Report of the Chief of Khojent District Baron N. Nolde to the Military Governor of Syrdarya Region Major General P. K. Eiler

REPORT OF THE HEAD OF KHOJENT DISTRICT BARON N. NOLDE TO THE MILITARY GOVERNOR OF SYRDARYA REGION MAJOR GENERAL P. K. EILER ON THE APPEAL OF THE KOKAND KIRGIZS REQUESTING TO EXPRESS THE RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES' POSITION ON THEIR POSSIBLE REBELLION AGAINST THE KOKAND YOKE

City of Khojent, November 2, 1873.

Your Excellency Peter Konstantinovich!

Yesterday, two Kirgiz arrived here as deputies from the rebellious Kirgiz tribes of the Kokand Khanate.

They brought me a letter without signatures, seals, etc., which I am presenting to Your Excellency along with my translation. In addition, these Kirgiz asked me verbally to inform them about the position our authorities would take in the event of an open rebellion and military actions on their part against Khudoyar Khan. I told them that it was entirely up to the representative of Our Sovereign, the Turkestan Governor-General, and that we merely execute his orders. However, I indicated that the Governor-General would most likely not assist the Khan in suppressing his rebellious subjects with our troops. Presenting this situation in the neighboring khanate, I consider it my duty to inform Your Excellency that it has not yet affected our Kirgiz and does not seem to influence them in any way. I believe this will continue to be the case.

I have, of course, given the strictest orders that our Kirgiz should not interfere in the affairs of their neighbors in any way.

Then, while awaiting instructions, I ask for permission to remain your devoted servant.

Baron N. Nolde
Certified: true copy: Head of the Department D. Korin
Certified true copy: Head of the Route Office of the General Staff Colonel Shchetinin

Translation: Letter from the insurgents, Kirgiz of the Kokand Khanate, to the Head of Khojent District. The Khan has begun to act against the Sharia, for which we, unable to bear the injustice, robbed his zaketchi. Khudoyar sent his troops against us, from which we fled to the mountains, leaving our pastures.

But the Khan's military commander managed to capture 270 of us, brought these people to the city of Asaka, and by the Khan's order had them all impaled. Then we all gathered and declared ourselves enemies of the Khan. You sent a man to us, and we were all very pleased and became your tamyrs. Now, addressing you as a tamyr, you are a great chief and can advise and command us, and we will carry out whatever you say. If you order us to fight, for we have lost all patience from various oppressions and insults. We sent our Kirgiz Kulmakhmet and Kambar-Sarker to the Tokmak elder Shabdan Jantaev asking him to be our friend and also requested him to convey to the Tokmak major that we wish to be his friends.

We also ask the major to advise us on what to do and that we will act as he tells us. The major instructed us to convey that if we want troops, they will give them to us. Then Shabdan Batyr himself came to us and told us to make Yaychiy-bi our leader. We did so. Then he told us to take Andijan, so we fought against the Khan's troops. These are all our actions.

Certified true copy by Head of the Department D. Korin
Certified true copy: Head of the Route Office of the General Staff Colonel Shchetinin

Kyrgyzstan — Russia. History of Relations (18th-19th centuries): Collection of documents Bishkek, Ilshp, 1998. P. 335-336.

Shabdan Baatyr