The Great Trek of the Russian Mennonites to Central Asia, 1880-1884, Fred Richard Belk, 1976

their own courtyard.” Each separate group became a close-knit community, built its own canals and gardens, and pur- chased pumps for irrigation. Epp urged his close friends to build an- other small church on the hill.*' But in the process of new construc- tion a more serious problem arose with the government. The Khivan Refuge a Le IE .“e le “ay Brees a Wet ue * “sane hee 7 — .—s Bane + et 2 a ae ae ere | sae tea, 1 we nih - ~e <2 Law ® 4 4 iB 7 =i “Sy TS : om ay oo wae ct ete oe . ‘EBS L Ul ‘eAIyy ‘UeSNe} ye yUsWa;WIes BuyBpey ay wos aueos y 160 The Great Trek of the Russian Mennonites Governmental Indecision Uncertainty as to their position still persisted owing to the precarious position of the Protectorate of Khiva in Russian imperial policy. In fact, the khan soon summoned representatives of the settle- ment to his palace. Making a quick trip to Khiva, Hermann Jantzen and Wilhelm Penner returned with a report that the khan did not believe that Russia would permit their stay. Then on February 27, an official of the khan came from Khiva and informed them they must move in twelve days! The order, he told them, was not from the khan but from Petro-Alexandrovsk. The next day, Hermann Jantzen, Claas Epp, and Wilhelm Penner hastily conferred with General Grotten- helm. The general, always gracious to his German friends, explained that Governor-General Chernayev had expressed his concern about their occupying territory along the still undefined border between Russia and Khiva. The governor-general offered no elaboration of this problem, and Grottenhelm explained he could do nothing to guarantee them permanent occupancy. Instead, he advised them to either wait and deal with the governor-general personally since he was soon ex- pected at Petro-Alexandrovsk, or go and live with their brethren at the Aulie Ata settlement. The deputation told Grottenhelm that under no circumstances would they ever move to Aulie Ata; they preferred to wait in Petro-Alexandrovsk for Chernayev. The governor-general was expected daily, so a nervous Grottenhelm rode out to greet him, but learned he had been delayed in Tashkent. During Grottenhelm’s absence his personal chamberlain frankly told Epp that Russian an- nexation of Khiva was imminent, but that he felt their four-year contract would be honored. Epp responded that the Lord would not have led them there if they were not supposed to stay. The chamber- lain agreed that the Russian government would probably let them stay at their “place of refuge.” When Chernayev did not arrive after several days, Grottenhelm ordered the khan to allow them to stay until April 1, and the men went home. Finally, a meeting with the governor-general was held on March 23, with Jacob Toews, Hermann Jantzen, and Emil Riesen representing the colonists. All of their anxiety had been for nothing. After brief amenities, Chernayev was asked about the future of the Mennonite settlemen