New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-03
SIBERIA.

The Asiatic possessions of Russis, inclosed be-
tween the Ursl Mountains, the North Pacific
Ocean, the North Pole and Chinese Tsrtary, are
generally called Siberia. This whole region is
divided, for administrative purposes, into two
psrts-Weste,n and Eastern Sberis-esch with
several counties or departments, under the con-
troll Of special Governor General. Siberia is
watered by some large rivers-ihe 1rtysh, the
Oby, the Jennissy, and the Lena-sll issuing from
the Aitsi Mountains, and debouchiag in the Polar
OCEAN. They are nayigable nearly through thea
whole extent; but being frozen seven or eight
months during the year, and trayersing regions
comparatively uninhsbiisble, no great use 10 de-
rived from facilities which they would otherwise
offer.
The population scattered over Siberia amounts
TO over 600 900, nearly sixseyenshs Of which are
Russisn-the natives being of Mongoliao Finnish
and Komscb .tkaL descent, the latter called Y skoua
by TIE Russians. Ayerse, almost all, to agri-
culture, they are nomsdic hunters or fishermen.
The conques. of Siberia was made in the sixteenth
century, by band Of Cossscks Of the Volgs and
their motley sajuyants, under the lead OF a
certain Yeromak, and these equestrian tribes
became its first European and Russian settlers.
In the course of the seventeenth century, and
more especially of the eghtt III, the Cars began
TO trsnsport thisber conyicss and criminals
The fret colonists Of this character were the var
ious dssenters from the Russian Orthodox
Church. Whole villages or communities were
thus transported, receiving Ia different parts of
Siberia vast tracts Of lard. These colOnists
formed communities in tbs same way a. they
were organized in the mother country, having
equal privileges of decentralization with the
crown-peasapts, on paying small tribute to the
Treasury. Their return to European Russia Is
strongly prohibited; bu! they enjoy perfect
liberty Of worship, according to their doctrines
ard ushges. Some Of these sectaIians live accord
ing TO the communism attempted by some
Soc alst theorists. When the riches of the
Al:ai Mountains were first discovered, trans
pOrtation thither 10 the mines took the place Of
capital punishment; this punishment having been
abolished in l74O under the npress Elizabeth.
Disgraced fayorites, official defauiers, and, final
ly, political offenders were sent thither for life
OF for the term of their punishment. Among the
first in the eighteenth century were Menchikof
and Biron-both Of whom had omnipotently ruled
the empire and the ield-Msrshal Monich, and
several others.
At present, transportation TO Siberia is pen
atty administered for all kinds Of crimes and Of
fenses; for burglary, theft smuggling and viola
tons Of the excise. According to the Russian
penal code, these COMBINATIONS are varously
graduated. The punishment is hard labor for
life, or for certain number Of years; after
which the felon become. a coloEist, receiving
land house, and some cattle, and being attached
to some IuT al community or borough, and enjoy.
ing the rights ofthi, class Of inhabitants Smaller
ofenses are punished With transportation for q
le'ser number of years, with the privilege of re:
turning TO Russia. Serfs condemned for any
off,nse whatever never return inso bondage;
ard thus Siberia becomes, to the II least, q land
Of emancipation.
POiSicsl off nders are distTibuted over Siberia
according TO the decision of she sovereign, and of
the courts msrtial BY which they are condemned
Such offenders are generally incorporated into
battalion, forming the corps of the Siberian
army. If the verdict does not define the exact
number Of years Of their service, they remain IN
the army % or 25'years, and then resign to be-
come coloDsts and members Of some community.
Such convict very seldom, and that only through
some extraordinary exception, can be promoted
to she grade of a commissioned officer. Those
not condemned 10 transportation for life, can,
after their term is expired, return to their f.m-
lies. After the instruction 10 st. Petersburg In
lc25, and that in Poland In 1880, many we're sen.
to Siberia for life. Their destination was princ-
pally to the Altai Mountains, where they were
incorporated IN the mining districts into which