R U S S I A A N D C H I N i\. 201 



Gorbitza ••'■, then by that river to its influx into the 

 Amoor, and laftly by the Argoon, from its jnn6lion with 

 the Shilka up to its fource. 



By the fifth article reciprocal liberty of trade was 

 granted to all the fubje6ls of the two empires, who were 

 provided with pafs-ports from their refpeflive courts t. 



This treaty was figned on the 27th of Auguft, in the 

 year 1689, under the reign of Ivan and Peter Alexie- 

 witch, by which the Ruflians loft, exclufively of a large 

 territory, the navigation of the river Amoor. The im- 

 portance of this lofs was not at that time underftood ; 

 and has only been felt fmce the difcovery of Kamtchatka, 

 and of the iilands between Afia and America. The pro- 

 ducts of thefe new-difcovered countries might, by means 

 of the Amoor, have been conveyed by water into the 

 diftriiff of Nerfliinfk, from whence there is an eafy 



* There are two Gorbitzas ; the firft falls into the Amoor, near the 

 conflux of the Argoon and Shilka ; the fecond falls into the Shilka. The 

 former was meant by the Ruffians; but the Chinefe fixed upon the latter 

 for the boundary, and have carried their point. Accordingly the prefent 

 -limits are fomewhat different from thofe mentioned in the text. They 

 are carried from the point, where the Shilka and Argoon unite to form 

 the Amoor, Weftward along the Shilka, until they reach the mouth of 

 tha Weftern Gorbitza ; from thence they are continued to the fource of 

 the laft-mentioned river, and along the chain of mountains as before. By 

 this alteration the Ruffian limits are fomewhat abridged. 



t S. R.G. II. p. 435. 



D d trail fport 



