Eight Years on Sakhalin

A Political Prisoner's Memoir

Ivan P. Iuvachev, Andrew A. Gentes

• Publisher: Anthem Press
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN: 9781785278228
• eBook ISBN: 9781785278242
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Social Science Biographies
• Index: Social Sciences

In 1887, following several years' imprisonment for his role in the People's Will terrorist group, Ivan P. Iuvachëv was exiled with other political prisoners to the notorious Sakhalin penal colony. The penal colony emerged during the late 1860s and 1870s and collapsed in 1905, under the weight of Japan's invasion of Sakhalin. The eight years between 1887 and 1895 that Iuvachëv spent on the island were some of the most tumultuous in the penal colony's existence. Originally published in 1901, his memoir offers a first-hand account of this netherworld that embodied the extremities of tsarist Russian penality. A valuable historical document as well as a work of literature testifying to one man's ability to retain his humanity amid a sea of human degradation, this annotated translation marks the first time Iuvachëv's memoir has appeared in any language besides Russian.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Foreword, by Andrew A. Gentes
• A Note on Transliteration and Dates
• Glossary of Measurements
• Preface
• Part I
• Chapter 1 First impressions of the Sakhalin coast • Time aboard the steamer on the run to Aleksandrovsk Post • Transfer of penal laborers to the wharf • Prisoners’ baggage • A view of Sakhalin’s shorelines • First encounter with Warden L—— • Anticipating dinner • Along the road to Aleksandrovsk Post • In the prison yard • Distribution to the barracks
• Chapter 2 Searching for food • Invitation from the warden • His favorite trick • Supper • Morning impressions • Punishment with birch rods • The method of registering penal laborers • The warden’s irritation • Deprivation of all personal rights
• Chapter 3 Dinner • An alarming noise in the canteen • The failed attempt on Warden L——’s life • Prisoners’ malevolence • A penal laborer’s death by gunfire • A walk outside the prison • Assignment to Tymovsk District • Administrators’ opinions regarding the wounding of Warden L—— • A meeting with him
• Chapter 4 Meeting the educated exiles • Their solicitousness and attention • Examples of conflict over the cap issue • Priest Georgii Salˊnikov • Penal laborers’ petitions • Prisoners’ dinner • Bakers’ difficult situation
• Chapter 5 The penal laborers’ march to Tymovsk District • Bivouac in Novo-Mikhailovsk settlement • An unwelcome task • We approach the Pilinga Mountains • Sakhalin flora • Across the ridgeline • The convoy guards’ revelation • District commander Butakov • Weariness • The Tym Valley
• Chapter 6 Rykovsk settlement • The Sakhalin prisons’ natural barrier • Artist K.’s hospitality • Installation in a workshop • The bathhouse • First katorga jobs
• Chapter 7 Assignment as a carpenter • My sickly constitution • Sakhalin’s keta salmon • Poisonous fish • Night blindness • Carpentry work • Auditorium in the church square • Relations with workers • Incident with Masiukevich • Exiles’ conscience
• Chapter 8 My comrades • Difficulty living together • The latrine watchman • His good soul • Old type of prison garb • Penal laborers’ vulgarity • Rykov, founder of the Tym Valley settlement
• Chapter 9 The situation in the Tym Valley • Farming conditions • Rykovsk settlement • Exile-settlers’ dinners • The new warden F.’s relaxations • A bed along the way and on Sakhalin • The ward’s unhygienic conditions • Doctor Sasaparel • His patience
• Chapter 10 The warden’s efforts to build a church • My assignment as a chorister • A temporary church in the barracks • The hatchet-wound • My importance to the church choir • Hieromonk Iraklii • His self-exhaustion as a youth • The cleric’s special importance to Sakhalin • New jobs
• Chapter 11 Katorga assignments • Wood-cutting • The expedition • Six nighttime workers • The taiga in winter • Felling trees • Penal laborers’ log-hauling • End of the workday
• Chapter 12 The difficulty of katorga • Blizzards • Logging during the mud season • The workers’ barracks at night • Vacations • Sawyers • Guards • Their lives on the island and on the mainland • Golubev
• Chapter 13 Headmen-executioners • Punishment with birch rods • Headmen-maidanshchiki • Ivan Lebedev • The sanctioned whip • The schismatic Katin • Punishment with lashes
• Part II
• Chapter 1 A new assignment • M. A. Krzhizhevskaia • Her work • The meteorological station • Secret philanthropy
• Chapter 2 A change of situation • An official’s sympathy • My attitude toward him • First winter mail • Anticipating correspondence • Inspecting letters • Making Butakov’s acquaintance • The importance of letters in exile
• Chapter 3 Preparing the new church for Easter • A passion for work • My importance as a church headman • Building a garden • Botanical excursions • Leaving the prison • Departing comrades’ situations • Butakov’s dangerousness • His renown on the island
• Chapter 4 The temptation of an artless existence • America’s woodland residents • Sakhalin Giliaks • Chubuk and Matrënka • Kindhearted Kanka • Mutual gifts • Giliaks’ unclean crowding • Their welcome and entertainment
• Chapter 5 Recording Giliak fables • A comparison of Giliaks with Vancouver Island’s inhabitants • Their degeneration • The lack of brides • Giliak religions • Orthodox missionaries’ lack of success • Giliak guards • False shame
• Chapter 6 Solitary and general prison confinement • The boy Semën Alaev • Sakhalin children • An apartment in a schoolhouse • Children’s adventurous games • The teacher Iurkevich • His success working with children • A new school
• Chapter 7 The murder of choirmaster Gennisaretskii • A quiet time in the life of the prison • My old acquaintance L—— is named warden • My meeting with him • Petitioning for comrades • The tightening measures over penal laborers • The prison’s model orderliness and external cleanliness
• Chapter 8 Morning impressions • Victims of discipline • The warden’s cruelty • My altercation with him • L——’s kindness • The nature of his conversations with laborers • Concessions towards the end of his service
• Chapter 9 Summer jobs • Surveying Tym Valley • A disputed issue • Mikhail Semënovich Mitsul • Sakhalin contrasts • The Tym Valley’s climate • Humidity • Clear air • Rarely observed planets and the zodiacal world • Climatic variations on Sakhalin
• Chapter 10 The situation of designated homeowners • M. S. Mitsul’s government assistance • An insufficiency of good land • Decline of the agricultural economy • Mistakes regarding the climate • The Tym Valley in spring • Sakhalin exile-settlers’ opinions • Rains and overflowing rivers • The difficulty of improving local farming
• Chapter 11 Meeting penal laborers from the barracks • The return from work • Nighttime in the barracks • Morning in the valley • Road work; a comparison with mining • The division of laborers by class
• Chapter 12 Catching fish with a hook • State fishing • The keta catch and its uncleanliness • The cleaners’ guard • Salting fish • Drying keta • Eating fish eggs • The diminution of fish and Giliaks’ starvation • Sakhalin’s natural wealth
• Chapter 13 My sailing assignment • Traveling through Aleksandrovsk District • Derbinsk settlement • Lower and Upper Armudan • A mountain road • Transporting a government load • Arkovo Valley • The sea’s proximity • A Giliak settlement • On the beach at high tide • Entering Aleksandrovsk Post
• Chapter 14 The educated exile Pl——’s farm • Among Aleksandrovsk officials • A new job offer • The surveyor Karaulovskii • P. S. Karaulovskii’s mountain • Triangulating and surveying Aleksandrovsk Post
• Part III
• Chapter 1 Invitation to a seaside stroll • The steamer Prince Shakhovskoi • In the Tatar Strait • Stormy weather • The messengers’ concern • The mainland’s coast • De-Kastri Bay • A chance to escape • Inspecting a settlement • Military vessels’ anchors and hulls
• Chapter 2 Guests of the military commander • Visiting a lighthouse • The Sakhalin penal laborers’ crossing • Leaving De-Kastri • On the sea at night • Fog • The Sakhalin coast • Returning to Aleksandrovsk Post
• Chapter 3 Preparations for a new journey • A conversation on the wharf • Going to sea • Night in Khoé • A risky approach to Viakhtu • A rest on the coast • Surveying and measuring a lake • The Giliak village of Tyk • Old Man Orkun • A baby Giliak’s cradle
• Chapter 4 Cape Nevelˊskoi • The pilot’s note • The narrowest part of the strait • Penal laborers’ escape aboard a steam cutter • The absence of a coastal fleet for sakhalintsy • Return to Tyk • Guests of the Tungus • After the ebb tide
• Chapter 5 Giliaks’ provisions caches • A Giliak’s request • Tangi settlement • Russians’ disputes with Giliaks • Giliak dogs • Rich man Gilelˊka • Mgachi settlement • An abandoned woman • Coastal settlements • Measuring the Aleksandrovsk fairway • Hosting Englishmen on Sakhalin
• Chapter 6 Aboard the steamer Shooter • Sakhalin’s west coast • Mauka Bay • Cape Crillon and danger rock • Wreck of the steamer Kostroma • Prisoners in a locked hold • Saving the carriage • A human victim
• Chapter 7 Korsakovsk Post • A Japanese junk • Going to the Okhotsk Sea • The mining engineer • Whales and seal furs • Seal island • Predatory Japanese • Tikhmenev Post • Negotiations with the Japanese • Unloading provisions • Nighttime wanderings
• Chapter 8 Manué Post • The Ainu of Sakhalin and Matsumae • In the La Pérouse Strait • Seabirds • Sea lions on Danger Rock • Totomosiri Island • Return to Aleksandrovsk Post • In Rykovsk again
• Chapter 9 The 1891 Manifesto • Anticipating an imperial pardon • Congratulations on the ending of katorga • Disappointment • New griefs • M. A. Krzhizhevskaia’s illness • Her death and funeral • Tears for the “penal laborers’ mother” • My loneliness in exile
• Chapter 10 Katorga’s tragic days • Deprivation of bread as punishment • The road to the Okhotsk Sea • The guard Khanov • His command in Onor • The leadership’s attitude toward the road gang • The sick and the beaten • Khanov’s murdered laborers • Onor fugitives
• Chapter 11 My new manservant • His past • Escape from Onor • Andrei’s story • The situation for Khanov’s laborers • Self-maiming • Onor cannibals • D. S. Klimov’s investigation
• Chapter 12 L——’s retirement and departure • Warden N. N. Ia——v • Flowers, poetry, and a reprisal from prisoners • Tymovsk District’s expansion • A complicated business • Assigning exiles to Sakhalin • At the clapboard hut, turn right • What Butakov knew • No return from a graveyard
• Chapter 13 Leaving Sakhalin • Penal laborers building the Ussuri Railroad • Laborers’ complaints • Difficulty on the Amur • The development of a steamship line • The pay office • Drunken sailors • Sakhalintsy’s thinnest praise • Depending on the katorga island • Definitively breaking from Sakhalin
• Chapter 14 A visit to Rykovsk settlement • An itinerary to entertain guests • The church • The prison • The school • The stable • The potato palace • The mill • The gardens • The fields • The Tymovsk military command • A clash between soldiers and the exile population • Between two fires
• Chapter 15 First news in the press about the Onor atrocities • A Sakhalin correspondent’s investigations • The commandant’s menacing threats • N. P——’s arrest • Two fates • Administrators’ attitude towards exiles • The suicides of K—— and D——i
• Chapter 16 The situation for educated people on the island • A Sakhalin family • Deceptive expectations • Drunkenness • The disbursement of vodka • Spirits • A guard’s revelry • Sakhalin’s sobriety measures
• Part IV
• Chapter 1 The new status of exile-settler • Decline in air quality • News of the governor-general’s arrival • Meeting Baron Korf in Rykovsk • The arrival of N. I. Grodekov • Sakhalin flags • The general’s simple arrangements • His tour of district settlements • Submitting petitions • A lack of administrators
• Chapter 2 My meeting with General Grodekov • A false rumor about our relationship • Golden Hand • A tearful, sobbing confession • The energetic general • Rykovsk under the Russian flag • Resurrection of the dead • N. I. Grodekov’s parting speech • Old Lady Marˊia’s request
• Chapter 3 The exile-settler Elizaveta K. • Her daughter’s arrival from Russia • Masha’s story about her journey • Matchmaking • Cohabitation with a laborer • A victim of jealousy • Masha’s illness • Abandoning cohabitation
• Chapter 4 Women on Sakhalin • Exiled penal laborers • Abolition of corporal punishment • The female penal laborer’s unbridledness and showiness • The female penal laborer’s preference for freedom • Legal wives • Shamelessness • The card game • The chorister O——
• Chapter 5 Personal morality’s importance in lifting a man • Comparison of a Russian to foreigners • Our peasant’s humiliating position • The exiled penal laborer Shalaev • Refusal to work • A voluntary loss of sight • What attention does for an exile • Good people on Sakhalin • Reasons for being sentenced to katorga
• Chapter 6 Losing the most favorable period of life • The difficult situation in exile • One night among the people • Farewell to friends • Butakov’s death • His honesty and kindness toward people • The Onor Affair • A new collection of administrators • Patience’s end
• Chapter 7 A trip to Aleksandrovsk Post in winter • Meeting with the governor • Visiting comrades • Exiles’ situations • A noble tiller of the soil • An impromptu marriage • A village feast • A cheerful tour of huts
• Chapter 8 Exiles’ hidden sorrows • The issue of Sakhalin’s sick • The female penal laborer’s life of fear • The fate of two Marˊias • A cousin’s spouse • A romance interrupted for ten years • The chancery’s mistake • The brides are delivered by steamer • Undeserved insults • The two Marˊias’ arrival in Vladivostok
• Chapter 9 Vladivostok under military alert • Rumors of war • Sergeant-Major Kobchik • His punishment • Penal laborer military detachments • Exiles in the Crimean campaign • Arsenii Kobchik’s death • Stories about military campaigns • The tsar’s inspection • A Sakhalin passport • A new obstacle to leaving
• Chapter 10 In a grave • A request from old men • Farewells and bidding goodbye to comrades • Through the snowy Kamyshev Pass • The island’s emptiness • Burning taiga • An encounter with Giliaks • Visiting the military governor • Arrival of the steamer Baikal • With comrades yet again
• Chapter 11 Held back! • The governor’s explanation • Comrades’ efforts to distract me • Barge building • Japanese traders • Hasegawa’s opinion regarding an impending war • Japanese crafts • My understandings of an expected departure • Journey to Dué • A pitiful man
• Chapter 12 The governor’s new request • Difficult connections • Invaluable victims • Aboard the steamer Velox • My travel companions • Loading of coal by penal laborers • Double supervision • The war against the secret gift of liquor • Communication by water • A lack of restraint • Setting sail • “Forward yo!”
• Chapter 13 Sakhalintsy in Vladivostok • The difficulty of dissociating oneself from the island of penal laborers • The region’s gray fogs • S. G. Iurkevich’s letter • Ocean industry • No harvest due to drought • First bees on Sakhalin • Robbery and murder • The agricultural colony’s difficult circumstances • The antagonism between penal laborers and exile-settlers
• Chapter 14 Distance and time make an impression • The Sakhalin kaleidoscope • Can good come from bad? • The school of humiliation • The pathetic incident with Riukhin • Pathways for saving the soul • To suffer is the exiles’ common lot • Farewell, Sakhalin