Traveling around Kazakhstan.

"The one who especially interested me in Omsk was Chokan Chingisovich Valikhanov. Possessing absolutely outstanding abilities, Valikhanov completed the course at the Omsk Cadet Corps with great success, and later, already in St. Petersburg, under my influence he attended lectures at the university and mastered French and German so well that he became a remarkable scholar in the history of the East and, in particular, peoples related to the Kirghiz. He would have become a remarkable scientist if death caused by consumption had not taken him prematurely, at the age of twenty-eight. It goes without saying that I considered it my duty to draw the special attention of General Gasfort to this young talented man and, upon my return from a trip to the Tien Shan, I suggested the idea of ​​sending Valikhanov to Kirghiz clothes with a trade caravan to Kashgar, which was subsequently carried out by Valikhanov with complete success."

"Journey to Tien Shan", P.P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky.

Study of nature of Kazakhstan by great researchers.

Pyotr Petrovich Semenov did not have to look for Valikhanov Chokan showed up himself. He turned out to be a very young Kirghiz in a Russian officer's uniform. The dull gold of his epaulettes shone on his thin shoulders, his black hair fell on his forehead, and his narrow eyes hid a penetrating steppe observation.
Chokan Valikhanov was the great-grandson of the Kirghiz Khan Ablai, a distant descendant of Genghis Khan. His grandfather, the Kirghiz Khan Vali, accepted Russian citizenship. Alexander the First treated Khan Vali with great sympathy. By order of the tsar, a stone house was built for the khan in the Kirghiz steppe.
It was in it that Mukhammed-Khanafiya-Chokan Chingisovich Valikhanov was born. Chokan graduated from the Omsk Cadet Corps together with Grigory Potanin, spoke excellent German and French, and diligently studied the history of Central Asia and the Chinese Empire.
“Chokan delved more and more deeply into the history of the East: some mysterious relationships in this history of the Kirghiz tribe, among which were the names of the ancient peoples of the Usuns, Kireis, and Naimans as the names of generations, made him think and, perhaps, dream of making revelations in the ancient history of the East using data presented by folk legends and the remnants of the antiquity of the Kirghiz people,” Grigory Potanin wrote about his friend.
Chokan invited Semenov to visit. He lived in a small house on the outskirts of Omsk. The rooms were decorated with Uzbek carpets, the floors were covered with Kyrgyz felt. Pyotr Petrovich was interested in old books, Chinese handwritten maps, and a geological collection collected by the young officer.
Chokan proudly showed off his jewelry:
- This is a "jad" stone. According to Kyrgyz beliefs, it causes rain. And this is a "donkey stone" that saves from the evil eye. And here is an alexandrite that gives strength to its owner. Alexandrite was named in honor of Alexander the Great.
Pyotr Petrovich listened with great interest to Chokan's stories about the history of the East.
Chokan was especially interested in the history of the Usun and Dulat tribes. Ancient manuscripts said that it was from these tribes that the Kyrgyz people arose.
Chokan's close attention was drawn to Kashgaria, or Eastern Turkestan, a country with an ancient independent culture, completely unknown to science. The cruel and gloomy rulers of Kashgar closed all borders to European scientists. No one, under threat of death, could enter Kashgar.
Shokan introduced Pyotr Petrovich to rare documents about the routes to unknown Kashgar, found by him in the Omsk archive. There were descriptions of the travels of Burnashev and Pospelov to Tashkent, travel notes of the naturalist Shrenk, "Description of the Aral Sea" compiled by Maksheev.
- I study everything that relates to Kashgar. From the travel routes of merchants and all sorts of officials, I have an idea of ​​the various roads leading to this country, - said Shokan.
- The route from Siberia to Kashgar runs through the Kokchetav and Akmola steppes, along the salt marshes of Bek-Pak-Dala, in the snowless mountains of Karatau, through the reed thickets of Chu. The route goes through Tashkent, Kokand and Margilan. Along this route, merchants bring colored plush and calico, cast iron and iron to Kashgaria.
Semyonov, listening to Chokan, thought:
- “A dozen such enthusiasts, and science will know Central Asia as it knows Europe...
- ” He remembered Adolf Schlagintweit, who had decided to penetrate Kashgaria from India. He told Chokan about him.
-  Alone! - Chokan exclaimed.
- I will say frankly: I fear for his fate. Schlagintweit could become a victim of the suspicion of the Kashgar rulers.
Pyotr Petrovich looked at Valikhanov searchingly. This is someone who could penetrate Kashgaria. No European could pass himself off as an Asian. And no one is as prepared for the Kashgar journey as this young man. Seized by his idea, Pyotr Petrovich asked:
- Could you go to Kashgaria? You know the language, you are a local resident. In Kyrgyz clothing, with a trade caravan, a merchant, or a servant, or a guide, you could penetrate this country. No one in Kashgar would suspect you. And the purpose of the journey is to describe the history, life, and nature of this unknown country. If you agree, I will undertake to arrange your journey.
- I am ready to go to Kashgar at any time, - answered Valikhanov.
- If you obtain the consent of the Governor-General, I will be grateful and thankful.
Pyotr Petrovich wanted to see Grigory Potanin, but he had left for the steppe. Then Semenov went to visit Gasfort. The Governor-General received the traveler extremely cordially. With his cautious smile, twitching his smoky sideburns, Gasfort asked Semenov about his impressions.
Gasfort had already understood that "my assessment of his activities in the region entrusted to him will not only be completely impartial, but also quite competent," wrote Pyotr Petrovich. - I have no doubt that the Trans-Ili region occupied by your Excellency, well provided for by peaceful Russian colonization, will become one of the pearls of Russian possessions in Asia, - he said to the Governor-General.
Gasfort nodded his head in agreement, narrowing his coffee-colored eyes.
- The Trans-Ili region is vast and fabulously rich, - continued Pyotr Petrovich.
- And it is completely abnormal that we hold the state border not in front of such a huge space, but behind it.
The border of the empire is still located on the old line of Cossack outposts from the mouth of the Ural and upstream. From Petropavlovsk the border runs along the Irtysh to Omsk and further - to Lake Zaisan. Agree, your Excellency, that it is difficult to govern a huge region without having firm borders...
Gasfort's coffee-colored eyes shone dryly and glassily. He bowed his long head even lower.
- It seems to me absolutely necessary to move our state border from the long Ural-Irtysh line to a short one. A new border line could connect the settlement of Vernoye near the Zailiysky Alatau with the outpost of Perovsky on the Syr Darya…
Gasfort moved his epaulettes, a pale smile flitted across his thin lips. Semenov understood: the Governor-General liked his ideas on moving the border.
- A tempting proposal, - answered Gasfort,
- But I am afraid that the highest authorities will consider this premature. I do not risk moving the border without the knowledge of St. Petersburg.
- The occupation of the Zailiysky region and its solid colonization is a great service to Russia, - hinted Pyotr Petrovich.
- History will appreciate this service.
- He paused, counting on its effect.
- In the meantime, everything that will be undertaken for the scientific exploration of the new land will become a beacon of science, illuminating for the first time the very depths of the Asian continent.
- I sympathize with scientific research in the Zailiysky region,
- Gasfort responded hastily, as if afraid to undermine his reputation as an enlightened ruler.
Then Pyotr Petrovich outlined the program of the second journey to the Celestial Mountains. Gasfort agreed with all his proposals. Taking advantage of the favor of the Governor-General, Pyotr Petrovich suggested to him the idea of ​​equipping an expedition to Kashgaria.
- Your adjutant Shokan Valikhanov can fulfill a difficult and important mission. This young man has outstanding abilities. He is a great connoisseur of the history of the East and especially of peoples related to the Kirghiz, - said Pyotr Petrovich.
- I accept your proposal, - Gasfort agreed, - but on the condition that you secure the consent of the highest government circles. Without the knowledge of St. Petersburg, an expedition to Kashgaria is impossible...
Pyotr Petrovich asked Gasfort to expel and send ensign Potanin to St. Petersburg University.
- People like Grigory Potanin and Chokan Valikhanov are invaluable for Russian science, - he said with conviction.
Gasfort agreed with this. They parted mutually satisfied and grateful to each other. On April 21, 1857, Pyotr Petrovich left Omsk. In Semipalatinsk, Tomsk artist Pavel Kosharov was waiting for him. The wicker tarantass again rolled across the Kirghiz steppe to the foothills of the Zailiysky Alatau.

Authority:
Andrey Aldan-Semenov. "Semenov-Tyan-Shansky", series The Life of Remarkable People. 1965.