Besides these articles, there is a small exportation of iron, soap, and tallow, which however being cheaper at St. Petersburgh, are sent in far greater quantities from thence. The trade in pot-ash, which was formerly considerable, is now in a declining state.
The bringing together the produce of such an extent of country at the mart of Riga is well worthy of attention, and though I did not witness it, I had the opportunity of learning many particulars about it. The produce of Poland, from Kiev northward, around the shores of the Dvina, are sent to this place. After the operation ofthreshing the different grain is performed, and the frost set in, so that the ice on the rivers will bear, the peasantry are then engaged in constructing the raft which is to float these cargoes to their destined port. These vessels are formed with much ingenuity and little expence, being put together without the use ofa nail, and merely pegged with wooden pegs, and stuffed with tow to make them impervious tothe water. They carry from 200 to 500 tons burthen, and are from 200 to 400 feet in length, formed oflarge trees split into rough boards. The rudder is a single fir tree, at which twelve or twenty men preside, according to the strength required. The most valuable part ofthe cargo, which is wheat, hemp-seed, &c. is stowed in the centre of the vessel, a spacebeing leftaround the sides for the package of those goods which a little wet will not materially injure, such as hemp, cordage, &c. This being completed, the vessel is ready to take advantage of the earliest part of the navigable season. As soon as the ice is broken up and clear, the vessel floats with the strong current which succeeds to the removal ofthe ice, and thirty or forty of the peasants, sometimes with their wives and families, take their passage upon it. The owner or his steward meet the cargo at Riga, where it is either sold to the merchants, or warehoused, according to circumstances. The vessel then is knocked topieces, and soldfor firing, orfrequently for paling for the merchant's yard, and often fetches no more than from 100 to200 rubles.
The manner in which timber is floated down, equally deserves notice. A number of squared trees, perhaps 60, 60, or upwards, are lashed together alongside eachotherby strong cordage, upon the ice : on this foundation other timber is laid, and then immense quantities of fire-wood, which is cut by the peasantry during the winter months, when other business is suspended ; this wood is piled up to the height of 12 or 14 feet, and upon this the peasants who are destined to conduct it, often with their families are seen passing up the river. These arriving atRiga nearly about the same time, the middle ofMay, form a scene highly curious and interesting to the observer, who, if he be a stranger, has his attention doubly excited by the novel mode of transporting these goods, and by seeing at one view, so large a share of the produce of Poland, as the navigation of the Dvina brings to this market.
Of the imports into Riga, or any of the ports ofthe Russian empire, it is difficult to give any satisfactory account, as they are constantly varying with the varying policy of the government. Colonial produce, and manufactured goods, are the articles most in request, and are imported in greater or less quantities, as the trade is permitted or forbidden. In this year (1815) the importation of the latter was strictly prohibited ; but as they were generally, not to say universally, in use, the contraband trade must have been enormous, and was said to be carried on with the collusion of the custom-house. Salt and herrings are imported in great quantities, and sold to the Polish peasantry.
The floating bridge at Riga is one of the objects that most attracts the notice ofthe stranger; it is 2600 feet in length, and 40 feet in breadth : it is laid down as soon as the river is clear from ice, and taken up when the frost sets in.
The procuring carriages, and making other necessary preparations, detained us at Riga ten days, and we then left it, in the most disadvantageous state of the roads, to prosecute ajourney ofmore than 1300 English miles.