This privilege is not granted to officers in other squadrons, and is given on the Siberian station in consequence of the severer duties and the distance from the centers of civilization.
In its military service the government makes inducements of pay and promotion to young officers who go to Siberia.

I frequently met officers who told me they had sought appointments in the Asiatic department in preference to any other.

The pay and allowances are better than in European Russia, promotion is more rapid, and the necessities of life are generally less costly.

Duties are more onerous and privations are greater, but these drawbacks are of little consequence to an enterprising and ambitious soldier.
The Morje had no accommodations for passengers, and the addition to her complement was something serious.

Captain Lund, the doctor, Mr.
Anassoff, and myself were guests of her captain.