The Washington union., 1857-08-15
DEPARTMENT. NEWS.
srArE DEPARrMENT.

DEPARTMENT..
Russia IL Asa. yaelia and Ma-pa tschhs.Ihe follow
ing extract is from the communication of an intelip
gentleman who is travelling in Russia. The letter il
dated at Irxutsk, March 4, 1857
Since my last Of January 81, 1857, have visited Kv
acht and Mia-mat tschin These places situated five
hundred and fifty versts to the southeast of this place In
north latitude 5lo az and east longitude 1862 AS from
Greenwich the one, Kyachta, (iussian in Siberia the
other Mia mat tschin (Chnese) Ia Mongolia on Ii.
northern edge of the desert OF cobl kyaehta properk
enclosed by wooden walls on fences having gates and 4
military guard prevent smuggling, and only separated
from Mia mat-tsehin by open space, re-shot acO
common TO BOTH neutral ground,
Three versts distant is 1royscosarf and twenty two
yerts further on the seenga river is ousc Kyacha con-
tanning in all population of five thousand and five hun
,ircd The population Of Miamat-tschn is three thou
sand within the wallis, Chinese ON the outside Mou
cal Tartar town of considerable size besides the country
on both sides the river Is settled producing cattle grain
horses sheep and other objects necessary to the consinp
ton of all engaged in the Russo Chinese commerce The
round value of trade, according TO the best information
is thirty millions Of rubes year The official return i
different The conraband trade is admitted TO be great
on all sides There is also another place to the west
where much finds its way into Russia The distance
from Kyachta Pekn is varously estimated from twelve
to sixteen hundred versts This distance is accom-
plished by post in thirty days horseback four
times year the last post arrived a few days before
reached Kyacha. There had been a.great earthquake
Northwest China destroying city and thirty thousand
people Bread was scarce in sections there being
famine No information of the bombardment of Canton
by the English reported in the French papers had
reached Pekn All quiet in Northern China, the re-
beion not being felt there Some disturbances re-
ported among the Mougals of the West The export Of
tea by way of Pein the Mougal frontier city Of Hol
kan on its way TO Russia, had been much mpeded In
consequence of the exactons of the authorities which
having its influence prices at Mia-mat- tschin
but much tea finding its way by the Yellow sea
through Corea and Mantchoorice, to Holkan which
is three hundred verss to the northwest of Pein and
xlAD D.. IL
At this time the transportation of the merchandise is
mostly by carts, cattle cheap and plenty
in Mongolia and the cost much less than by cane and
dromedarics, as formerly, though not expeditions
Dromedares in Mia mat tschn worth thirty rubes
asked driver in attendance number of them how
far the heetes could travel in day He answered. two
hundred vests these for the saddle These drom.
earies of the Baetrian Bucharian breed and en-
dure cold equal to the horse the frost 200 Of
Reaumur when saw them, and their faces and nosls
covered with frost from their breath This fact may be
of some practical importance in the Introduction of cames
lately into Texas by the government for our west
frontier the whole country being covered with
in the region of Ma-mat tschin seemed to be mped
iment to their The merchants of Kyachta treated
me with great consideration and unbounded hospitality
AT public dinner on the day Of my departure, the
Golovah head of the merchants after s.tle health
of the Emperor gave "the health of the President Of
the United States which drunk standing with
cheers In acknowledging the compliment, told them
of the advantages which must to their country by
opening the knowledge and of it to America
by the Amoor; that if they would but lend helping
hand, and our commerce desirable, they would see
in few years, their commerce very much augmented
that the mighty agent, steam, would unite the waters Of
the great Eastern with the waters of Siberia by
way of the Amoor river, and that instead of tray
ersing over six thousand versts by land, their
chandise would he deposited by steam at their
doors. The American character is highly apprecil-
ted here, and our people and countrymen are high
ly spoken of by the well informed The ways Of trade
here arc fixed being handed down from father to
son q n alt
is thought Of many vast fortunes have been made in
this trade the secrets of which like heirooms an
cient families In fact the whole trade is great acrd
each merchant having his peculiar knowledge which
he communicates This may be conceived Of In
a country remote, where there public modes
of conveyance newspapers publications of trade
business of any kind and the intercourse being be-
tween two such people, and the language employed be-
ing mostly the Mouga tongue it is not strange there
FORE that little has been known in relation thereto
BY the mode of posting which prevails in Russia
Pekn could be reached from Kyachta in eight days,
by couriers in five days merchandise occupies forty
five to sixty days from Holkan to Mamat tschn thence
to Moscow from four to twelve months according to the
of the year. cost of transportation was in
Mia-mat- tschn frequently, and invited to witness
the feast of Lanterns observed by the Chinese The
dinner given by the chief of the city, he Zargo
tschay followed in the evening by eight other sts
the residences of the first and wealthiest merchants
1t was curious affair; but it gave good oppor
tunity to much of their interior life and habits and
to guess at something of their commerce and wealth.
The city Is well builtn fact there is the exhibition of
considerable wealth and luxury in their houses and ap-
pointinents. shown large warehouses filled with
tea for the Russian merchant in exchange his skins
and CLOTH perhaps gold and sc, for it is said
by persons that, instead of one-third being paid
in silver established by the treaty of Kyachta two
thirds of silver and gold finds its way into the strong
boxes of the Chinese merchant, thnt silver and
gold bear high premium in that region. In fact
there is no circulating medium in Siberia but cop
per and the Russian credit notes. The commerce
of Siberia must become very interesting to the United
States to which must be added that of Mantchooria Mon
golia, and Northern China, of which we now know
nothing One artcle--for instance, cotton fabrics
might be introduced to the amount Of millions yearly
Then there many products of these countries that
could be received in exchange at much advantage But
this must be done through the Amoor and its auents
hardly be estimated what revolution in trade and
be effected in this region the fondnes Of
the people for uxues and foreign merchandise being very
great If the of procuring them facilitated
and prices cheapened, in few years trade of many mil
lions could be effected
shall leave here the 10th inst for Cheta the high
est point Of navigation in the Siberian waters of the
Amoor.
a INTERIOR DEPARTMENT..
Remoral Of Land Office The land Office for the north.
western land district in Minnesota has been removed BY
order of the President from 0ibwa to Otterta city, the
former location being deemed unsuitable