120 Notes on Central Asia. [No. 3, 



which was under Russian protection, by making it conterminous with 

 the peaceful frontier of China and the natural snowy mountain boun- 

 dary. This well conceived plan was carried out with complete success. 

 In 1853 the first Russian detachment, under the command of Colonel 

 Gulkofski, was despatched beyond the Hi ; it, however, met with 

 serious opposition from a strong body of Kirghizes belonging to the 

 hostile tribes of the great horde who supported themselves on Fort 

 Trichubek on the river Kesen. But in the following year the whole 

 of the region was occupied by a force under Lieut. -Colonel Peremy- 

 sliel-ki. who razed the Kirghiz fort to the ground ; after this some 

 of the tribes submitted to Russia, while the most inimical fled 

 into Kokanian territory, and to the banks of the Talas and Syr- 

 Darya. 



The Russian detachment passed the winter in the sheltered valley 

 of the Talgar, and in the ensuing year of 1855, General Hasford 

 founded Fort Vernoe, at the base of the Trans-Hi Alatau, at the 

 Lead of the Almatynka valley, which is picturesquely wooded with 

 apple and apricot trees. 



The occupation of the fertile Trans-Ili region, well adapted for 

 agricultural and gardening purposes, and in all respects bountifully 

 endowed by nature, had the effect of protecting the great Hordes from 

 tin' attacks of the Buruts, but placed its nearest tribes in the same 

 position as that occupied ten years previously by the Great Kirghiz 

 Horde. The powerful and numerous tribe of the Bogus, who occupied 

 the picturesque valleys and table-land between the Celestial mountains 

 and the Trans-Ili Alatau, received neither countenance nor support 

 from the Chinese, to whom they were nominally dependent, in resis- 

 ting the fierce attacks of the Sary Bogish tribe ; they had at the same 

 time to repel, on another quarter, the depredatory incursions of some 

 of their neighbours of the great horde. Consequently, ' soon after the 

 occupation of the Trans-Ili region by the Russians, the High Manap 

 of the Bogu tribe, the old Burambai, claimed the assistance of General 

 Hasford against the attacks of the neighbouring tribes, and volun- 

 tarily tendered the submission of himself and his tribe to the Russian 

 government. This led to the despatch of the first Russian detachment 

 from Vernoe to lake Issyk-Kul, for the purpose of pacifying the two 

 contending tribes, and making a reconnaissance of the hitherto unex- 



