Note 2 — Chapter XXXIV · FROM NERTCHINSK TO STRETINSK.

Mr. Ravenstein gives an interesting account of this. The two nations were represented by the envoy extraordinary Fedor Alexevitch Golovin, and the celestial ambassadors So-fan-lan-ya and Kiw-Kijew, with two Jesuit fathers as interpreters. The Russian envoy was accompanied by a regiment of Regular Militia (Strelzi) 1,500 strong, and two regiments raised in Siberia; but the Chinese ambassadors were accompanied by a force of 9,000 or 10,000 persons, consisting of soldiers, mandarins, servants, and camp followers. They had from 3,000 to 4,000 camels, and at least 15,000 horses; and as they came to the river’s bank opposite Nertchinsk, before the arrival of the Russian envoy, the Governor of the town not unnaturally felt uneasy at the presence of so large a company.

At length, however, Golovin arrived, and a large tent was pitched, midway between the fortress and the river, one-half appropriated to the Russians, the other to the Chinese. The Russian portion was covered with a handsome Turkey carpet. Golovin and the Governor of Nertchinsk occupied arm-chairs, placed behind a table, which was spread with a Persian silk embroidered in gold. The Chinese portion was devoid of all ornament. The chiefs of the embassy, seven in number, sat upon pillows placed upon a low bench. The remainder of the mandarins and Russian officers were ranged along both sides of the tent. The Chinese had crossed the river with 40 mandarins and 760 soldiers, 500 of whom remained on the bank of the river, and 260 advanced half-way to the tent. In a similar manner, 500 Russians were placed close to the fort, and 40 officers and 260 soldiers followed the envoy.