Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-03-24

Pursuers. AND this was less difficult than might
have been supposed. Not many miles in the
rear was body of we'll appointed cavalry, with
strong detacment of Artillery who always at
tended the Emperor's motions. These were
hastily summoned. Meantime it occurred to
the train of courtiers that some danger might
arise to the Emperor's person from the proximity
OF lawless enemy; and accordingly he was
induced TO retire little to the rear. 1t soon ap-
peared, however, to those who watched the va
pory shroud in the desert, that it's motion was
not such as would argue the direction Of the
march to be exactly upon the pavilion, but rather
IN diagonal line, making an angle of full forty
hive degrees with that line in which the Imperial
cor'ege had been standing, and therefore with
distance continually increasing. Those who
knew the country judged that the Kalmucks
were making for a large fresh. water lake about
seven or eight miles distant; they were right;
and to that point the Imperial cavalry was Or
dered up; and it was precisely in that spot, and
about three hours after and at monday on the
9th of September, that the great Exodus of the
Kalmuck Tartars was brought to final close,
and with such memorable and helllsh fury, as
formed an appropriate windlng-up to an expedi'
ton in all its parts and details so awfuly disas-
trous. The Emperor was not personally present,
or at least he saw whatever he did see from too
great distance to discriminate it's individual
features but he records in his written memor-
al the report made to him of this scene by some
Of his own officers.
The lake of Tengis near the frghtful desert
of Kobi, lay in hollow amongst hills of mod
crate height, ranging generally from two 10
three thousand feet high. About IL o'clock in
the forenoon, the Chinese Cavalry reached the
summit of a road which led through cradle
like dip in the mountains right down upon the
margin Of the lake. From this pass, elevated
about 1000 feel above tho level of the water,
they continued to descend, BY very winding
and difficult road, for an hour and a half; and
during the whole Of this descent they we're COM
PEELED 10 be inactive spectators Of the fsndish
spectacle below. The Kalmucks reduced by
this time from about six hundred thousand souls
to two hundred thousand, and after enduring for
two months aud halt the mlsenes we have pre-
vlousIy descrlbed-outrageo heat. f,mne, and
the destroying scilnltar of the Krgnises and
Boshkirs, had for the last ten days been traver,-
ing hideous desert where no vestiges were
seen OF vegetation, and no drop Of water could
be found. Camels and men were already SO
overadeD, that 1t was mere impossi ,ilty that
they should carry toleruble sufficlency for the
passage Of this irightful wilderness. On the 8h
day the wretched allowance. which had been
continually Diminished. failed entirely and thus
for two days of insuppotabe fatigue the horrors
of thirst had been carried 10 the fercest extrem-
lty. Upon this last morning, at the sight Of the
hills and the forest scenery, which announced
to those who acted as guides the neIghborhood
of the lake of TengIs, all the people rushed
along with maddening eagerness to the anticl.
pated solace The day grew hotter and hotter,
the people more and more exhausted. and grad
ually, in the general rush forwards to the lake
all discipline and command were ost-all at
tempts to preserve rear guard were neglected
the wild Bashkirs rode in amongst the encun-
bered people, and slaughtered them by whole
sale, and almost without resistance. Screams
tumultuous shouts proclaimed the progress Of
the massacre : but none heeded-n ne halted
all alike, pauper Or NOBLE continued to rush on
!, with maniacal haste to the waters-all with faces
blackenod by the heat preying upon the liver
and with tongue dropping from the mouth. sst'
The Baskir was affected by the same misery
3 and manifested the same symptoms of his mis-
, cry, as the wretched Kalmuck; the murdere
was oftentimes in the same frantic misery as hi;
s murdered vlctim-many indeed IAN ordinary eff
s feet of heat) in both nations had become lunati'
s and in this state, whilst mere multitude AM
/. condensation OF bodies alone opposed any checI
d to the destroying scimitar and the tramplmG
r hooi, the lake was reached and TO that tn
J, whole vast body Of enemies rushed, and togehe
continued to rush, forgeful of all things at tina
moment but of one almighty instinct. This ab
s sorption of the thoughts in one maddenimg ap
: petite lasted for single minute: but in tn
/, next arose the final scene of parting vengeance
Far and wide the waters of the solitary lake wer
. Instantly dyed red with blood and gsre; her
y rode party OF savage Bashkirs, hewing Of
l. Al IN L.xlu Al.
9 ers's scythe; there stood unarmed Kalmucks il
8 death grappe with their detested foes, both "
! to their middle in water, and oftent'nes botl
Y sinking together below the surface, from weak
: ness or from struggles, and perishng in eacl
. others arms. Did the Bashkirs al any poin
r collec: into cluster tor the purpose of giving
= impetus to the assault? Thither were the cam
}. els driven in ielcely by those who rode them
s generally women or boys; and even these que
}. creatures we're forced into share in this carn
d val Of murder, by tramping down as many a
n they could strike prostrate with the lash Of the
e fore legs. Every moment the water grew NOR
J. polluted; and yet every moment fresh myriad
cane up to the lake, rushed in, not able to resis
e their frantic thirst, and swallowing large draush'
v of water, vs,bly contaminated with the blood ,
Q their slaughtered companions. Wheresoeve
;. the lake was shallow enough to allow Of Inc
,s raising their heads above WATER there for score
of acres were to be seen all lorms Of ghastly ea
l. Of agonzing struggles, of spasm, of convuIsio
o Of mortal conflict, death, and the fear OF death
, revenge and the lunacy of revenge-ha,red, an
n the frenzy of halred-unti the neutral spect'
q tors, Of whom there were not q lew, now d.
q scending the eastern side Of the lake. at leng,
averted their eyes in horror. This horror, whic
!, seemed incapable Of further addition. was, how
= ever increased by an unexpected incident. Tt