THE CONQUEST OF SIBERIA. 181 



scattering others. Among the dispersed were 6000 free- 

 booters, under the command of a chief named Yermak 

 Timofeeff, who made their way to the banks of the Kama, 

 to a settlement at Orel, belonging to one of the Strog- 

 anoffs, where they were entertained during a dreary 

 winter, and where Yermak heard of an inviting field of 

 adventure, lying on the other side of the Urals. Thither 

 he determined to try his fortunes, and after an unsuccess- 

 ful attempt in the summer of 1578, started again with 

 5000 men in June of the next year. It was eighteen 

 months before he reached the small town of Tchingi, on 

 the banks of the Tura ; by which time his followers had 

 dwindled down, by skirmishes, privation, and fatigue, to 

 1500 men. But they were all braves. Before them was 

 Kutchum Khan, prince of the country, already in position, 

 and, with numerous troops, resolved to defend himself to 

 the last. When at length the two armies stood face to 

 face, that of Yermak was further reduced to 500 men, 

 nine-tenths of those who left Orel having perished. A 

 desperate fight ensued, the Tartars were routed, and Yer- 

 mak pushed on to Sibir, the residence of the Tartar 

 princes. It was a small fortress on the banks of the 

 Irtish, the ruins of which are still standing, and of which 

 I have seen a photograph, if I mistake not, among Mr 

 Seebohm's collection. 



1 Yermak was now suddenly transformed to a prince, 

 but he had the good sense to see the precariousness of his 

 grandeur, and it became plain that he must seek for 

 assistance. He sent, therefore, fifty of his Cossacks to the 

 Tsar of Muscovy, their chief being adroitly ordered to 

 represent to the Court the progress which the Russian 

 troops, under the command of Yermak, had made in 

 Siberia, where an extensive empire had been conquered 

 in the name of the Tsar. The Tsar took very kindly to 

 this, pardoned Yermak, and sent him money and assist- 

 ance. Reinforced by 500 Russians, Yermak multiplied 

 his expeditions, extended his conquests, and was enabled 

 to subdue various insurrections fomented by the conquered 



