Note 4 — Chapter XXXIX · THE HISTORY OF THE AMUR.

The treaty began as follows:—“In order to suppress the insolence of certain scoundrels, who cross the frontier to hunt, plunder, and kill, and who give rise to much trouble and disturbance, to determine clearly and distinctly the boundaries between the empires of China and Russia, and lastly to re-establish peace and good understanding for the future, the following articles are by mutual consent agreed upon.” After defining the boundaries, the treaty went on to provide that hunters of either empire should under no pretence cross the frontier. Also that neither party should receive fugitives or deserters; and the third article states, “Everything which has occurred hitherto is to be buried in eternal oblivion.”