Setkul Ablin

Setkul Ablin was a trader who had three times journeyed from Russia to China as a Russian agent. In China, he engaged in trading of his goods, and was once replaced for a Russian ambassador.

Setkul Abli was first sent in China by the Russian government in 1653, to announce the coming of a Russian ambasaador Fyodor Bayakov. Ablin left for China with a caravan of trade goods, principally furs. He arrived in Peking in late 1655 and was welcomed by the Chinese as he was the ambassador himself. Setkul Ablin traded most of his goods and left Peking in the spring of 1656. He and Bayakov passed each other on the steppe without encountering each other.

In 1658, Ablin was sent on another mission to China. He returned to Russia in 1662, but on the way was relieved of much of his gain by Oriat Mongols.

In 1668, Ablin again went to Peking. He spent a month in Peking, done his mission and headed back with his caravan. On his return to Russia, he had made 18,000 rubles on an initial investment of 4,500.