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

orary quarters for the Mennonites. Now they began to prepare for winter. Only two houses on the property were habitable, while the rest of the buildings were suitable for the horses. This meant that almost 40 people had to live in cramped circumstances. Find- ing this too inconvenient, the men purchased lumber to build more houses and to improve the horse stalls, and new doors and windows were added to improve the family dwellings. While his brethren made the quarters suitable, Wilhelm Penner went to see the governor-general about future land hopes. When Penner described the length and perils of the journey, Kaufmann was surprised that they had completed the trip in only 15 weeks and ex- pressed sympathy concerning the deaths of the 14 children. During the entire meeting with Penner, Kaufmann was most cordial and often reassured the hapless traveless, ““The Lord will help you.” In the light of the previous warnings that they would never complete the journey and that Kaufmann would never receive them, this vanguard group at least had the satisfaction that they had com- pleted one phase of their millennial dream. Though they were deci- mated by disease, they took heart in Kaufmann’s willingness to help them. The immigrants believed the Lord was pleased with their plans. The Second Wagon Train, August, 1880 As the weary travelers settled into Kaplan Bek for the winter, a second band of pilgrims was still making its way to Tashkent.” Under the leadership of Heinrich Jantzen of Képpental, this group consisted of some 13 families with about 30 wagons. They had set out from Medemtal village in the Trakt on August thirteenth, more than a month after the first wagon train.'* As was the custom, they cele- brated their leave-taking with a worship service; for a moment at least, all dissension and bitterness were put aside as the parting group bade a tearful farewell to their neighbors.'* Beginning the Trek 91 As they traveled toward their destination they maintained the strict order that their wagon master, a right-hand man of Claas Epp, insisted upon. In fact, Jantzen’s strictness was applauded, and his regulations were willingly followed. They made a colorful procession, as wagons in single file were joined by two large buggies, several smaller ones, and a green glass carriage. '® , During the first stage of their journey, Jantzen tried to camp near settled areas at night. In the evening, they made a circle of wagons so that the rear wagon came to a halt immediately in front of Jantzen’s wagon. Another custom that was rigidly observed was the holding of evening and morning worship services. The entire group stood in the center of the wagon circle, hymns were sung, Scripture read, and prayers given by either Jacob Toews, a minister, or J. K. Penner, the teacher brother of Wilhelm Penner, coleader of the first \wagon train. _ This wagon train was to be plagued by excessive rain from its first day