C ^n ] 



CHAP. I. 



Firji irruption of the Ruffians into Siberia — Second inroad 

 — Yermac driven by the T'zar of Mufcovy from the 

 Volga^ retires to Orel a Ruffian Settlement — Enters 

 Siberia with an army of Coffiicks — His progrefs and 

 exploits — Defeats Kutclium Chan — conquers his dO' 

 minions — cedes them to the T'zar — receives a rein- 

 forcenient of Ruffian troops — is furprized by Kutchum 

 Chan — his defeat a7id death — Veneration paid to his 

 memory — Ruffian troops evacuate Siberia — re-enter 

 and conquer the zvhok country — their progrefs flopped by 

 the Chinefe. 



on 

 ans 



SIBERIA was fcarcely known to the Ruffians before '^"^ ^""P'' 

 ■' oftheRuMia 



the middle of the fixteenth century *. For although |",Xr'li"'* 



an expedition was made, under the reign of Ivan Vaffi- vuiiiiK°vitcri. 



lievitch I. into the North Weftern Parts of that country, 



as far as the river Oby, by which feveral Tartar tribes 



were rendered tributary, and fome of their chiefs brought 



priibners to Molcow ; yet this incurfion bore a greater 



refeml>laiice to the defultory inroads of barbarians, than 



to any permanent eftabliffiment of empire by a civilized 



nation. Indeed the effecfts of that expedition foon va- 



* S. Fw. G. VI. p. 199 — 211. Fir, Sib. Gef. Torn,!. 



A a niffied ; 



