preposterous, because it is absurd to suppose that supplies would be
sent from Eastern Siberia to the north Pacific coast by such a route;
and if he had furnished them before by the overland route through
Siberia, why, that road was open to him. What he needed was a pretext
to secure the occupation of Japan, or at least of some of its islands,
before the other powers could know of it; and for that purpose, it was
necessary to be in possession of the lower Amoor. Perry's energetic
action thwarted him; but he could not know that. What he did know was
that China was not in a condition to oppose him, and that the other
powers need not know what he was doing.

He determined to send an expedition strong enough to insure respect,
and lost no time in preparing it. Fifty barges, a steamer, and (p. 270)
numerous rafts, a thousand Cossacks with cannon, the whole commanded
by Muravieff himself, left Shilkinsk on the 24th of May, 1854.
Following the usual custom, the expedition was accompanied by
scientific men to survey the river, prepare maps, explore the country,
and examine its resources. At ten A.M., June 8, they arrived at Aigun
where Muravieff was received by the Chinese authorities, who displayed
about the same number of armed men, but such men and such arms!
Firelocks dating from the time of Kang-hi--1689,--convinced Muravieff
that fifty Cossacks could put these braves to rout. Not caring to
arouse Chinese hostility for fear that his schemes might attract
attention, Muravieff did not resent it when the Chinese forbade him to
enter the town; he continued on his journey, and on the 27th of June
arrived at Mariinsk. After sending part of his force to Nikolayefsk,
he went on to Port Imperial where he met Admiral Poutiatine. They
discussed the situation, and Poutiatine left for Japan on the _Diana_.

Muravieff hurried back as he had come, and prepared another expedition
which he took down the river in 1855. In that year he sent three
thousand Cossacks, and five hundred colonists down the Amoor, together
with horses, cattle, provisions, and military stores. This activity
could not escape the Chinese who dispatched four officials to
Nikolayefsk to protest against the invasion of their territory. They
arrived in July, and were entertained by Muravieff with a review of
his forces; after this hint he simply dismissed them. At this time the
settlements which stood in such urgent need of supplies, were (p. 271)
Mariinsk, whi