The Volga forms the trunk of this tree, and it has for roots
seventy mouths opening into the Caspian Sea. It is navigable
as far as Rjef, a town in the government of Tver, that is,
along the greater part of its course.

The steamboats plying between Perm and Nijni-Novgorod rapidly perform
the two hundred and fifty miles which separate this town from the town
of Kasan. It is true that these boats have only to descend the Volga,
which adds nearly two miles of current per hour to their own speed;
but on arriving at the confluence of the Kama, a little below Kasan,
they are obliged to quit the Volga for the smaller river, up which
they ascend to Perm. Powerful as were her machines, the Caucasus
could not thus, after entering the Kama, make against the current
more than ten miles an hour. Including an hour's stoppage at Kasan,
the voyage from Nijni-Novgorod to Perm would take from between sixty
to sixty-two hours.

The steamer was very well arranged, and the passengers, according to
their condition or resources, occupied three distinct classes on board.
Michael Strogoff had taken care to engage two first-class cabins,
so that his young companion might retire into hers whenever she liked.

The Caucasus was loaded with passengers of every description.
A number of Asiatic traders had thought it best to leave
Nijni-Novgorod immediately. In that part of the steamer reserved
for the first-class might be seen Armenians in long robes and a sort
of miter on their heads; Jews, known by their conical caps; rich Chinese
in their traditional costume, a very wide blue, violet, or black robe;
Turks, wearing the national turban; Hindoos, with square caps,
and a simple string for a girdle, some of whom, hold in their hands