CHAPTER XXXIX.

_THE HISTORY OF THE AMUR._

Divisible into three periods.--Period of Cossack plunder.--Poyarkof.--Khabarof.--Stepanof.--Discovery and occupation of Shilka.--Chernigovsky.--Period of conflict with Chinese.--Russo-Chinese treaty of 1686.--Russian mission at Peking.--Affairs on the Amur during Russian exclusion.--Third historic period from 1847.--Preparatory operations on Lower Amur.--Muravieff’s descent of the river, 1854.--Influence of the Crimean war.--Colonization of Lower Amur.--Further colonization, 1857.--Chinese protests.--Influence of Anglo-Chinese war.--The Sea Coast erected into a Russian province.--Renewed difficulties with China.--Treaty of 1860.--Review of Russian occupation 489