Participants of Karatau expedition of 1851: Shevchenko, Zalessky.

"Local coal business has made significant progress this year, and in any case much more than in all the previous years (1846-1870) of our settlement on Mangyshlak. Experiments conducted this year in using this coal for the needs of the troops, for heating government buildings, baking bread and cooking food with this coal, instead of expensive firewood, indicated the possibility of saving the treasury's expenses for the fort by almost 13,000 rubles annually. In 1871, the mining engineer, court councilor Prince Tsulukidze, having inspected the coal deposit and geologically examined the surrounding area, found this deposit rich, completely reliable and worthy of the attention of both the government and private entrepreneurs. The testing of this coal on the military steam schooner, "Bukharets", which, sinking it, traveled about 140 miles from the Gulf of Sarytash to the island of Kulaly and from there to the Tyub-Karagan salvo, gave the most excellent results and indicated the significant benefit of using this coal on steam ships in comparison with anthracite, brown English coal and firewood. The consequence of all this was that several people have already submitted announcements about the allocation of existing legal coal areas for development at the Targaly and Apazyr wells, and among other things, the manager of the maritime affairs of the "Caucasus and Mercury" Society, Captain 1st rank Elfberg, proposed that the local Kirghiz prepare for the Society by the spring of next year and deliver to the pier of the Nikolaevskaya stanitsa for the first time up to 50,000 poods of coal. The Kirghiz willingly agree to engage in coal mining on the plots allocated by various persons, as well as mining for the Society "Caucasus and Mercury", with delivery to the bay of Nikolaevskaya stanitsa at a price of 10-12 kopecks per pood and to the bay of Sarytash 3-5 kopecks per pood, about which they have already submitted announcements. 
Meanwhile, recently it turned out that there are several more coal deposits here, namely:
1) in Chair, between Karatau and Aktau, 30 miles from the bay of Kochak, in which steamships can be just as conveniently moored as in the bay of Sarytash;
2) in Karakiya, 20 miles from the bay of Aleksanderbai and
3) at Cape Tokman, on the very shore of the bay of Kindirlinsky.
To say that the coal in these deposits, especially in Chair, is incomparably better than that in Tartal and that there is a lot of it there. In winter I will study these deposits."

"On Mangyshlak Peninsula and routes from there to various points in Transcaspian region." N. Lomakin. 1873.

Route of Karatau expedition along Mangyshlak.

On May 21, 1851, the first expedition under the leadership of the mining officer A.I. Antipov set out from the Novopetrovsky fort to Mangyshlak to search for coal in the Karatau Mountains. And although the expedition is now known mainly because the poet and artist Taras Shevchenko, exiled to Mangyshlak, was accepted as a draftsman, it found coal, which solved the problem of heating the Fort.
The guard detachment, the work group and the transport staff were organized under the direct supervision of the commandant of the fortification, Lieutenant Colonel Anton Petrovich Maevsky, who was a kind person and favorably disposed towards T. Shevchenko.
In response to the requests of his friends, he included the poet in the expedition, of course, with the consent of its leader, Alexander Ivanovich Antipov. "The mining officer Antipov was sent to Mangyshlak," Zalessky wrote later, "to search for coal deposits; Turno... and I were assigned to his detachment.
In Novopetrovsk we persuaded him to take T. Shevchenko as well. We lived in one tent, that is, in the so-called Kirghiz kibitka, the whole summer. Shevchenko painted and felt free. From that time on, I began to correspond with him." The expedition included professional miners, a mining master-geologist, a topographer, a draftsman, etc.
At the head was a Cossack officer, mining engineer Antipov - the head of the expedition to the Karatau Mountains, as well as to other places of the Orenburg department for the identification of coal deposits. Antipov Alexander Ivanovich (1824 - 1887) - mining engineer.
A hereditary miner, he graduated from the Mining Institute in 1846. Seconded to the Lugansk plant, he conducted geognostic research in Adygea and Kerch, and from 1850 headed the Karatau and other expeditions to study coal formations in the Orenburg province, where he worked for many years.
Seconded in 1851 to the Karatau expedition A.I. Antipov together with Taras Shevchenko and Ludwig Turno. B. Zalessky and T.G. Shevchenko were brought together by common views, passion for painting and sale of drawings; upon returning from the expedition, Taras Shevchenko was promoted to non-commissioned officer "for excellent and diligent service".
Antipov assistant was a first-class mining sergeant, the knowledgeable foreman Nikolai Danilovich Kozlov (born in 1804). He was the oldest and most experienced miner in the group. Shevchenko met him later, in Novopetrovsk, when geological exploration trips to Karatau with Kozlov's participation were repeated.
For example, in a letter to Zalessky dated June 10, 1855, Shevchenko recalls: "Old man Kozlov, Steiger, came here - remember that he went to Kara-Tau with Antipov. He is also now going there to collect fossils. I thought about asking to go with him, but I changed my mind.
Well, it was fun for us then; but alone I would have been just as bored as in the fortification, with the only difference being that I would have to obey a drunken Cossack officer; and this was more the reason for my reflection." But, in spite of everything, the poet later recalled his journey to the Karatau Mountains more than once with great satisfaction and gratitude:
- "Oh, what wonderful, bright, joyful memories flew over my head at that time! I remembered our Karatau campaign with all its details... The campaign to Kara-Tau will remain in my memory for a long time, forever."
On May 21, in the evening, Shevchenko, together with the expedition transport, set out on a campaign along the Khiva road. Four miles from the fortification in the Shuile (Balka) tract, the caravan stopped for the night, and the next day by lunchtime arrived at the Khanga-Baba valley, located 27 miles from Novopetrovsk.
On the way to Karatau, this was the first point of geological reconnaissance. In order to have an idea of ​​the nature of the expedition and its tasks, as well as Shevchenko's duties with it, Let us turn to the instructional order of the Orenburg Governor-General and commander of the Separate Corps Obruchev, which he compiled for the head of the expedition, "lieutenant of the corps of mining engineers" Antipov.
- "Based on the order of the Minister of War dated February 25, 1851, your honor is sent to the Mangyshlak Peninsula," it is written in this document, "for the precise study and experimental development of coal mines discovered in 1846 and 1849 in the Kara-Tau Mountains.
The study of the aforementioned coal can be started in the first days of May and completed after a thorough inspection and study of the Karatau mines. As a result, your honor will take into your charge the topographer Nedorszov, who knows the area of ​​the coal mines in the Kara-Tau Mountains, as well as a detailed map of the Mangyshlak Peninsula from the General Staff department." According to this order of Obruchev, the expedition was to set out from the Novopetrovsk fortification already fully equipped with everything necessary.
As for transport, the instructions stated:
- "Your honor will transport all heavy items and food supplies on hired Kirghiz camels, which you will release when the need has passed, and the tools and the pile driver in disassembled form will be transported on camels."
The duties of the main staff of privates were distributed as follows:
- "The team of Ural Cossacks and infantry is placed at your complete disposal until the completion of the work; of them, the Cossacks must accompany you during reconnaissance of the mountains and guard the camp, and the infantry is assigned to develop the coal mines.
To help you with this matter, ensign Turno, who has already been in similar work on the Kulandy Peninsula, is sent to your Orenburg Linear Battalion No. 3... A paramedic from the Novopetrovsk fortification is assigned to you for the treatment of the sick."
From this order we also learn about such a detail as food. A detail very interesting for shedding light on the life of T. Shevchenko:
- "Food for all military ranks of the detachment in general, such as crackers, cereals, wine portions, salt, but will be obtained according to the regulations established for the garrison of the Novopetrovsk fortification. Your Excellency is entitled to one pound, and the foreman, the miners and the topographer are entitled to half a pound of meat per day each...
You will distribute a quarter cup of vinegar per person for mixing into food and water if the water is bad. You will receive all food supplies from the commandant of the fortification. To preserve the health of people and protect against inclement weather, Lieutenant Colonel Mayevsky issues the necessary number of yulameykas or kibitkas, of which one is assigned to you and one to the foreman, the miners and the topographer."
This instruction from Obruchev dealt not only with household and production matters, but also gave instructions on the behavior of the expedition members and their relationships with the local nomadic population that the expedition might encounter along the route.
- "During the exploration and development of coal," the instructions say, "your honor must observe the diligence and behavior of the people in the team entrusted to you. Likewise, make every effort to preserve the health of people, horses and camels and to save government property; also, do not oppress the Kirghiz or Turkmen when meeting auls, which should not be entered at all.
In addition, observe all military precautions, especially at night... For signals, in the event of a topographer or workers being mistaken at night, you will receive here 50 small rockets from the commander of the Orenburg artillery garrison, Colonel Fedorov."
With regard to conducting exploration work in the Karatau Mountains, coal mining technology and a description of its deposits, Obruchev's instructions listed the expedition's tasks in detail. There, among a whole “code” of rules and requirements, it was stated:
- “I propose that your honor conduct exploration and development of coal according to all the rules of mining art and in accordance with the instructions given to you on this subject on July 12, 1850. Having inspected each of the open mines and selected the most reliable, you will determine both their quality and the approximate amount of coal contained in them, as well as whether they are worth developing.
A detailed description of both the capacity of each mine and each coal seam discovered in them must be made. In addition, you will instruct topographer Nedorezov, who has been sent to you, to draw up plans for the areas where suitable coal for a steamship will be discovered and sections of it, indicating the thickness of each seam and its depth from the earth's surface.”
Mining engineer Alexander Ivanovich Antipov described a short period and the results of the Karatau expedition in 1851: "The thickness of the coal seam," writes A. I. Antipov, "does not exceed 6 vershoks. The exposed coal here is completely destroyed and appears as an earthy soot of a dark brown color; deeper it becomes denser, but its properties are worse than the lignite of the first mine.
The insignificant thickness of this coal seam with the very poor properties of the coal... the steep position of the seam and the weak rock that encloses it, inconvenient for laying developments in it, - did not at all deserve further research at this mine, and therefore its exploration is limited to only one external inspection."
A. I. Antipov had preliminary information about traces of coal in some places in Aktau, in particular near the Kuduk-Kerta tract. The most complete information about the location of coal was first obtained in 1646 by an officer of the General Staff, Captain M. M. Ivanin, who made a campaign here from the Novopetrovsk fort for this purpose.
Moreover, the military administration knew something about it even before Ivanin, and in Orenburg there were many conversations about Karatau coal. M.M. Ivanin wrote that in Novopetrovsk he specifically instructed the centurion of the Ural army Iskander - "a very diligent, thorough officer who knew the language of the natives and enjoyed their special respect and trust" to make inquiries and after this he became even more convinced that there must be coal in the Karatau mountains.
And on September 28, accompanied by a military detachment, he set out there along the Khiva highway. In M.M. Ivanin's description of this campaign there is such an episode. On October 3, during an overnight stay near the Kert well, a very young horse from the gun team died.
Upon examination, "yellow water" was found in the stomach and left leg, the heart was greatly enlarged, the liver and lungs began to decompose. According to the Kazakhs, the horse died from "dead grass", which grows here and there in the Karatau tracts.
No one could show this grass, but on October 6, at night, near the Sary-Kuduk well, a horse died again. In Shetps, M.M. Ivanin heard about this poisonous grass, although no one could say that he had seen it. Over time, it turned out that such a plant really does exist - they call it Taurian wormwood, it is not much different from ordinary bitter wormwood, but it is very poisonous.
History knows of cases of severe poisoning of animals, especially horses, mainly in the Caspian lowlands. Thus, during the campaign in Persia, Peter I lost more than 500 horses in one night near Kizlyar as a result of poisoning by Taurian wormwood.
As for the discovery of coal, Ivanin told an interesting story.
- “From the Kert well, the detachment turned left and crossed the Karatau mountains, following the valley of the Syir-Su stream... At this crossing, near the Kert well and on both sides of the Syir-Su stream, coal was found almost on the surface of the earth.
The Kirghiz, who were the leaders of the detachment, stubbornly denied knowing about the coal deposit, which I questioned them about, asking:
- “Where is the earth or stone that burns here?”
And when one of them saw that I was burning the first piece of coal in the samovar, he said without ceremony:
- “I see that the Russians are fools, I have lived here for 50 years and have not heard that there was such earth or stone that burns.”
But when later the next day I brought the coal I had found in the Syir-Su valley, which had heated the samovar and cooked the food, the Kirghiz looked at the coal for a long time and finally said:
- "Now I see that we are fools, we have lived here for so many years and do not know that there is a stone that burns"...
Then he asked if it was possible to send his son to study. It must be assumed that the Kirghiz, fearing the vengeance of the miners, hid the mineral wealth of their land. In their language, the word "coal" exists, therefore, the mineral itself is known to them."
Ivanin's findings and observations were quite interesting. For example, having come across burnt bricks in the Akmysh tract, he concludes: "It must be assumed that they were burned with coal found nearby, and not with wood, because there is no trace of it in these places.
But at present the Kirghiz do not make any use of coal." Therefore, back in the 40s of the last century it was known that coal had been used since ancient times for firing bricks. Memories of Bronislav Zalessky during his participation in the Karatau expedition.
After the Apazir Valley, Zalessky sent a letter to Arkady Vengrzhinovsky from Kugus, indicating that the expedition was now camped 165 kilometers from Fort Novopetrovsky and that for the first time in his life he had the opportunity to study painting:
- "Kugus Valley, July 10, 1851. My dear Arkady! I received your two letters of April 12 and May 8 here in the steppe... I'll see what the mail brings. I'll send for it in a few days. Perhaps I'll go myself - 140 miles from here. And I'm writing to you today, because tomorrow or the day after tomorrow we are setting out on a campaign - there will be no opportunity to write.
If I am in Novopetrovsk when I send this letter, I will add what the post office tells me. What can I tell you about myself? I will not describe our nomadic life, because I know it, I will not list the wells and valleys that I have passed. If you asked me what I was doing, I could answer in one word - I am drawing.
Perhaps this will surprise you, but you see, that is how it is. For the first time in my life I had the opportunity to study - I came to the conclusion that art can now give a person wonderful moments. My future is uncertain - gloomy. Who knows how long I will have to wander and travel?
I would like to prepare for myself something like a harbour, a corner within myself, where I could sometimes hide from burdensome worries and sorrows - breathe freely and refresh my soul, if not by creating something beautiful, since who knows if I will be able to do that, then by feeling something beautiful, that is why I draw here - and if I have the opportunity, then, upon returning to Orenburg, I will not leave my pencil and brush." ​​
The name of Taras Shevchenko is not mentioned here, but his presence is felt behind every line. But in Ludwig Turno's postscript to this letter, the name of the teacher himself flashed by:
- "Taras ordered to greet you." "The caravan of the expedition near the mountains Sherkala and Kok-Suyru," writes G. Palamarchuk, "the artist sketched in his next work with the note 18. In it we can already see part of the set up kibitkas and a caravan of camels, which emerges from behind the mountains Sherkala and Kok-Suyru...
Near this mountain (Sherkala), in a cozy valley, A.I. Antipov probably decided to give rest to the tired people after a long transition...". In mid-July, the geological exploration party completed the survey of the eastern part of the Middle Karatau. The results were disappointing.
If on the southern slope the coal was unsuitable for industrial use due to its low quality, then on the northeastern it was better, but the thickness of the seam was so insignificant (15 - 20 cm) that it was impossible to even think about exploiting the deposit.
The geologists had great difficulty in extracting fifty poods (less than one ton) to send to the Novopetrovsk fortification. An insignificant part of the mass that was needed in accordance with the order of the commander of the Separate Orenburg Corps V. Obruchev.
- "The natural coal extracted from different seams," it was said in his order, "you will deliver to the pier at Kochak Bay, without mixing the coal of one mine and seam with the coal of another. The entire cargo must be transported by water from Kochak Bay to the Novopetrovsk fortification and in such a quantity that it would be quite sufficient for proper testing in Astrakhan and especially in St. Petersburg.
For the transportation of the below-mentioned test coal, up to 1000 poods in total, 36 camels are required, 14 poods each, which are sent twice from the mines to the pier; this distance extends from 130 to 170 miles." Geologists, however, did not lose hope of encountering coal deposits while surveying the northern slopes of the Karatau Ridge on the way back.
According to preliminary information, coal deposits in the Western and Middle Karatau were not limited to the places that the expedition had already identified. Therefore, the caravan was now going to move along the northern side of the ridge in such a way as to reach Tauchik and close the line of research.
Leaving the Kugus and Akmyshtau tracts with their picturesque surroundings, the caravan now moved west along the valleys and depressions that separated Karatau from Northern Aktau. It was possible to establish that on this route the expedition made its first overnight stop in the oasis valley of Shyir, which lies just north of the Karatau Ridge and has several springs.
Once upon a time, trade caravans probably stopped here, going from Khiva to the Buzachi Peninsula and to the Kochak Bay. Here one could stock up on good water, graze camels and horses, and rest. Shevchenko also saw how individual crippled elms fought for their existence and how the bushes of karagana (yellow acacia) scattered across the valley turned black.
Now there was not a single bush here. A. I. Antipov wrote in his report that, based on its characteristics, this was not real coal, but lignite of very poor quality, earthy, real dust, with an insignificant layer thickness, only three inches; it did not deserve any attention.
During the further transition from the northern side of the ridge, more layers of lignite of the same quality were discovered, but since the thickness of the best of them did not exceed two vershoks, they were not even included in the detailed description of the report.
Taras Shevchenko was assigned to the expedition not for an excursion walk and not as an artist. The instructions of Governor-General V.A. Obruchev, which the head of the expedition, mining engineer A.I. Antipov, was to strictly follow, stated:
- "A team consisting of two non-commissioned officers will be assigned to your command in the Novopetrovsk fortification and 44 Cossacks of the Ural army with a senior officer, two non-commissioned officers and 23 lower ranks of infantry...
The team of Ural Cossacks and infantry is placed at your complete disposal until the completion of the work: of these, the Cossacks must accompany you during reconnaissance of the mountains and guard the camp, and the infantry is assigned to develop coal mines...
During the exploration and development of coal, your honor must observe the diligence and behavior of the people of the team entrusted to you." According to this order, the head of the expedition A.I. Antipov was obliged, as we see, to use the "lower ranks of the infantry", that is, privates, to which Shevchenko belonged, exclusively for physical mountain work - digging pits and trenches, mining coal, loading it onto transport, and also setting up camp at the stops.
By the end of the expedition's reconnaissance route, there was a lot of work to do. Suffice it to say that from each deposit, or, as they called it then, mine, it was necessary to send coal to Kochak Bay and load it onto a steamer. In addition, mining tools, various equipment, and a significant part of land transport had to be loaded.
All this was done, of course, with the participation of Shevchenko, and there was no time left for drawing. Only this can explain why Shevchenko limited himself to only two landscape sketches when he was in Kochak Bay. The main part of the expedition returned from Karatau along the same route by which it had arrived here at the end of May.
On the way, on September 7, the expedition returned to the Novopetrovsk fort. Shevchenko also arrived along with all the other "lower ranks of the infantry."
- "We returned healthy and happy with our detachment and no later than in a week, we will leave for Orenburg by steamer."
This is what Zalessky wrote on the day of his arrival at the fortification. These words also apply to the poet to some extent. True, they were different natures, with different temperaments and slightly different worldviews, but the common fate of the exiles, almost identical legal and everyday norms of life give reason to speak of the same mood and psychological state.
Therefore, once again, for the umpteenth time, we will turn to Zalessky, who summed up the results of the trip for himself in a letter to Vengrzynowski: 
- "What can I tell you about myself? Three months passed in the steppe, and in fact I felt good there. I don’t know how it happened, but I am returning from this desert with a deeper perception of nature than I had before. I see now many beautiful things that I have not seen before...
I said goodbye to the steppe with heartfelt gratitude to God and his nature... I am going back to pull the daily strap. Ludwig embraces you and the artist - he is staying here."
Bronislav Zaleski and Ludwig Turno soon left the Novopetrovsk fortification for Orenburg. The geologists, topographer and other mountain specialists of the expedition also left Mangyshlak, only Shevchenko remained in the same "unlocked prison", in the same barracks as before the trip to Karatau.
Nothing changed in his life and legal status. Free life in Karatau flew by like a dream. Again - meaningless drill on the windswept.

Natural, architectural and historical sights visited by participants of Karatau expedition from May 21 to September 7, 1851.

Khanga baba valley is located 30 kilometers east of the Novopetrovsk fortification on Mangyshlak. It received its name from the revered person buried here, whose grave was preserved. Next to the grave were the ruins of a mosque and a school, and on the mountain were the remains of an old fortress. Nearby was an old Turkmen cemetery.
- "Khanga baba place is charming, but I have only been there once; mountains are located on three sides, mulberry trees grow in the gorges. At the foot of the mountains there is a beautiful green meadow, on which there is a huge mulberry tree, two sazhens in size (the Kyrgyz do not touch trees, considering them holy)" - recalled A. Uskova.
The presence of 15 wells and springs of fresh water here attracted even more local population and caravans. Hanga Baba was the site of the Karatau expedition in May 1851.
Apazir Valley is located in the Karatau Mountains on Mangyshlak, a long-term stopover for the Karatau expedition of A. Antipov, who drilled the first pits here and tested coal in these places. Arriving here on June 1, 1851, the expedition, which included T. Shevchenko, stayed in the valley at the foot of Karatau for 18 - 20 days.
For the poet and artist, this was a time of close communication with Ural miners, Polish friends, and intensive drawing (drawings "View of Karatau from the Apazir Valley", "Apazir Valley" and others, watercolors "Moonlit Night Among the Mountains", "Aulietau", landscape sketches).
From here he wrote a letter to A. Vengrzhinovsky, sent to Orenburg with B. Zalesky. One of the most memorable places of the first year of T. Shevchenko's soldiering on Mangyshlak. Akmyshtau is a plateau in the central part of the Northern Aktau mountain range on Mangyshlak, the site of the Karatau expedition in July (early August) 1851. Two drawings by T. Shevchenko are known, depicting the named mountain. 
Chalk mountains of Aktau on Mangyshlak. Parallel to the Karatau ridge, they were the object of study of the expedition of A. Antipov and the professional interests of its participant - the artist T. Shevchenko.
In 1854, he wrote to B. Zalesky:
- "...soon you will see both Ak-Tau and Kara-Tau, if not in paint, then at least in sepia."
Drawings directly related to Aktau have not been fully identified.
Agaspeyar valley is located between the Karatau and South Aktau ridges on the Mangyshlak Peninsula. Remains of an old fortress and settlements of ancient times, a large Turkmen cemetery. The site of coal exploration by the Karatau expedition in June - July 1851. T. Shevchenko made four drawings with views of the mountains and the cemetery, distinguished by the uniqueness of its monuments.
Kayraktau (Ayrakty) mountain range is located in the central part of Northern Aktau. Among other neighboring mountains (Koksuyru, Chirkalatau), it stood out for its size and horseshoe shape, rounded conical top and steep walls. In the valley near the mountain, the Karatau expedition of 1851 made a long stop, which contributed to the work of Shevchenko the artist, who captured the mountain landscapes of these places in his sketches, studies, and sketches. 
Chalk mountain Koksuyru is located in the central part of Northern Aktau. During the Karatau expedition of 1851, T. Shevchenko painted a landscape with this mountain. Kochak Bay, located on the northern coast of the Caspian Sea, Mangyshlak Peninsula.
The place of arrival of steamships with cargo and mail for the Karatau expedition of 1851, as well as storage of everything necessary for the expedition. A watercolor and two pencil drawings by T. Shevchenko are known, marked with this geographical name. The drawings were made from life, the watercolor - in the following months (or years) of the poet-artist's Novopetrovsk soldiering. 
Kshtym (Kshtyn) Valley is located on the Khiva road to the Novopetrovsk fortification on Mangyshlak. Kshtym Valley was part of the Khanga baba system and was distinguished by an abundance of fresh water. The resting place of the Karatau expedition of 1851 at the initial stage of its route. Captured in T. Shevchenko's drawing "Kuduk Kshtym" ("The Well of Kshtym") - the second, after "Khanga Baba", his completed pencil drawing of the months of this expedition. 
Kugus (Kogoz) Valley is located in the central part of Karatau. Here, at the end of July 1851, A. Antipov expedition found sandstone deposits with amonites. It was famous for its fresh water springs. A drawing by T. Shevchenko with his inscription "Kugus Valley" is well-known. It shows a natural depression among the mountains with part of an expedition camp in the foreground.
Syunkukh valley is located on the north-eastern slope of Western Karatau. It was a long-term stopover for the Karatau expedition of 1851 to develop coal deposits. T. Shevchenko made three drawings, capturing Syunkukh from different points.
Tarla (Tarli, Tarly) valley is located on the north-western slopes of Southern Aktau, a stopover for the Karatau expedition of 1851 at the end of its exploration work. Three drawings from life are known and three more have not been found, which convey the most significant features of the terrain in this area.
Usyrtau Mountains, one of the mountains in the central part of Northern Aktau. During the Karatau expedition of 1851, T. Shevchenko made a pencil drawing, supplied with his own inscription "Usyr Tau". The same mountain is also in the drawing "Aktau Mountain Range".

Authority: 
"Steppes Will Come to Life". Anatoly Kostenko, Esbol Umirbayev. Alma-Ata. "Oner". 1984.
http://orenkraeved.ru/lichnosti/a/3837-antipov-aleksandr-ivanovich-1824-1887.html