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of police； 〃for； allow me to add； sire； that Siberia is a favorable
land for rebellions。〃
〃Do you mean to say。 General； that the exiles would make common
cause with the rebels？〃 exclaimed the Czar。
〃Excuse me； your majesty；〃 stammered the chief of police；
for that was really the idea suggested to him by his uneasy
and suspicious mind。
〃I believe in their patriotism；〃 returned the Czar。
〃There are other offenders besides political exiles in Siberia；〃
said the chief of police。
〃The criminals？ Oh； General； I give those up to you！
They are the vilest； I grant； of the human race。
They belong to no country。 But the insurrection； or rather；
the rebellion； is not to oppose the emperor； it is raised
against Russia； against the country which the exiles have not
lost all hope of again seeingand which they will see again。
No； a Russian would never unite with a Tartar； to weaken；
were it only for an hour； the Muscovite power！〃
The Czar was right in trusting to the patriotism of those whom
his policy kept； for a time； at a distance。 Clemency； which was
the foundation of his justice； when he could himself direct its effects；
the modifications he had adopted with regard to applications for the
formerly terrible ukases； warranted the belief that he was not mistaken。
But even without this powerful element of success in regard to
the Tartar rebellion； circumstances were not the less very serious；
for it was to be feared that a large part of the Kirghiz population
would join the rebels。
The Kirghiz are divided into three hordes； the greater； the lesser；
and the middle； and number nearly four hundred thousand 〃tents；〃
or two million souls。 Of the different tribes some are independent
and others recognize either the sovereignty of Russia or that of
the Khans of Khiva； Khokhand； and Bokhara； the most formidable chiefs
of Turkestan。 The middle horde； the richest； is also the largest； and its
encampments occupy all the space between the rivers Sara Sou； Irtish；
and the Upper Ishim； Lake Saisang and Lake Aksakal。 The greater horde；
occupying the countries situated to the east of the middle one； extends as
far as the governments of Omsk and Tobolsk。 Therefore； if the Kirghiz
population should rise； it would be the rebellion of Asiatic Russia；
and the first thing would be the separation of Siberia； to the east
of the Yenisei。
It is true that these Kirghiz； mere novices in the art of war； are rather
nocturnal thieves and plunderers of caravans than regular soldiers。
As M。 Levchine says； 〃a firm front or a square of good infantry could
repel ten times the number of Kirghiz； and a single cannon might destroy
a frightful number。〃
That may be； but to do this it is necessary for the square of good
infantry to reach the rebellious country； and the cannon to leave
the arsenals of the Russian provinces； perhaps two or three thousand
versts distant。 Now； except by the direct route from Ekaterenburg
to Irkutsk； the often marshy steppes are not easily practicable；
and some weeks must certainly pass before the Russian troops could
reach the Tartar hordes。
Omsk is the center of that military organization of Western Siberia
which is intended to overawe the Kirghiz population。 Here are
the bounds； more than once infringed by the half…subdued nomads；
and there was every reason to believe that Omsk was already in danger。
The line of military stations； that is to say； those Cossack
posts which are ranged in echelon from Omsk to Semipolatinsk；
must have been broken in several places。 Now； it was to be
feared that the 〃Grand Sultans；〃 who govern the Kirghiz
districts would either voluntarily accept； or involuntarily
submit to； the dominion of Tartars； Mussulmen like themselves；
and that to the hate caused by slavery was not united the hate
due to the antagonism of the Greek and Mussulman religions。
For some time； indeed； the Tartars of Turkestan had endeavored；
both by force and persuasion； to subdue the Kirghiz hordes。
A few words only with respect to these Tartars。 The Tartars
belong more especially to two distinct races； the Caucasian and
the Mongolian。 The Caucasian race； which； as Abel de Remusat says；
〃is regarded in Europe as the type of beauty in our species；
because all the nations in this part of the world have sprung from it；〃
includes also the Turks and the Persians。 The purely Mongolian
race comprises the Mongols； Manchoux； and Thibetans。
The Tartars who now threatened the Russian Empire； belonged to
the Caucasian race； and occupied Turkestan。 This immense
country is divided into different states； governed by Khans；
and hence termed Khanats。 The principal khanats are
those of Bokhara； Khokhand； Koondooz； etc。 At this period；
the most important and the most formidable khanat was that
of Bokhara。 Russia had already been several times at war
with its chiefs； who； for their own interests； had supported
the independence of the Kirghiz against the Muscovite dominion。
The present chief； Feofar…Khan； followed in the steps
of his predecessors。
The khanat of Bokhara has a population of two million five
hundred thousand inhabitants； an army of sixty thousand men；
trebled in time of war； and thirty thousand horsemen。
It is a rich country； with varied animal； vegetable；
and mineral products； and has been increased by the accession
of the territories of Balkh； Aukoi； and Meimaneh。 It possesses
nineteen large towns。 Bokhara； surrounded by a wall measuring
more than eight English miles； and flanked with towers；
a glorious city； made illustrious by Avicenna and other
learned men of the tenth century； is regarded as the center
of Mussulman science； and ranks among the most celebrated
cities of Central Asia。 Samarcand； which contains the tomb
of Tamerlane and the famous palace where the blue stone is kept
on which each new khan must seat himself on his accession；
is defended by a very strong citadel。 Karschi； with its
triple cordon； situated in an oasis； surrounded by a marsh
peopled with tortoises and lizards； is almost impregnable；
Is…chardjoui is defended by a population of twenty thousand souls。
Protected by its mountains； and isolated by its steppes；
the khanat of Bokhara is a most formidable state； and Russia
would need a large force to subdue it。
The fierce and ambitious Feofar now governed this corner
of Tartary。 Relying on the other khansprincipally those of Khokhand
and Koondooz； cruel and rapacious warriors； all ready to join
an enterprise so dear to Tartar instinctsaided by the chiefs
who ruled all the hordes of Central Asia； he had placed himself at
the head of the rebellion of which Ivan Ogareff was the instigator。
This traitor； impelled by insane ambition as much as by hate；
had ordered the movement so as to attack Siberia。 Mad indeed
he was； if he hoped to rupture the Muscovite Empire。 Acting under
his suggestion； the Emirwhich is the title taken by the khans
of Bokharahad poured his hordes over the Russian frontier。
He invaded the government of Semipolatinsk； and the Cossacks；
who were only in small force there； had been obliged to retire
before him。 He had advanced farther than Lake Balkhash；
gain