shops and counting…houses for another year to come。
In short； of such importance is this fair of Nijni…Novgorod；
that the sum total of its transactions amounts yearly to nearly
a hundred million dollars。
On one of the open spaces between the quarters of this temporary
city were numbers of mountebanks of every description；
gypsies from the mountains； telling fortunes to the credulous fools
who are ever to be found in such assemblies； Zingaris or Tsiganes
a name which the Russians give to the gypsies who are the descendants
of the ancient Coptssinging their wildest melodies and dancing
their most original dances； comedians of foreign theaters；
acting Shakespeare； adapted to the taste of spectators who crowded
to witness them。 In the long avenues the bear showmen accompanied
their four…footed dancers； menageries resounded with the hoarse
cries of animals under the influence of the stinging whip or red…hot
irons of the tamer； and； besides all these numberless performers；
in the middle of the central square； surrounded by a circle four deep
of enthusiastic amateurs； was a band of 〃mariners of the Volga；〃
sitting on the ground； as on the deck of their vessel；
imitating the action of rowing； guided by the stick of the master
of the orchestra； the veritable helmsman of this imaginary vessel！
A whimsical and pleasing custom！
Suddenly； according to a time…honored observance in the fair
of Nijni…Novgorod； above the heads of the vast concourse a flock
of birds was allowed to escape from the cages in which they
had been brought to the spot。 In return for a few copecks
charitably offered by some good people； the bird…fanciers opened
the prison doors of their captives； who flew out in hundreds；
uttering their joyous notes。
It should be mentioned that England and France； at all events； were this
year represented at the great fair of Nijni…Novgorod by two of the most
distinguished products of modern civilization； Messrs。 Harry Blount
and Alcide Jolivet。 Jolivet； an optimist by nature； found everything
agreeable； and as by chance both lodging and food were to his taste；
he jotted down in his book some memoranda particularly favorable to
the town of Nijni…Novgorod。 Blount； on the contrary； having in vain hunted
for a supper； had been obliged to find a resting…place in the open air。
He therefore looked at it all from another point of view； and was
preparing an article of the most withering character against a town
in which the landlords of the inns refused to receive travelers who only
begged leave to be flayed； 〃morally and physically。〃
Michael Strogoff； one hand in his pocket； the other holding
his cherry…stemmed pipe； appeared the most indifferent and least
impatient of men； yet； from a certain contraction of his eyebrows
every now and then； a careful observer would have seen that he was
burning to be off。
For two hours he kept walking about the streets； only to find
himself invariably at the fair again。 As he passed among the groups
of buyers and sellers he discovered that those who came from
countries on the confines of Asia manifested great uneasiness。
Their trade was visibly suffering。 Another symptom also was marked。
In Russia military uniforms appear on every occasion。 Soldiers are
wont to mix freely with the crowd； the police agents being almost
invariably aided by a number of Cossacks； who； lance on shoulder；
keep order in the crowd of three hundred thousand strangers。
But on this occasion the soldiers； Cossacks and the rest； did not put
in an appearance at the great market。 Doubtless； a sudden order
to move having been foreseen； they were restricted to their barracks。
Moreover； while no soldiers were to be seen； it was not so with
their officers。 Since the evening before； aides…decamp； leaving the
governor's palace； galloped in every direction。 An unusual movement was
going forward which a serious state of affairs could alone account for。
There were innumerable couriers on the roads both to Wladimir
and to the Ural Mountains。 The exchange of telegraphic dispatches
with Moscow was incessant。
Michael Strogoff found himself in the central square when the report
spread that the head of police had been summoned by a courier to
the palace of the governor…general。 An important dispatch from Moscow；
it was said； was the cause of it。
〃The fair is to be closed；〃 said one。
〃The regiment of Nijni…Novgorod has received the route；〃 declared another。
〃They say that the Tartars menace Tomsk！〃
〃Here is the head of police！〃 was shouted on every side。
A loud clapping of hands was suddenly raised； which subsided
by degrees； and finally was succeeded by absolute silence。
The head of police arrived in the middle of the central square；
and it was seen by all that he held in his hand a dispatch。
Then； in a loud voice； he read the following announcements：
〃By order of the Governor of Nijni…Novgorod。
〃1st。 All Russian subjects are forbidden to quit the province
upon any pretext whatsoever。
〃2nd。 All strangers of Asiatic origin are commanded to leave
the province within twenty…four hours。〃
CHAPTER VI BROTHER