khamnigan is the buriat-mongolian term for all ewenkis. in the early 16th century, the evenks of transbaikalia or khamnigans were tributary to the khalkha. the khamnigan are only ethnic group of tungus origin in mongolia. they who lived around nerchinsk and the aga steppe faced both cossack demands for tribute and khori-buriats trying to occupy their pastures. most of them came under the cossack rule and enrolled the cossack regiments in the selenge valley. the khori buriats occupied most of the aga steppe and forced the ewenkis to flee to the qing dynasty.