KARS AND ERZEROUM. CHAPTER I. EXPEDITION OF PETER THE GREAT TO PERSIA. CONFERENCE WITH THE CHIEF OF THE CALMUCKS. MOUNTAIN TRIBES. SHUMKHAL.-PRESENTS OF CATHE VIOLENT STORM. RINE STILL PRESERVED AS HEIR-LOOMS. QUEEN TA IN the year 1721 an embassy was despatched to Russia by Shah Sultan Hussein, King of Persia, earnestly soliciting aid against his rebellious subjects the Afghans, who had seized upon the city and fortress of Candahar, and, after possessing themselves of several provinces, appeared to threaten the entire subversion of the Persian Empire. Assistance was readily promised by the Czar, probably from motives not entirely disinterested; for those who are acquainted with the last testament of Peter the B Great, a document in which conquest in every direction, and almost by every means, is insisted upon as the duty and destiny of Russia, will be inclined to doubt his good faith, and to suspect that he was from the beginning well disposed to participate in the dismemberment of the empire he professed to defend. Early in May 1722 troops were assembled in Moscow, embarked on board a flotilla constructed for the purpose, and despatched down the river as far as Kolumna, where the Moskowa falls into the Oka, one of the main branches of the mighty Volga. On the 30th of May the birthday of the Emperor was celebrated with the usual rejoicings. He had already inspected the flotilla, and reviewed the troops, consisting of 16,000 men, among whom were half of the Imperial Guard as it then existed and on the 31st he sailed for Kasan in the state galley, escorted by a number of smaller vessels and accompanied by the Empress and many of the ladies of the court; his object in preceding his fleet being to hold a conference with Ayaka Khan chief of the Calmucks, a prince held in the highest esteem throughout the country, and enjoying the greatest consideration at the court of Pekin. The Czar THE FIRST RUSSIAN FLEET IN THE CASPIAN. 3 treated him with great honour, and requested of him 10,000 Calmuck horse to accompany the expedition. The khan willingly promised assistance, but thought it unnecessary to employ so large a force; and 5000 of the Tartar horse was the number finally agreed on, and despatched to the general rendezvous at Terki in Daghestan, near the Caspian. The fleet soon followed the Emperor down the Volga; and all preparations being completed, on the 19th of July the imperial standard of Russia first waved over the Caspian. It was a proud moment for the Great Czar, the creator of the Russian navy, when he surveyed the waters covered with his fleet, whose very existence was owing to his exertions. The number of vessels, amounting to 300, would have been considerable anywhere, but in the Caspian no armament of any magnitude had ever before been seen; and as the Czar led the van in his galley, he saw his ships stretching in every direction as far as the eye could reach, their snowy sails glancing like seabirds in the sun. The whole force assembled at Terki on the 25th of July, a place which was then on the frontier of Russia. It is situated on a branch of the Terek, in a position of great natural strength, from the circum stance of its being surrounded by deep marshy ground, and being only accessible by one road well commanded by batteries. It was occupied by a garrison of 1000 regular troops besides Cossacks, and was principally intended to overawe the mountaineers, who have at all times been a restless and unruly people. The troops landed at Agrakhan on the 28th, and the Emperor drew a plan for a small fortress to be erected on the eastern bank of the river, where such stores as could not be conveniently carried on might be deposited, and which might also provide a place of retreat in the event of any unforeseen accident. This fortress was constructed without delay by the soldiers. Meantime General Veteranie, commanding a party of dragoons, had been attacked near the town of Andrea by some of the mountain tribes, and had defeated them, though not without some loss. The prisoners made by the Russians were sent to the camp, and are mentioned by the writers of the time as being very fine, able-bodied men. The attack upon the Russians was apparently premeditated, for the men had removed their families and effects to the mountains, and had barricaded the streets, the town being destitute of means. of defence; it was also unprovoked, for proclama VISIT OF THE SHUMKHAL. 5 tons had been issued both by the Emperor and his generals, promising to leave the inhabitants unmolested, and declaring that the Russians had not come to invade the country, but only desired a free passage through it: and promises were at the same time given that all provisions, &c., furnished to the army should be paid for with ready money. The Shumkhal* or chief of this part of the country was well affected towards the Russians, and having been informed of the arrival of the Emperor, he went on the 2nd of August to pay his respects to him, accompanied by several of his officers, whose looks appear to have made a great impression on the Russians, for the old writers speak continually of their beauty and athletic appearance. The Shumkhal would willingly have sent a considerable number of his people to accompany the Russian army, but it was not considered advisable to take advantage of his offer, as the ostensible object of the expedition was to reinstate or assist the King of Persia ; and the whole province of Daghestan was in open revolt against that monarch, on account of his conduct towards the Ameenut Dowlah, a relation of the Shumkhal's, whom he had deprived of sight. Only the means of transport |