or less systematic reconnoitring of new ground for
future occupation. The Russian merchants gave
credit to the Kazaks, who came to Semipolatinsk,
and were consequently obliged to go on the steppe
to collect their debts, being allowed to do so, however,
only by permission of the chief of the Siberian
line, who, when permitting the traders to go, says
Zemlianitsin, “ invariably entrusted them with some
secret inquiries regarding the condition of the steppe
people.”
These merchants always took with them, if only for
current expenses, an inconsiderable quantity of Russian
goods, which helped towards the growth of a trade
that afterwards developed largely. In 1807 new regulations
were issued for the further extension of export
trade. For some time, however, the Semipolatinsk
authorities endeavoured to confine the barter trade to
the new exchange, opposing so strongly the going of
merchants on to the steppe as sometimes to take away
their account-books, declaring also that the continued
stay of the merchants and their agents afforded opportunities
for intrigues with the Kirghese women, that
led to quarrels and pillaging.
In Semipolatinsk a frontier court was established in
1800 for the trial of cases with reference to the plundering
of caravans by the nomads, where sat, side by
side with the Russian commandant, Kazak elders.
This court either cited the offenders and decided the
affair leniently, or, having seized the culprits, exposed
them to the severity o f the Russian criminal laws.
Thus the Russians were compelled to allow their new
subjects to feel the weight of their arm, as well as to
taste the sweets of their clemency. Ten Cossacks
were supplied to each caravan proceeding southwards
through Bukhtarminsk or Semipolatinsk ; and under
the command of General Glasenap, that is from
1808-19, 10 regiments of the line and 9 batteries of
field artillery were employed in subduing the Kirghese
marauders, who were at last so reduced to subjection
that not only caravans but even solitary travellers
could proceed safely through the country.
Somewhat later, parts of the steppe west of the
Irtish began to be brought under Russian administration.
In 1827 Cossacks were stationed in Kokchetaf
(17 years before the formation of the okrug of that name)
and Karkaraly, and about five years later the okrugs
of Akmolinsk and Baian-Aul were formed. In the
latter a smelting foundry for silver was built in 1849,
but things did not proceed to the permanent satisfaction
apparently of the Tchubarpaly clan of Kirghese,
who in 1855 wandered away from Karkaraly to the
mountains of Khokand, whilst in 1838 Akmolinsk had
to be vigorously defended by fourscore Cossacks.
The Russians had now set their faces aggressively
towards the unknown south— unknown, that is, to
Europeans. As far back as 1793 a ray of scientific light
had been thrown on the mysterious Sungarian country
by the Russian botanist Sivers, who penetrated to the
Tarbagatai mountains, whither no scientific traveller
followed him for 40 years. About the same time,
however, the mining engineer Sneghireff penetrated to
Chuguchak searching for gold ; and in the archives of
Omsk are said to be preserved documents recording a
wonderful journey accomplished by a gentleman named
Madatof, who left Semipolatinsk in the early years of
this century, passed Issik-Kul, crossed the Celestial
Mountains, and penetrated safely to India. In 1821
Bubeninof, a merchant, went from Semipolatinsk to