SURGUT AND BERYOZOV COSSACKS-PATHFINDERS (END OF THE 16th - FIRST THIRD OF THE 17th CENTURIES)
In the course of early Russian colonization of Western Siberia, the Surgut and Beryozov Cossacks discovered many lands that became henceforth (in one form or another) subject to Moscow autocrats. I. Argunov and M. Kashmylov were the first to impose a tribute in furs on the Evenks living along the banks of the Lower and Middle Tunguska Rivers. The party of A. Dobrynsky and M. Vasilyev initiated the incorporating of the Lensky Krai to Russia. The Surgut Cossacks, in particular, T. Fedorov and D. Gorodchikov, reached the river Tom area (after Chulym), the upper Keti River and the middle reaches of the Yenisei, where winter huts appeared, along with stockade settlements, and even towns. As a result, the territory subject to the Tobolsk department significantly expanded.