MEMOIR OF PALLAS. 5D 



thereby subjects himself to much trouble and vexa- 

 tion. We cannot convey a better idea of those 

 constant agitations, than by reciting an event nar- 

 rated in detail by Pallas, and which gives an idea 

 of those famous migrations which formerly consti- 

 tuted a remarkable epoch in the history of Europe. 



An entire people, who, after the conquest of Kien- 

 Long, lately emperor of China, had fled for refuge 

 to the Russian territory, and who had been esta- 

 blished since the year 17^8, in the rural district of 

 Astrakan, having become dissatisfied, and, moreover, 

 influenced by the intrignies of their chief Lam% 

 resolved twelve years afterwards to return to the 

 country which had been subjugated by China. Their 

 preparations continued for many months without 

 their secret being divulged ; and, finally, on an ap- 

 pointed day in the commencement of 1771, the whole 

 nation, men, women, and children, to the amount of 

 more than 60,000 families, marched off in three 

 divisions, with their tents, their flocks, their bag- 

 gage, and all they could pick up in their route either 

 of men or wealth. Thus did they travel 1500 miles 

 without being arrested by the troops which pursued 

 them, nor by opposing rivers, nor by the interme- 

 diate hostile tribes, nor by the mortality which 

 prevailed among them and their cattle. We believe 

 that no other event of the sort, to the same extent, 

 had previously occurred, since the flight of the 

 Israelites from the land of Egypt. 



Pallas does not treat only of the origin and physi- 

 cal characters of these people, nor of their manners 



