i84 CON Q^U EST OF SIBERIA. 



Marches to- ^|j thefc various confiderations were not loft upon 



warui bibciia : i- 



Yermac : having therefore employed the winter in pre- 

 parations for his intended expedition, he began his 

 march in the fummer of the following year, 1578, along 

 the banks of the Tchuffovaia. The want of proper 

 guides, and a negledl of other neceffary precautions, 

 greatly retarded his march, and he was overtaken by the 

 winter before he had made any confiderable progrefs. 

 And at the appearance of fpring he found his flock of 

 Returns to pyovifions fo ncaily exhaufted, that he was reduced to the 

 neceHity of returning to Orel. 



But this failure of fuccefs bv no means extino-ui fired 

 his ardour for the profecution of the enterprize ; it only 

 ferved to make him flill more folicitous in guarding 

 againll the poiiibility of a fiTture mifcarriage. By threats 

 he extorted from Strogonoff every ailiftance which the 

 nature of the expedition feemed to require. Befldes a 

 fudicient quantity of provifions, all his followers, who 

 Were before unprovided with fire-arms, were fupplicd 

 with mullcets and ammunition ; and, in order to give 

 the appearance of a regular army to his troops, colours 

 were diftributed to each comf>any, which were orna- 

 mented with the images of faints, after the manner of 

 the Ruffians. 



Havino: 



