,86 CON C^U EST OF SIBERIA. 



the flower of his troops : but all thefe detachments were 

 driven back with confiderable lofs ; and worfted in many 

 fucceflive fkirmilhes. Vermac continued his march 

 without iiltermiffion, bearing down all refiiiance until- 

 he reached the center of his adverfary's dominions. 



Thefe fuccef^s however were dearly bought ; for his- 

 army was now reduced to five hundred men. Kutchuni 

 Chan was encamped * at no great diilance upon the 

 banks of the Irtifli, with a very fuperior force, and de- 

 termined to give him battle. Yermac, who was not to 

 be daunted by the inequality of numbers, prepared for 

 the engagement with a confidence which never forfook 

 him ; his troops were equally impatient for aflion, and 

 knew no medium between conqueft and death. The 

 event of the combat correfponded with this magnanimity. 

 Defeats After au obllinate and well fought battle, victory declared 



Kutclium 



Chan. ^ in favour of Yermac: the Tartars w^ere entirely routed, 

 and the carnage was fo general, that Kutchum Chan 

 himfelf efcaped with difficulty. 



This defeat proved decifive : Kutchum Chan was de- 

 ferted by his fubjedls ; and Yermac, who knew how to 

 improve as well as gain a vidlory, marched without 



* The place where the Tartar army lay encamped was called Tfchu- 

 vatch : it is a neck of land wafhed by the Irtifh, near the fpot where 

 the Tobob falls into that river. Fif. Sib. Gef. I. p. 203. 



delay 



1581. 



