REPORT OF THE TOKMAK DISTRICT CHIEF TO THE ACTING MILITARY GOVERNOR OF THE REGION ON THE RIOTS COMMITTED BY THE KIRGIZS OF THE VERNE DISTRICT ON THE LANDS OF THE KIRGIZS OF THE TOKMAK DISTRICT, AND ON THE BEHAVIOR OF SHABDAN JANTAEV DURING THESE RIOTS
Tokmak, June 7, 1869
Last year, the Kirgizs of the Verne district continuously crossed over to the summer pastures of the Tokmak Kirgizs and caused many disturbances. I communicated about this with the Verne District Chief, but could not achieve the cessation of the disturbances.
This year, the same situation persists; the Kirgizs of the Kara-Bai, Isty, and Andash volosts are calmly grazing on the lands of the Kara-Kirgizs and also stealing livestock. For instance, a Kirgiz from the Kara-Bai volost, Kauman Tyleuberdi, stole a mare with a foal, slaughtered the mare, and the foal is in his herd. The grazing of foreign fodder can lead to disturbances and conflicts, so my Kirgizs, under no circumstances, will occupy foreign lands, as this is strictly prohibited for them.
Last night, the following occurred: From the Andash volost (which has the highest number of disturbances), Biy Supotay Saurukov and the village elder Altmyshbay Muratalin, with 45 yurts, descended into the valley of the small Kibenya. When the Kara-Kirgizs informed them that this was their land and demanded that they leave, the Verne Kirgizs drew their sabers and axes, and a brawl ensued. The Kara-Kirgizs, who are nomadic here, are personally known to me: my dzhigit Bayake Kontuganov and Shabdan Jantaev. They are already well acquainted with Russian order and instead of calling their relatives for help and crushing the Cossacks, they allowed themselves to be beaten, not calling anyone for assistance, knowing that the Russian law stood behind them.
The Cossacks chopped several with sabers, severely wounding one, and bound another, cutting his leg and pouring salt into the wound, and that was the end of it.
I personally saw the wounded. Due to these disturbances, I am sending 50 Cossacks to capture the instigators and bring them to Tokmak, where I will arrange an investigation.
In reporting this to Your Excellency, I consider it my duty to add that such actions can lead to significant disturbances, and I deem it necessary to impose the strictest penalties for this first instance of robbery. I also request Your Excellency's assistance in prohibiting the Kirgizs of the Verne District from grazing the Tokmak pastures. It is worth noting that most disturbances originate from the Andash volost.
Major Zagryazskiy Senior Assistant Rotmistr [signature] Acting Clerk F. Ponomarev
Central State Archive of the Republic of Kazakhstan. F.44.0p.1.D.31764. L 1-2. Original.
Shabdan Baatyr
