The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-30 00:00:00

LIT.E.RA2"CIRE.

Iravels in the Regions of the Upper and _Lower
Amoor and Russian Acquisitions on the Confines of
China. By Thomas William Atkinson, F.G.R.S.,
F.G.S. Hurst and Blackett.
A false idea is generally entertained of the cha-
racter of Siberia; most people consider the name
to be synonymous with a penal settlement, in fact,
a Russian Botany Bay, a land of eternal frost
where political offenders and villains of every dye
are sent to expiate their crimes and furnish the
Royal Mint with mineral wealth. A closer in-
spection, however, reveals rich valleys and fertile
plains, only occasionally varied by arid deserts.
To the south extends the rich valley of the Amoor,
which is, in fact, the northern boundary of the
Celestial Empire, to which it lately belonged. The
Russians have for upwards of one hundred and
sixty years been gradually encroaching on this
country, but it was not until the year 1854 that
the grand stroke was made.
EXPLORING THM AMOOR.
Some geographers say that the Olson must be considered
the source of the Amoor, which, when united with the
Ingoda, forms the Shilka. But lam inclined to give the
Keroulun the honour of being parent to this great river of
Asia. The same opinion is held by many eminent mining
engineers, who have lived long in Nertchinsk, and have
thoroughly explored the country. The Keroulan and
Argoun have a course of about 1,000 miles, whereas the,
course of the Onon and Shilka does not exceed 750 miles.
It was on the bank of the Keroulun that Geughiz first saw'
the light ; many historical events are associated with its
name, and great battles have been fought in the valleys.
From 1689 to 1854, the junction of the Argoun and
Shilka was the most easterlypoint of the Russian empire
in the region of the Amoor. But during all this period of
165 years the frontier Cossackswere constantly penetrating
into the country on the north of the Amoor; and many
wild stories have been handed down of the contests these
hardy hunters had with the Manjour race. Besides which,
many convicts have escaped from the mines and descended-
the Amor, only to be captured by the people on it. banks.
, An exile escaped this way, and succeeded in passing all the
I Chinese pests in a canoe or small boat, by keeping to the
north side of the liver. He lived on the produce of hie
rifle, enduring great hardships, and finally reached the
mouth of the Amoor, in the hope of getting away in some
vessel. In this he was disappointed, and, after all chance
of escape had vanished, started on his return. He fell
in with a party of Tcungouz sable hunters, and
spent the hunting season with them. After which
they crossed the country to the upper part of the Zeya, and
ultimately brought him to one of the fairs attended by the
Cossacks. He was recognised by his countrymen, and
carried back to the mines of Nertchinsk, after an absence
of more than eighteen months.
The information which he had acquired was considered
of so much value that the chief got his sentence remitted,
on condition of his taking another journey to gain more
knowledge of the region. At the season of the yermak he
was provided with powder, lead, and a few other neces-
saries, and accompanied the Cossacks to the fair, in the
hope of meeting his old companions, the Toungouz. They
were there, delighted to see him, and he having been pro-
vided with a packet of powder for each man, was again ad-
mitted as a brother, and invited to accompany them to
hunt the sable. At the end of three days the fair broke up,
when he said goodbye to his countrymen, and stetted with'
the Toungous on their homeward journey. This time he
acquired a knowledge of the southern side of the Yablonoi,
and discovered a short route to the sable hunting ground,
far down towards the mouth of the Amoor. Having spent
another season sable hinting, he returned with his compa-
nions to the fair, and then to the Zavod, bringing much
valuable information about the different people dwelling
on the banks of the Amoor, and opened up a road
into a valuable fur-pi educing country. This exile was
sent a third time with instructions to, penetrate into the
regions on the south side of the Amoor during the sable-
hunting season, and return in time to accompany the
Toungouz to the fair. They, however, arrived, but he was
not with them, nor was he ever heard of afterwards. After
him several convicts escaped down the river, but no one
returned to tell his story, and it is supposed that they were
killed. In 1848 it was decided to explore the Amoor, when
an officer, with four Cossacks, were sent in the spring of
that year on an expedition down the river in a boat. They
were armed and provisioned, and it was hoped that this
small party might be permitted to pass unmolested. He
also carried instruments for making observations, a tele-
scope, and a quantity of gold coin. It was well known that
a great jealousy existed among the Chinese authorities;
that they always endeavoured to stop the Cossacks pur-
suing game into their territory, and it was only the dread
of their deadly rifles that enabled them to escape from
superior numbers. The officer was instructed to avoid
coming in contact with the authorities if possible; to ex-
amine their towns and villages from a distance, but not to
enter them. He was desired to conciliate the people on ever/
opportunity, and he carried various articles for presents. It
was expected that this party would accomplish the object,
if permitted to proceed, in about nine months, and if
stopped, that they would speedily return.
Time passed on, and nine months had elapsed ; but there
were no tidings of the officer and his men. During the
winter the Cossacks inquired from all the Orotchons who
attended the fairs, if these men had been seen, but no one
' could give any tidings about thorn. The Toungouz sable
hunters were promised a reward if they could find them, or
learn if they were detained by the Chinese; but all effort,
proved fruitless. In 1852 an application was made by the
governor of Kiachta, to the Chinese governor in Onegao
stating that an officer and four men had deserted, carrying
away with them a large sum in gold and miveral instrn:
monts ' - that they had descended the Amoor, and Is
believed that they had been captured by the Chine
officers and were detained in one of the towns. If so, the
Russian Government desired that they should be given liPt
either at Kiachta, or at any of the ports on the frontier.
This produced no results, and I have good reason to be-
lieve that they have never been heard of.
The Governor-General of Oriental Siberia determined to
explore the Amoor, and in 1854 a great expedition was or-
ganised by him for that object. It was on such a scale that
the Chinese could neither check his progress nor pre-
vent him taking possession of the north bank of the
river. In less than six weeks the whole of this vast region,
including the country between the Amoor and the Russian
frontier to the north of Yablonoi, had changed masters; it
had now fallen into strong hands, and before the end of the
year the entire Chinese army could not have dislodged the
small body of Cossacks placed in position. General Moe-
ravieff had seized on all the points which his keen eye told
him were necessary for the security of the new acquisition.
Russia has now got possession of the great water-course,
and the only one through which access from the sea to the
vast plains and mountain districts of Central Asia can be
attained—the Lena, the Yenissey, and the Ob being sealed
in the Arctic Ocean. This is a great water-way, extending
more than 2,000 miles into the eastern portion of the em-
pire with its outlet into the Pacific. It will also open up
water communication into the vast region bordering on the
Sea of Japan, and up to the great deserts of Gobi. It is the
commencement of a new era for Siberia ; foreign products
will flow in by this channel, and Siberian products will
pass through it to the ocean, and thence to other nation..
Many of the resources of the country that have long lain
dormant will now be called into active operation, and an
industrious and intelligent population will spring up where
ignorance and indolence have long hold sway."
Some idea of the extent of this increase to the
already vast territory of Russia may be gained,
when the reader is informed that it stretches
from 44 deg. to 53 deg. N. lat., from 51 to 143 E.
long., comprising both an arctic and tropical
temperature, vast mineral wealth, inexhaustible
herds of horse and cattle and sheep, and peopled
by bold, intelligent inhabitants. The Amour is
the artery of this fine country, the only high-
road to the sea, its connecting link with the
world. The long winter at its mouth is a great
drawback, there being only five months in the
year when it is open for navigation, for although
the river runs through a temperate country it
turns short up to the north before it de-
bouchcs into the Strait of Tartary, between
let. 53 deg. and 55 deg. Castries Bay will even-
tually become the port of this noble river. It lies
considerably to the south of Nieolasofsk, and the ice
only lasts for three months. The river here rune
beside a lake, which almost reaches to the coast,
from which a canal might be cut, or other means of
communication opened. Notwithstanding that
Russia is to some extent even yet an uncivilised
nation, as the traveller will find when he has pens'
trated any considerable distance into the interior,
still the Government is always active at head-
obtain effi-
ean
co
or
nthsi-
deaesrt.
The deve-
quarters, and contrives in general to
Cient agents in the remoter districts.
s atio nanadn ds
supersti-
tion. sciencerst
arelop maesn
yett of thebut i mineraln
their
infancy,resources
nrah„
great good in this
of this wealthy district
utshtee elapse
inhabitantsbefore
ablecyil timee
a must
e
iwstoorrky oOfTithe Amoor river
Siberia, and in
to shake
iro.ff tAhtektrammels ofd ignorance
one
this,c us eh
is bothm br
ey
hie own personal experiences
and country,by :O ,
This volume is of the more value
and convictions. a atpresent
since it is the only on , d in our possession,
ehxitsenfsoirvraeehr
in which the author is la ependent of foreign aid
and biassed native historians, and although he has
collected many
national local traditions, he has tran-
scribed them not as a history but for the purpose of
showing the character of the people to whom they'
belong. Mr. Atkinson has contrived to be on most
friendly terms with the Imperial Government, and
has had carte blanche for all his proceedings, a favour
not often extended to foreigners by that irrespon-
sible and despotic Government. This favour has
not, however, influenced his remarks on Russian
administration, with which he, in many instances,
finds considerable fault. The narrative of his ad-
ventures is hihly interesting, and while imparting
valuable information, the author contrives to keep up
a separate interest in himself and his companions.
The following mode of concocting literally a dish
of tea is, we think, new to most English readers

BRICK T 13.1.
Soon a large bowl of brick tea was handed to me. A°l
this is a beverage not generally known to the ladies of
England, it may be useful to tell them how it is concocted.
Brick tea is a solid mass, about eleven inches long, ell
inches wide, and one and a-half inches thick, and is made
from the gatherings and the refuse of the tea crop. Instead
of the leaves and stalks being dried, they are made wet,
mixed with bullock's blood, and pressed into a monk!,
when the mass becomes more solid than a brick. When
it
is used, a man takes an axe and chops off some small pieces ;
these are bruised between two stones, rubbed in the banal:
and then thrown into the cauldron. A bowl of " smitanke
(sour clotted cream) is added, with a little salt, and a hand"
ful of millet meal ; these ingredients are boiled for half-an"
hour, and then served up hot. Before handing it to the
guests, small portions are taken out of the cauldron wlth
spoon, and thrown to the four winds, as an offering
gods. I cannot say that the beverage is either bad or par-
ticularly Wean, still hunger has often caused me to make a'
very good meal of it; but I think it is rather tea soap thall
tea."
The Kirghis, or inhabitants of the raolintsill
to the

dish
TS

In tails