mark of diftindtion that could be conferred upon a fiibjedL
To thefe was added a fum of money, and a promife of
fpeedy and effectual affiftance.;
Meanwhile Yermac, notwithftanding the inferior number
of his troops, did nor remain inactive within the
fortrefs of Sibir. He defeated all attempts of Kutchum
Chan to recover his crown; and took his principal general
prifoner. He made occafional inroads-into the adjacent
provinces, and extended his conquefts up to the
fource of the river Taffda on one fide, and on the other
as far as the diftrict which lies upon the river Oby .above
its j unction with the Irtillu
■ Receives a "Re- At length'the proraifed fucconrs arrived at Sibir. They
inforcement of - O r
:»oap“ confifted of five hundred Ruffians, under the command
of prince Bolkolky, who was appointed wayvode or governor
of Siberia. Strengthened by this reinforcement,
Yermac continued his excurfions on all fides with his
nfual activity ; and gained feveral bloody victories over
different princes, who were imprudent enough to affent
their independence.
In one of thefe expeditions he laid fiege to Kullara,
a fmall fortrefs upon the banks of the Irtiffi, which Hill
belonged to Kutchum Chan : but he found it fo bravely
defended by that monarch, that all his efforts to carry it
by ftorm proved ineffectual. Upon his return to Sibir
he
he was followed at fome diftance by that prince, who
hung unperceived upon his rear and was prepared, to
feize.any fortunate moment of attack which might occur;. ■
nor was it long before a favourable opportunity prefented
itfelf. The Ruffians to the number of about three hundred
lay negligently polled in a fmall ifland, formed by
two. branches of the Irtilh. The night \vas oblcure and SurPri('e<i '-j
. Kytchum-.
rainy ; and the troops, who were fatigued with a longChan*
march, repofed themfelves without fulpician of danger.
Kutchum Chan,„apprifed of their,fituation, filently advanced
at midnight with a felecl body of troops;, and having forded
the river, came with fuch rapidity upon the Ruffians, as to
preclude the ufe of their arms. In the darknefs and
Gonfufion o f the night,, the latter, were cut to, pieces
almoft without oppofition and fell a refiftlefs prey to
tiiofe adverfaries,. whom they had been accuftomed'to conquer
and defpife.V The maffacre was fo univerfal, that
only one man is recorded to have efcaped, and to have
brought the news of this cataftrophe to his countrymen
at Sibir..
Yermac himfelf periihed in the rout, though he did Deatl,of
not fall by the fword of the enemy* In all the hurry
of furprife,- he was not fo much infedled with the general
panic, as to forget his ufual intrepidity, whichfeemed
to be encreafed rather than abated by the danger of his
prefent fituation. After many defperate adts of heroifm,
he