mong the Russian authorities. Pashkof, the Governor of
Yeniseisk started on the 18th of July, 1656, for the Amoor at the head
of 400 Cossacks; in 1658, he built a fort which was the beginning of
Nerchinsk. It was 1662 before he returned to Yeniseisk.

Unfortunately the Russians came into a clash with the Manchus, at that
time in full vigor; they had made themselves masters of China, and
their emperor, Kang-hi, was an exceptionably able and strong man. He
did not want war, but on the other hand he did not intend to suffer an
injustice.

When the government at Moscow became aware that further encroachment
would entail a war with China an ambassador, Feodor Golovin, was
dispatched to come to an understanding. He left Moscow on January 20,
1686, but took his time. Kang-hi had been notified, and ambassadors
were sent from Peking to meet Golovin. The Russian met the Chinese at
Nerchinsk on the 22d August, 1689, and on the 27th the terms of a
treaty were agreed upon. Two days later the treaty was exchanged.
Russia was compelled to withdraw from the Amoor. After this no changes
in the boundary line occurred until after the year 1847.

In 1707, Kamtschatka was annexed to Russia, and two years later the
first prisoners were sent to Siberia. They were prisoners of war and
natives of conquered European provinces who objected to Muscovite
rule. About 14,000 persons were sent the first year, but many died
from the hardships suffered on the road.

Besides Siberia, Russia in Asia consists of:

I. The Caucasus. It was Peter the Great who, in 1722, invaded (p. 264)
Dagestan and seized the greater part of this territory. We have seen
how the mountaineers defended their liberty under Schamyl,[11] and it
was left to his son Alexander to annex it and make it part of the
Russian Empire. Including Trans Caucasia, it covers an area of 180,843
square miles,--or about that of Colorado and Utah, and contains a
population of 8,350,000.

[Footnote 11: See p. 209]

II. The Kirghiz Steppe. This is a country of plains, unfit for
agriculture and still inhabited by nomads who live in tents and wander
with their flocks over the 755,793 square miles of territory. They are
divided into three hordes or families, one of which surrendered to
Anne Ivanovna in 1734. In 1869 the Kirghiz, together with the Cossacks
of the Don, revolted, but in the autumn of 1870, order was restored.
For administrative purposes, it is divided into: