CONTENTS.
CH A P T E R III.
FROM THE URALS TO OMSK.
PAGE
Books overtaken: their numbers, kinds, and languages.— Acquaintanceships
renewed at Tiumen.— Success of former efforts.
Books for future supply of exiles.— Testimonies to their thankfulness
for Scriptures distributed.— Final equipment, and
introductions.— New Siberian steamer.— M. Ignatoff’ s generosity.—
River voyage.— Sale of books on deck. Interview with
Governor of Tobolsk.— Visit to cemetery and Archbishop.—
Voyage up the Irtish.— Cheap p r o v i s i o n s .— Fellow-passengers.
— Arrival at Omsk . . • • — .........................................
CH A P T E R IV .
THE GOVERNMENT GENERAL OF THE STE PPE AND THE
PROVINCE OF AKMOLtNSK.
“ Russian Central A s ia ” defined.— Its dimensions, boundaries,
and divisions.— The government general of the Step pe: its
dimensions, hydrography, surface, and vege tation; its population
and communications.— Province of Akmolinsk: its
surface, rivers, climate, and administrative divisions; its
minerals, agricultural produce, and cattle.— The Russian
population and medical staff.— Towns of the province, their
industries, and houses.— Conflagrations.;—’Distillation of ardent
spirits.— Crime . . . • • ■ • • • • 42
CH A P T E R V .
FROM OMSK TO SEMIPOLA TINSK.
Description of town of Omsk.— Cause of its decline.— Schools.—
Visits to inhabitants and institutions.— Dinner with Governor.—
Protestant pastor and distribution of books.— Departure southwards.—
Cossack stations.— Summer appearance of steppe.—
Arrival at Pavlodar.— Scriptures sold to Muhammadans, advice
to contrary notwithstanding.— Cheap provisions.— Roads to
mining districts. — Recruits on the march.— Meeting the
Governor-General.— Skirting the Irtish.— Change of landscape,
— Improved fauna and flora.— Arrival at Semipolatmsk . ■ 59
CH A P T E R V I.
THE PROVINCE OF SEMIPOLA T IN SK : IT S NATURAL
FEATURES.
Dimensions of province: its surface, river basins, mountains, and
passes.— The River Irtish : its scenery, tributaries, banks, and
floods.— Zaisan lake and its Cossack fisheries - F a u n a of
banks.— Geology of neighbourhood and mmerals.-Mmeral
spring's. Forests of the province.— W ild and domesticated
1 animals.— Towns of the province, and uyezds, with their ^ <
populations * . , •
CH A P T E R V I I .
THE PROVINCE OF SEMIPOLA T INSK : IT S ECONOMY.
■Lfinuteness of Russian provincial statistics.— Governor’ s report
for 1881.— Agriculture and irrigation.— Cereals grown, and
by whom : quantity sown and reaped — Cossack gardening.—
Cattle breeding.— Agriculture.— Facilities for development of
trade, and factories.— Gold mining.— Mechanics and artisans.
-jrade at fairs and with China.— Population according to
religions and ranks.— Marriages, e tc.— Number of ratepayers.
— Location of population . . . • • • v . g o
CH A P T E R V I I I .
I THE PROVINCE O F SEMIPOLA TINSK: IT S ADMINISTRATION.
[¡Taxes, what, by whom paid, and amount. Excise duties and
revenue from lands.— Local rates.— Liabilities to personal
service — Cossack service.— Recruiting statistics.— Houses and
public buildings.— Expenditure of civil authorities.— Military
buildings.— Fires and fire brig ad es.^ Pub lic health, medical
officers, hospitals and diseases.B-Violent and accidental
deaths.— Vaccina tion.— Central Asian statistics and their
■vxrpaV n n in t s H . . . •
CH A P T E R IX .
I HISTORICAL SK E T CH OF THE RUSSIAN OCCUPATION OF THE
IRTISH.
■General history of Central A s ia .— Russian occupation of the Irtish.
— Yermak’ s victories, conquests, and death.— Submission of
Barabinski Tatars.— Consolidation of Russian power by arms,
mediation, and trade.— Ba iko f’ s mission through Sungaria.—
History of Kalmuks : their opposition and submission.— Origin
of forts along the Irtish.— Aggressive designs of Peter the
Great.— Treaties with the Kalmuks.— Extinction of Sungarian
kingdom.— Russian frontier fortified against the Chinese.—
Trading places of Bukhtarminsk, Ust-Kamenogorsk, and
Semipolatinsk.— Growth of commerce with Chinese.— Russian
administration of new territory . . . . . . . 120