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at about twenty versts off along the Siberian highroad；
this town； with its cupolas； its bell…towers； its steeples
slender as minarets； its domes like pot…bellied Chinese jars；
presents something of an oriental aspect。 But this similarity
vanishes as the traveler enters。
The town； half Byzantine； half Chinese； becomes European as soon
as he sees its macadamized roads； bordered with pavements；
traversed by canals； planted with gigantic birches； its houses
of brick and wood； some of which have several stories；
the numerous equipages which drive along； not only tarantasses
but broughams and coaches； lastly； its numerous inhabitants far
advanced in civilization； to whom the latest Paris fashions
are not unknown。
Being the refuge for all the Siberians of the province； Irkutsk was
at this time very full。 Stores of every kind had been collected
in abundance。 Irkutsk is the emporium of the innumerable kinds
of merchandise which are exchanged between China； Central Asia；
and Europe。 The authorities had therefore no fear with regard
to admitting the peasants of the valley of the Angara； and leaving
a desert between the invaders and the town。
Irkutsk is the residence of the governor…general of
Eastern Siberia。 Below him acts a civil governor； in whose hands
is the administration of the province； a head of police； who has
much to do in a town where exiles abound； and； lastly； a mayor；
chief of the merchants； and a person of some importance；
from his immense fortune and the influence which he exercises
over the people。
The garrison of Irkutsk was at that time composed of an infantry
regiment of Cossacks； consisting of two thousand men； and a body
of police wearing helmets and blue uniforms laced with silver。
Besides； as has been said； in consequence of the events which
had occurred； the brother of the Czar had been shut up in the town
since the beginning of the invasion。
A journey of political importance had taken the Grand Duke
to these distant provinces of Central Asia。 After passing
through the principal Siberian cities； the Grand Duke；
who traveled en militaire rather than en prince； without any parade；
accompanied by his officers； and escorted by a regiment
of Cossacks； arrived in the Trans…Baikalcine provinces。
Nikolaevsk； the last Russian town situated on the shore
of the Sea of Okhotsk； had been honored by a visit from him。
Arrived on the confines of the immense Muscovite Empire；
the Grand Duke was returning towards Irkutsk； from which place
he intended to retake the road to Moscow； when； sudden as a
thunder clap； came the news of the invasion。
He hastened to the capital； but only reached it just before
communication with Russia had been interrupted。 There was time
to receive only a few telegrams from St。 Petersburg and Moscow；
and with difficulty to answer them before the wire was cut。
Irkutsk was isolated from the rest of the world。
The Grand Duke had now only to prepare for resistance；
and this he did with that determination and coolness of which；
under other circumstances； he had given incontestable proofs。
The news of the taking of Ichim； Omsk； and Tomsk；
successively reached Irkutsk。 It was necessary at any price
to save the capital of Siberia。 Reinforcements could not
be expected for some time。 The few troops scattered about
in the provinces of Siberia could not arrive in sufficiently
large numbers to arrest the progress of the Tartar columns。
Since therefore it was impossible for Irkutsk to escape attack；
the most important thing to be done was to put the town in a state
to sustain a siege of some duration。
The preparations were begun on the day Tomsk fell into the hands
of the Tartars。 At the same time with this last news；
the Grand Duke heard that the Emir of Bokhara and the allied Khans
were directing the invasion in person； but what he did not know was；
that the lieutenant of these barbarous chiefs was Ivan Ogareff；
a Russian officer whom he had himself reduced to the ranks；
but with whose person he was not acquainted。
First of all； as we have seen； the inhabitants of the province of Irkutsk
were compelled to abandon the towns and villages。 Those who did
not take refuge in the capital had to retire beyond Lake Baikal；
a district to which the invasion would probably not extend its ravages。
The harvests of corn and fodder were collected and stored up in the town；
and Irkutsk； the last bulwark of the Muscovite power in the Far East；
was put in a condition to resist the enemy for a lengthened period。
Irkutsk； founded in 1611； is situated at the confluence of
the Irkut and the Angara； on the right bank of the latter river。
Two wooden draw…bridges； built on piles； connected the town with
its suburbs on the left bank。 On this side； defence was easy。
The suburbs were abandoned； the bridges destroyed。
The Angara being here very wide； it would not be possible
to pass it under the fire of the besieged。
But the river might be crossed both above and below the town；
and consequently； Irkutsk ran a risk of being attacked on its
east side； on which there was no wall to protect it。
The whole population were immediately set to work on the fortifications。
They labored day and night。 The Grand Duke observed with satisfaction
the zeal exhibited by the people in the work； whom ere long he would
find equally courageous in the defense。 Soldiers； merchants； exiles；
peasants； all devoted themselves to the common safety。 A week before
the Tartars appeared on the Angara； earth…works had been raised。
A fosse； flooded by the waters of the Angara； was dug between the scarp
and counterscarp。 The town could not now be taken by a coup de main。
It must be invested and besieged。
The third Tartar columnthe one which came up the valley of the Yenisei
on the 24th of Septemberappeared in sight of Irkutsk。 It immediately
occupied the deserted suburbs； every building in which had been
destroyed so as not to impede the fire of the Grand Duke's guns；
unfortunately but few in number and of small caliber。
The Tartar troops as they arrived organized a camp on the bank
of the Angara； whilst waiting the arrival of the two other columns；
commanded by the Emir and his allies。
The junction of these different bodies was effected on the 25th
of September； in the Angara camp； and the whole of the invading army；
except the garrisons left in the principal conquered towns；
was concentrated under the command of Feofar…Khan。
The passage of the Angara in front of Irkutsk having been regarded
by Ogareff as impracticable； a strong body of troops crossed；
several versts up the river； by means of bridges formed with boats。
The Grand Duke did not attempt to oppose the enemy in their passage。
He could only impede； not prevent it； having no field…artillery
at his disposal； and he therefore remained in Irkutsk。
The Tartars now occupied the right bank of the river；
then； advancing towards the town； they burnt； in passing；
the summer…house of the governor…general； and at last having
entirely invested Irkutsk； took up their positions for the siege。
Ivan Ogareff； who was a clever engineer； was perfectly competent
to direct a regular siege； but he did not possess the materials
for operating rapidly。 He was disappointed too in the chief
object of all his effortsthe surprise of Irkutsk。 Things had
not turned out as he hoped。 First； the march of the Tartar
army was delayed by the battle of Tomsk； and secondly；
the preparations for the defense were made far more rapidly than
he had supposed possible； these two things had balked his plans。
He was now under the necessity of instituting a regular siege
of the town。
However； by his suggestion； the Emir twice attempted the capture
of the place； at the cost of a large sacrifice of men。
He threw soldiers on the earth…works which presented any weak point；
but these two assaults were repulsed with the greatest courage。
The Grand Duke and his officers did not spare themselves on
this occasion。 They appeared in person； they led the civil population
to the ramparts。 Citizens and peasants both did their duty。
At the second attack； the Tartars managed to force one of the gates