178 CON QJJ EST OF SIBERIA. 



niflied ; nor does any trace of the leaft communication 

 with Siberia again appear in the Ruffian hiftory before 

 the reign of Ivan Vaffihevitch II. At that period Siberia 

 again became an object of attention, by means of one 

 Anika Strogonoff, a Ruffian merchant, who had eflab- 

 lifhed fome falt-works at Solvytfhegodfkaia, a town in the 

 government of Archangel. 



ifoffuades°^°' This perfon carried on a trade of barter with the in- 

 pie of ilberk. habitants of the North- Weftern parts of Siberia, who 

 brought every year to the abovementioned town large 

 quantities of the choiceft furs. Upon their return to 

 their country Strogonoff was accuftomed to fend with them 

 fome Ruffian merchants, who croffed the mountains, 

 and traded with the natives. By thefe means a con- 

 fiderable number of very valuable furs were procured at 

 an eafy rate, in exchange for toys and other commodi- 

 ties of trifling value. 



This traffic was continued for feveral years, without 

 any interruption ; during which Strogonoff rapidly 

 amaffed a very confiderable fortune *. At length the 

 Tzar Ivan Vaffilievitch II. forefeeing the advantages 

 which would accrue to his fubjeds, from eftabliffiing a 

 more general and regular commerce with thefe people, 



* S. R. G. VI. p. 220—223. Fif. Sib. Gef. p. 182. 



determined 



