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

d condition and without casualty by death or accident” up to this point.” The fort consisted of a few buildings, an armory, and several small homes. Before leaving Karabutak, they paid their respects at the grave of Heinrich Wiebe’s two small sons.”! Over halfway between Orsk and Kasalinsk, the group had to cross the dreaded Kara Kum Desert. Traveling through deep sand, they sometimes had to search with the camel drivers for several miles to find a well. The water was boiled, given to each of the 45 horses, and then shared by the people. Compared to the first train, their sufferings on the desert were mild. In fact, they even en- joyed some festive days. The Martin Klaassens observed their twenty- fifth wedding anniversary, and the group, led by J. K. Penner, sang their favorite song, “Es erglénzt uns von ferne ein Land” (‘There's a Land'That Is Fairer Than Day’). Later they celebrated the same anniversary of Heinrich Jantzens. Indeed these events were brief moments of joy amid adversity.” -- After entering the province of Turkestan at the the sand dune village of Tereki, they observed the Lord’s Supper and all went to the grave site of three children who had died on the previous Beginning the Trek 93 ‘ yf : tons Xp C0. lita Pibagp te ee ns ee iw Goo Te ore. Joven PY Or ws *F7 gh ty Baevhre anfae fon tien pgp Lae 9 UG «/Taw ve san Oho Tovwsaoe a0 6ieee ee ‘newe fey ef Coo ae a ve 5 ge pode (Joi Ee fawg POS (isn bp Lewil fife, ale Cheah Meld ordew no G Yaw, a (pl tack lay jp ge jet fam 90 Dl L Saw of 102 bosur ah A ae © 00 per v4 he cong Tf dns 7, oy pene nf me LCiimiahe, ahe bff. Lezak pe fond athe 13 Y os rept Geos ae ! pl tae hl baile phim radon Woh Chifhen m I saigh etek. Lis gs Slee eae pip wees eae 2 os om coal}. Se i tcer 7 eo yp 70" thw {43 PmesG Gin fh bs er oi f Wn Was! ove ° ofa tl f Shew Ad Claw ons “estore a ry ie (i fygsacigt De. (how seg ee ze 4h, fade ee PEt BY gor VO, | Ieee ¢. ten lam for Goa. Scat pirce ee. ites es ee kf Sathe “ ‘Gave: a, al Wr Vf, Life re, hl _— Maes’ ets BAA uk hob or lon ee foe 1 Ne Bom bey: Oh cig es rast : ao 47 Ts ponies ers ‘Ale tor A page from the diary of Heinrich B. Jantzen, wagon master and right- hand associate of Claas Epp. ee th 3 ce ee 94 The Great Trek of the Russian Mennonites wagon train. Near the end of the desert, the elderly Mrs. Wiebe be- came very ill, and plans were made to hurry her ahead to Kasa- linsk. However, with the assistance of Mrs. Jacob Toews, she im- proved, and the weary band made it through the desert without a major mishap. As their first view of the Aral Sea told them that the perilous desert journey was over, they rejoiced in their good fortune at having withstood the ordeal so successfully. Arriving at Kasalinsk, the first completely Muslim town, they reached level ground again, and the weather was so pleasant that the children ran barefoot alongside the wagons. The dwel