The treaty between Russia and China, fixing the boundaries between the two empires, contains a strange oversight.  Dated on the 14th of November, 1860, it says: 

“Henceforth the eastern frontier between the two empires shall commence from the junction of the rivers Shilka and Argoon, and will follow the course of the River Amoor to the junction of the river Ousuree with the latter.  The land on the left bank (to the north) of the River Amoor belongs to the empire of Russia, and the territory on the right bank (to the south) to the junction of the River Ousuree, to the empire of China.”

The treaty further establishes the boundaries from the mouth of the Ousuree to the sea of Japan, and along the western region toward Central Asia.  It provides for commissioners to examine the frontier line.

It declares that trade shall be free of duty along the entire line, and removes all commercial restrictions.  It gives the merchants of Kiachta the right of going to Pekin, Oorga, and Kalgan; allows a Russian consulate at Oorga, and permits Russian merchants to travel anywhere in China.  It annuls former treaties, and establishes a postal arrangement between Pekin and Kiachta.

I presume the oversight in the treaty was on the part of the Chinese, as the Russians are too shrewd in diplomacy to omit any point of advantage.  Nothing is said about the land in the Amoor.  “The land on the north bank is Russian, and on the south bank Chinese.”  What is to be the nationality of the islands in the river?  Some of them are large enough to hold a population of importance, or be used, as the sites of fortifications.  There are duchies and principalities in Europe of less territorial extent than some islands of the Amoor.

When Russia desires them she will doubtless extend her protection, and I observed during my voyage that several islands were occupied by Russian settlers for hay-cutting and other purposes.  Why could not an enterprising man of destiny like the grey-eyed Walker or unhappy Maximilian penetrate the Amoor and found a new government on an island that nobody owns?  Quite likely his adventure would result like the conquests of Mexico and Nicaragua, but this probability should not cause a man of noble blood to hesitate.

Below the Ousuree the Russian villages were generally on the south bank of the river, but after passing that stream I found them all on the north side.  The villages tributary to China consisted only of the settlements of Goldees and Mangoons, or their temporary fishing stations.  The Chinese empire contains much territory still open to colonization, and I imagine that it would be to the interest of the Celestial government to scatter its population more evenly over its dominions.  Possibly it does not wish to send its subjects into regions that may hereafter fall into the hands of the emperor of Russia.  There is a great deal of land in Manjouria adapted to agriculture, richly timbered and watered, but containing a very small population.  Millions of people could find homes where there are now but a few thousands.