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

82.'° By this date, then, more than 80 families had arrived in the Aulie Ata region." Aulie Ata, or Yambil as it was called by neighboring Kirghiz natives, had once been considered as a possible capital for the guberniia of Turkestan. By 1882, it had grown to a respectable town of over 10,000." Tashkent, however, proved the best city for the seat of government not only because of its strategic location in the valley of the Syr Daria, but because of its commercial interests, excellent fortifications, cultural heritage, and milder climate. Aulie Ata, on the other hand, was approximately 5,000 feet above sea level and usually discouraged colonists because of reported poor crops and cold weather.'® It was learned by the Mennonites, how- ever, that the Talas River basin could become a productive area for raising grain and cattle if enterprising farmers would diligently work the land." This valley, about 25 miles wide and almost 200 miles long, was enclosed by the perennially snow-covered Alexander Mountains, named after the great Greek hero. Out of the mountains each spring flowed several life-giving streams that emptied into the larger Talas River. The soil of the valley was composed of a yellow clay which needed this extra moisture for farming.'® On reaching the beautiful valley, each contingent began building dugouts for temporary quarters and promptly planted wheat crops with the seeds they brought with them. The first group leased 270 acres, or 100 dessiatines, at one ruble per dessiatine. Over- head for grain and sowing raised this expenditure to 250 rubles. The first small harvest of the Mennonite vanguard later yielded 200 rubles’ profit, an encouraging sign to those who followed. '* With the initial group's sowing completed by the end of March 1882, they awaited the arrival of more brethren to help clear the land and increase the productivity of the area. As newcomers arrived, each family was allotted 35 acres to begin farming. As manpower increased, a network of irrigation canals were ingeniously constructed which would divert the waters of the Talas to the grass, trees, and grain fields. In fact, these Mennonite pioneers soon dis- covered that with proper cultivation, irrigation, and some fertiliza- tion everything that grew in European Russia could be produced in the Talas Valley. In this veritable garden spot of Asia, four Menno- 140 The Great Trek of the Russian Mennonites nite villages grew up: Gnadenfeld, the smallest; Képpental, begun by the leader Janzen; Gnadental, and Nikolaipol."” From the very beginning of the colony, the neighboring Kir- ghiz natives were very friendly to the new pioneers. During the lonely months of beginning a settlement in a strange land, they were most helpful and shared their knowledge about the area with the strange “invaders.” Owing to the isolation of their settlement, these Kirghiz natives interacted with the Mennonites in a degree unparalleled in