oor, and heard
tales of such vast wealth that they hastened to Yakoutsk and placed
their discovery before Peter Petrovitch, the first Russian Governor.

Men and money were scarce, but the governor, after many efforts
managed to collect 132 men whom he placed in command of Vassili
Poyarkof, with instructions to do the best he could. The party started
on the 15th of July, 1643, and followed the usual course with the
natives with the result that he returned to Yakoutsk in June 1646,
having lost most of his men in attacks by infuriated and outraged
natives, but in possession of a fund of information, and some skins as
tribute.

During the reign of Alexis Michaelovitch (1645-1676), explorations
of the Amoor regions were pursued vigorously. A young officer
of considerable wealth, named Khabarof, offered to conduct an (p. 262)
expedition at his own expense. This was gladly accepted, and he left
Yakoutsk in 1649. He reached the Amoor and formed a line of forts, and
met a small party among whom was the khan, who asked what his object
was. Khabarof replied that he had come to trade, but that the czar
would probably take the khan under his powerful protection in return
for a small annual tribute. The khan did not answer, and Khabarof
after burning most of the forts and leaving some of his men in
another, returned to Yakoutsk to report.

In June, 1651, he was on the way back to the Amoor, where he came in
conflict with the Manchus. He, however, forced his way, and gained for
the Russians the reputation that they were "devils, who would make
gridirons of the parents to roast the children on." At this time a
report that the Amoor region contained untold wealth reached Moscow,
where it produced an effect very similar to that felt in Spain after
the return of Columbus.

Alexis intended to send an expedition of 3,000 men to occupy and hold
this treasure grove, but he was prudent enough to dispatch an officer
to order Khabarof to Moscow, so that he might learn the facts. This
officer, Simovief left Moscow in March, 1652, and met Khabarof in
August of the following year. Leaving the command to his lieutenant
Stepanof, Khabarof obeyed the czar's call. He arrived at Moscow and
after the czar had heard his report, the expedition was given up, but
Alexis wrote to Stepanof, upon whom he conferred some honors, and told
him to continue the good work.

The interest manifested by the czar inaugurated an exploration (p. 263)
fever a