Kashgaria, eastern or Chinese Turkistan; historical and geographical sketch of the country, its military strength, industries, and trade

Chapter I

Geographical sketch of Kashgaria — Character of the Kashgarian valley, mountains, rivers, soil, oases, and deserts — View of the natural wealth of Kashgaria — Communications — Population — Occupations of inhabitants ; their dress, food, language and religion ... ... ... 21—39

Chapter II

Division of Kashgaria in an administrative sense — Hakims — Collection of taxes, direct and indirect — Sirkars — Yuz-bashis, Kazis and Raises — Proportion of taxation to the Circles of Kashgar, Maral-Bashi, Aksu, Bai, Koocha and Koorlia — Abuses in the collection of taxes — Dissatisfaction of the population with Yakoob Bek — Causes of the dissatisfaction of certain classes, agricultural, priestly and military — Its consequences ... ... ... ... 40—69

Chapter III

Trade of Kashgaria — Trade treaty with Yakoob Bek — Position of traders in Kashgaria — Eussian traders, their complaints — Currency of Kashgaria — Units of weights and measures — Trade-dues — Brokers — Foreign trade of Kashgaria — Imports — Principal articles of import : chintzes, cattle, tea, iron, iron-wares, dyeing materials, cotton — Exports — Disproportion between imports and exports — Exchange of Russian raw products for Kashgarian prepared goods — Danger to Russia of reciprocity in trade — Way of avoiding it — Kashgarian woollen and cotton webs — Mata — Dyed biaz, printed linen, chakmen — Silk and silken manufactures — Robes (hhalats), felts, alum — Trade with India ... ... ... ... ... 60 88

J

Chapter IV

Some words relating to the history of Kashgaria, B. C. — The Uigurs — First conquest of Kashgaria by the Chinese — Arab dominion — Mongol dominion — Chingiz-Khan and his heirs — Tamerlane — Sultan Said — Appearance of the Khodjas — Appak Khodja — Djoongan dominion — Amoorsana — Conquest of Kashgaria by the Chinese in the year 1760 — Tchjao-Hoi — System of administration adopted by the Chinese — Condition of the country from the year 1760 to the year J 825 ... ... ... ... .. .. 89 133

449980

IV CONTENTS.

CHAPTER V. Pages

Rebellion against the Chinese in the year 1 825 — Djengir-Turya — Insurrection

of the Kokanese in the year 1830 — Khodja Med Yusoof — Rebellion of the Seven Khodjas (Katta-Turya) — Rebellion of 1857 — Valikhan Turya ... 134—152

Chapter VI

Some words on the Doongan insurrection in the Chinese provinces of Shan-Si. Han-Su and Djoongaria — Rebellion in Kashgaria — Rasheddin Khodja — Habiboolla Khodja — Sadwik Bek — Boozrook-Khan — Arrival of Yakoob Bek in the town of Kashgar ; his biography — Yakoob Bek defeats the Aksu and Yarkend troops sent against him — He captures the town of Yangi- Hissar and the citadel of Yangi Shar — Suppression of the rebellion of the Kipchaks — Capture of Yarkend and Khotau — Yakoob Bek declares himself the ruler of Kashgaria — His march against the towns of Aksu, Koocha and Koorlia — Raid of the Doongans on the town of Koocha — Second movement against the town of Koonya-Toorfan — Third march of Yakoob Bek to Koonya Toorfan for the purpose of engaging the Chinese forces — Failure before Hoomatai — Present condition of Yakoob Bek ... ... ... 153 — 182

Some additions to the biography of Yakoob Bek ... ... ... ... 182 — 187

Chapter VII

The Kashgarian army — Its organization, complement, commissariat, armament, training and nature of employment — Its numerical strength and distribution on the :vr February 1877 — Conclusions to be drawn therefrom ... .. 188 — 245

13th

Chapter VIII

Glance at events in Kashgaria from February 1877 up to the present time — Death of Yakoob Bek — Internal dissensions — Struggle amongst Yakoob Bek's sons — Bek Koolwi Bek — Advance of the Chinese — Capture of Koorlia, Koocha, Aksu. Maral-Bashi and Kashgar by the Chinese — Bek Koolwi Bek's unsuccessful campaign against Khotan — Policy of the Chinese commanders towards the population of Kashgaria ... ... ... ... ... 246 — 255

NOTE.

THE following eight Appendices appear in the original work, and although not without great political and military importance in view of any future operations in Kashgarian territory, they would have no special interest for the general reader. They have not, therefore, teen incorporated in the present edition :

APPENDICES.

Appendix I. — Itineraries of the Route followed in 1876-77 by the Russian Embassy to Kashgaria, from the town of Osh to the town of Kashgar.

[Russ. text, pp. 219 to 253

Appendix II, — Do. do., from the town of Kashgar to the town of Aksu.

[Russ. text, pp. 255 to 273

Appendix III. — Do. do., from the town of Aksu to the town of Koorlia.

[Russ. text, pp. 275 to 296

Appendix IV. — (a.) Itinerary of the Route followed in 1877 by Second Captain Soonargooloff, from the town of Aksu to the town of Karakol, via Fort Ootch-Toorfan. [Russ. text, pp. 297 to 310

(£.) Karashar and Lake Bagratch-Kool. An excursion undertaken by Captain N. N. Kuropatkin and Mons. A. Wilkins.

[Russ. text, pp. 311 to 319

Appendix V. — (a.) Table of distances in the Route followed in 1876-77 by the Russian Embassy to Kashgaria, from the town of Osh to the town of Koorlia. [Russ. text, pp. 321 to 323

(6.) Table of distances in the Route followed in 1876-77 by the Russian Embassy on its way back from Kashgaria, from the town of Koorlia to the town of Osh. [Russ. text, pp. 324 to 326

Appendix VI. — Information relating to the trade between Russia and Kashgaria during the year 1876 :

(a.) Return 1. — Of goods imported from Russian territory into the town of Kashgar, vid Osh. [Russ. text, p. 328

VI APPENDICES.

Appendix VII. — (Continued.)

(6.) Return II. — Of goods imported into Russian territory from the town of Kashgar, vid Osh. [Russ. text, pp. 329 & 330

(c.) Return III. — Of the number of caravans which entered the town of Ootch-Toorfan from the Issikkul district. [Russ. text, p. 331

(d.) Return IV. — Of the number of caravans which entered the Isswik-kool district from Kashgar. [Russ. text, pp. 332 & 333

(e.) Return V. — Of the number of caravans which entered the Issikkul district from Ootch-Toorfan. [Russ. text, pp. 334 & 335

Goods which form the principal part of the trade in the bazaars of Aksu and Kashgar. [Russ. text, pp. 336 to 345

(/.) Return VI. — Of the caravans which passed through the Tokmak district to Kashgar and back again. [Huss. text, pp. 346 to 427

Appendix VII. — The latitude and longitude east of Pulkoffs Observatory of some of the principal places in Kashgaria. [Russ. text, pp. 430 to 432

Heights of certain points in Kashgaria as ascertained barometrically.

[Russ. text, p. 433

Appendix VIII. — Authorities consulted by Colonel A. N. Kuropatkin in his preparation of the map1 of Kashgaria or Eastern or Chinese Turkistau. Cartographical materials other than the itineraries of the Embassy :2

i. Topographical survey of portions of the territory of the Diko-Kamenui or Wild Stone Kirghiz of the Trans-Ili and of the Chinese possessions, carried out in 1856, on a scale of 5 versts (3|rd miles) to the inch.

From this survey has been drawn the eastern end and neighbourhood of Lake Issik-Kul.

1 A publication of the Cartographical Department of the Military Topographical Section of the Russian General Staff, compiled under the personal supervision of the Editor of Asiatic publications, Colonel A. A. Bolsheff.

2 I. Itinerary of the route followed by the Russian Embassy to Kashgaria in 1876, prepared by Second Captain Startseff. Scale, 5 versts (3Jrd miles) to an inch.

This itinerary includes the entire road from Osh, via Kashgar, to Kooiiia and the prolongation thereof to Karashar (the latter portions from information furnished by N. Kuropatkin and A. Wilkins).

II. Eye and compass survey of the road from the town of Aksu, vid Ootch-Toorfan, to the village of Slivkino, completed in 1877 by Second Captain Soonargooloff. Scale, 5 versts (3|rd miles) to the inch, — Autlwr.

APPENDICES. vii

Appendix VIII. — (Continued. )

ii. Special 10 versts (6grds miles) map of Western Siberia.

From this map has been drawn the western end and neighbourhood of Lake Issik-kul.

iii. Topographical survey of the south-western portion of Lake Issik-kul and of the highlands of the river Chu, carried out in 1860, on a scale of 10 versts (6frds miles) to the inch.

From this map has been drawn a small portion of the country lying to the south-west of Lake Issik-kul.

iv. Map of the Narin tract, comprising a semi-instrumental survey carried out under the direction of Major-General Kraevski in 1868, and from reconnaissances effected by Sub-Lieutenant Petroff and Topographer Reingardt, on a scale of 5 versts (3|rd miles) to the inch.

v. Map of the Narin tract, from the reconnaissance of 1868-69 of Baron A. V. Kaulbars, on a scale of 30 versts (20 miles) to the inch.

This served to fill up the blanks in the preceding map.

vi. Map of the highlands of the Amu-Uaria, compiled in the Military Topographical Section of the General Staff from the most recent information. Scale, 30 versts (20 miles) to the inch.

From this map was taken, amongst other information, the survey of the Alai Expedition, from the town of Osh to the Uz-Bel-Su pass. In connection with this survey is Startseff's itinerary from Sufi-Koorgan to Kashgar.

vii. Reconnaissance of the valley of the Tekes and of the Muzart pass under Colonel Poltoratski in 1867. Scale, 5 versts (3Jrd miles) to the inch.

viii. Semi-instrumental survey of the Kuljan region, 1871-72. Scale, 5 versts (3Jrd miles) to the inch.

From the southern portion of this survey have been noted the names, &c., of several rivers.

ix. Map of the Kuljan tract, compiled from semi-instrumental surveys carried out in 1872. Scale, 20 versts (13Jrd miles) to an inch.

x. Captain Shepeleff's survey of the Muzart pass of 1873 (scale, 2 versts (l|rd miles) to an inch). Itinerary based on elicited information of the road from the Muzart pass to the town of Aksu (scale, 40 versts (26§rds miles) to an inch). The rivers met with on this route have been made to correspond with the course of those on the route of Captain Startseff from Aksu to Bai, and also with the description given thereof by A. N. Kuropatkin.

VI 11 APPENDICES.

Appendix VIII. — (Continued.)

xi. Map based on elicited information of the valley of the Yeki-Su-Arasa, compiled in 1871. Scale, 5 versts (3|-rd miles) to an inch.

This map served to amplify certain settled points in the Namangan district to the north of Osh and Urgentch.

xii. Semi-instrumental survey of the mountain region of the Namangan district and portions of the Chust districts of the province of Fergana, effected in 1877. Scale, 5 versts (3jrd miles) to an inch.

From the eastern portion of this map has been fixed the position of the river Narin.

xiii. Map of Lob-Nor, from the surveys of Colonel Prjevalski, effected in 1877. Scale, 40 versts (26|rds miles) to an inch.

xiv. Map of Turkistan, by Colonel J. T. Walker, R.E., 1875. Scale, 32 miles to one inch.

NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR.

ALTHOUGH unforeseen causes have long delayed the publication of this work, I make no apology for presenting, at this time, an English translation of a valuable treatise on Kashgaria by a distinguished officer of the Russian General Staff. It is true, indeed, that Kashgaria has disappeared from the list (now rapidly decreasing) of the independent States of Central Asia and that another turn of the wheel of fortune has once more placed the Chinese in possession of that country. But it may be that ere long the further progress of that other Power, in whose movements both England and India have so great an interest, will divert to Kashgaria1 some of the attention now given to Kuldja and the Turkman oases. The recent important step taken by the Russian Government, that of appointing a Consul-General at Kashgar, is full of meaning, and as such will, no doubt, attract the notice of other than those interested in the trade of Central Asia.

1 It has been already shown that any occupation by Russia of the State of Yarkand-Kashgar would be most injurious to the long-established rights and interests of England in the north-western part of the Himalayas. Such an occupation would also affect the north-eastern boundary of Afghanistan, aa already described. The Russians must be well aware of the just jealousy with which England would regard the interposition of a European power in Yarkand- Kashgar ; but it is desirable that the weight of the English objections should be impressed upon the Russian Government. — India in 1880, by Sir Richard Temple, Bart., &c., &c.

Introduction

IN the year 1876, there ceased to exist one of the most ancient of the independent Khanates of Central Asia, the Khanate of Kokan.1 A Russian army, weak in numbers, but strong in spirit and in discipline, and led by experienced officers, defeated the huge masses of Kokandians, and occupied, one after the other, the most important towns of the country ; whilst, in February 1876, the young General Skobeleff, who had so rapidly acquired such a wide celebrity, entered Kokan, the capital of the Khanate, at the head of his detachment.

During the several months of feverish activity which followed, Kokan was turned into a Russian province and renamed Fergana. The military national administration, which had stood a ten years' experience in the Turkestan tract, was introduced into the newly-conquered province.

Thanks to the successful choice of official personages, the settled population was quickly pacified ; so that from April 1876, throughout the valley of Fergana, in which is collected the greater portion of this population, one could go everywhere alone, without a guard and without arms.

It was somewhat more difficult to subdue the nomad people of the Khanate, who wander over the majestic mountains of the Tian Shan range bordering on the Fergana valley.

Having been for a long time almost independent of the administration of the last weak Khans, the Kara-Kirghiz and a portion of the Kipchaks were at first but little disposed to recognize Russian rule.

Some Russian detachments that were sent to the mountains having defeated parties of Kirghiz, who tried by force of arms to bar our way to their fastnesses, compelled even the nomad population to declare submission and to acknowledge its fealty to Russia. Nevertheless, in time these movements disclosed

1 The Russian way of spelling proper names has been adhered to in this translation. — Trans.

INTRODUCTION.

the fact, that not only could Kirghiz individuals but whole tribes easily avoid the pursuit of the Russians by passing over the Tian Shan range into Kashgaria, to the possessions of Yakoob Bek, where they met with a good reception.

The necessity, therefore, of establishing a border line between our newly -conquered possessions and Kashgaria was at once seen. The former boundary of the Khanate of Kokan had been ten years before upset by Yakoob Bek. Availing himself of the weakness of Khoodoyar Khan, the Khan of Kokan, he had extended to the north the sovereignty established by him in the fight, and by degrees had seized the greater portion of the mountain tract that separates the province of Fergana from Kashgaria.1

In May 1876, the Governor-General of Turkestan, General Aide-de-Camp Von Kaufmann 1st, appointed an Embassy to Kashgaria, with the object of opening negotiations with Yakoob Bek, relating to the re-arrangement of the border line between his possessions and the province of Fergana.

I was nominated chief of this Embassy, to which were also appointed my brother N. Kooropatkin, captain of Artillery, and Second Captains N. Startseff and A. Soonargooloff. To the Embassy was attached an escort of fifteen Cossacks.

In consequence of our little knowledge of the mountain tract, along which it was proposed to carry the new frontier, certain points favourable for our border line in this region were defined, aud instructions accordingly were given to the Embassy.

In addition to this, the Embassy was directed to collect various particulars relating to Kashgaria, especially to her trade, and all information concerning the warlike strength and resources of Yakoob Bek.

The knowledge of Kashgaria that we possessed at the time was not merely incomplete, but it, to a considerable degree, exaggerated the real powers of the ruler of the country and the importance of the State which he had founded. We saw in Kashgaria a powerful Mussulman State, to which, as to a centre

1 Or, in other words, the Fergana valley from the basin of the Tarim. — • Anther.

INTRODUCTION.

would be drawn the sympathy of the population, not only of the weak Mussulman States which had preserved their independence, but also that of the population of the provinces which we had conquered. The importance of Kashgaria in our eyes was, moreover, increased in consequence of the attempts of the English to draw this country to their side so as to incorporate it, (1) in a neutral zone of countries, which was to separate Kussia from India, and (2) to acquire in Kashgaria a fresh market for the sale of their manufactured goods.

The immense personal successes of Yakoob Bek, who had risen from the profession of a ' batcha,'1 and his boundless power over a vast country, had surrounded his person with a halo not wholly undeserved. Suffice it to say that in him many saw, owing to the number of his successes and the grandeur of his designs, a second Tamerlane. The resources of this ruler were likewise greatly exaggerated. The authentic information regarding the purchase by Yakoob Bek of a large consignment of quick-shooting rifles in Constantinople, as was supposed through the agency of Englishmen, gave a solid basis to these exaggerations.

It was imperative, therefore, to go and ascertain on the spot how far the real resources and power of Yakoob Bek could be dangerous to us.

Our Embassy to Kashgaria would not be the first. The basin of the Tarim, locked in on all sides by gigantic mountains, had served for more than twenty years as an alluring object to European travellers in their explorations. Since the year 1868, Yakoob Bek had, too, received several embassies both from Russia and from India, and he had himself equipped embassies in return.

Let us here give a summary of the Europeans who have visited Kashgaria in the course of the last twenty years :

In 1857, Adolphus Schlagintweit reached the town of Kashgar, where he was murdered by order of the then ruler, Hadji Vali- Khan-Tura.

In 1859, Lieut. Valikhanoff made his way from the town of Vairnoye to the town of Kashgar in the guise of a trader.

1 A pretty boy, who dances before the public in female apparel. — Author.

In 1835, Mr. Johnson, who was engaged in topographical works on the confines of Kashmir, made his way to the town of Khotan, where he was kindly received by the temporary ruler of the place, Habbiboolla Hadji.

In 1868, Mr. Shaw appeared at Kashgar, with a consignment of goods from India, and he, too, was welcomed by Yakoob Bek.

In the same year, Mr. Hayward visited Kashgar, and was later on murdered at Yasin.

In this year, too, our Embassy under Captain Reintal arrived in the same town, but it was not received in a thoroughly friendly manner.

In 1870, the first Embassy under Forsyth came to the country. Its members were Messrs. Henderson and Shaw. This Embassy went as far as Yarkend.

In 1872, the Embassy of Baron Kaulbars, captain on the General Staff, was received at Kashgar. The members of this mission were Captain Sharngorst and Lieutenants Startseff and Kolokoltseff and Mons. Chanwisheff.

In 1873-74, Forsyth's second Embassy was received at Kashgar, and its members, in the character of sportsmen, got as far as Fort Maral-Bashi.1

In 1875, the second Embassy of Captain (now Colonel) Reiutal was received at Kashgar.

Let us now add the years in which Yakoob Bek sent corresponding missions to various countries.

In 1868, Mirza Shadi went to Russia.

In 1869, the same personage was sent to the Viceroy of India.

In 1872, Said Yakoob Khan was accredited to the Viceroy of India and to the Turkish Sultan.

In 1875, the mission of Toorab Hadji arrived in St. Petersburgh.

The southern and south-western portions of Kashgaria were explored by our Embassies and by those sent from India, and the following towns were visited by them : Yarkend, Kashgaro and Khotan. There yet remained a considerable tract of country, to the east of the town of Kashgar, and as far as Koonya-Toorfan

1 Halfway between the towns of Kasbgar and Aksu. — AutJtor.

INTRODUCTION.

and Lob-Nor, which had not been searched out. It was this portion of the country then that our Embassy hoped to visit after passing from the town of Osh, in the province of Fergana, to the town of Kashgar, and on beyond to Aksu, Koocha, Bai, Koorlia, Fort Kara-Shar and lake Bagratch-Kool.

Almost contemporaneous with our Embassy, the celebrated traveller, Prjevalski, colonel on the General Staff, reached Lob- Nor from Kuldja going by way of Koorlia.

The work, which is now offered to the public in the shape of this book, gives the result of our travels to Kashgaria, and it affords also, in several chapters, a complete history of our mission based on the report which I presented to the Governor- General of Turkestan on our return to the town of Tashkent.

In this book is given, in great detail, information regarding our researches in those places alone which we personally visited. The difficulty of collecting data, in the face of the universal suspicion on the part of the natives, was aggravated still more by the official position which I occupied during my stay in Kashgaria. These unfavourable conditions could not but detract from the completeness of some sections of my work in that excursions off the line of the route followed by our Embassy were almost impossible.

Neither did our Embassy start propitiously. After leaving Tashkent, in the month of May, we passed through Khodjent,

Kokan and Margelan to the town of Osh, whence, on the

July, we set out for Fort Gulcha. The day following when we were halfway between Osh and Gulcha, the Embassy had to withstand an unexpected attack from behind an ambuscade, delivered by a gang of Kara-Kirghiz. We were not massacred, thanks only to a happy accident, which enabled my brother to slay the leader of the gang, a known Kirghiz, by name Ishem Bek. In the struggle, I was wounded in the right arm, and had to return to Osh to undergo an operation. I was only able to start again on the October.

In addition to the persons before appointed, there were added to our party Mons. Eren, a doctor, and Mons. Wilkins, a naturalist. The escort, too, was made up to twenty-five Cossacks and mounted riflemen. Together with the native translators who were to collect information, the ' Djigits,'1 the personal servants of members of the Embassy, and the mule-drivers, &c., the total number of persons in and attached to our mission amounted to sixty- four. There were also 104 saddle and pack-torses. In order to acquaint the reader with the form and character of the negotiations which I was to carry on with Yakoob Bek, and also with the tone which I, as Russian Envoy, was to adopt with the ruler of Kashgaria, I will give an extract from the despatch which accompanied the report of the Embassy as furnished by me to the Governor-General of Turkestan.

Proceeding by easy marches from the town of Osh, vid the Terek-Davan pass, the Embassy arrived at the town of Kashgar,

on the 2g6th(NoSer 1876> 373 versts (248§rds miles) were tra~

versed in eighteen marches.

, , TT i i M .r 20th November .

Our Embassy remained at Kashgar until the - m expectation of the permission of the ' Badaulet '2 for us to proceed onwards.

During the first three days of our stay in Kashgar, our movements were greatly hampered by order of Yakoob Bek's son, Bek-Koolwi Bek. But, on my threatening to return without entering into any sort of negotiations, we attained perfect freedom, of which we availed ourselves by going several times to the bazaar in the town, and by studying the infantry, artillery and the troops equipped and drilled in the Chinese style.

On the 19th^ovemvber, the permission, which had been asked for, 1st December

came, and on the day but one following, we started on our onward route with the intention of going to Fort Togsoon, where Yakoob Bek was staying at the time. The onward route of the Embassy was as follows : —

On the ^^ December, after passing Fort Maral-Bashi, we

AtoILCl

came to the town of Aksu, having done 436 versts (390frds

1 The ' Jigit,' or ' Djinghite,' or ' Djigit,' is a name derived from that given to the horse-soldiers of the army of Kashgar. See Boulger's Kashgar, page

2 As Yakoob Bek is called in Kashgaria.— Author.

INTRODUCTION.

miles) in nineteen marches. At Aksu we remained a week, in order to become acquainted with, the town and its bazaar, aud to determine various doubtful points.

On the December we left Aksu and, proceeding vid Bai and Koocha, arrived at Koorlia on the ^^ January 1877, having performed 487 versts (324§rds miles) in nineteen1 marches. The entire distance from Osh to Koorlia, which we had ridden, was 1,296 versts (864 miles).

The day following we were presented to the ' Badaulet,' when I, in the name of the Governor-General of Turkestan, offered him greeting and delivered my letters and gifts.

During the ' dastar-khan ' (or usual entertainment)2 1 addressed the ' Badaulet ' in a speech which was almost word for word as follows : —

" At your desire, Badaulet3 of High Dignity,4 we are the first Russians who have accomplished such a long journey in your dominions.

" The rulers at all the points which we have passed, and the persons attached to us have, by your orders, made all the necessary arrangements so as to render our route as little fatiguing as possible, and in this they have completely succeeded.

" On our part we have, during our journey, used every endeavour to acquaint ourselves with the localities which we have passed through, to discover the roads leading from the towns, at which we have stopped, into Russian territory, to gain a knowledge of these towns, and the requirements of their inhabitants with a view to bringing to bear from everything that we have seen and learnt, all that could possibly aid in the extension of our reciprocal trade relations, and through them of friendly intercourse.

" Whilst performing so long a journey, we have met places both fruitful and barren : we have seen towns both large and small ; populations both rich and poor. We have noticed too the extreme cheapness of all the principal articles of food and of

1 Sic in original, 20 (?).

2 At which the guest is plied with various dishes. — Trans.

3 See Author's note at foot of page 8. — Trans.

4 Title given to Asiatic Khaus.— Trans.

domestic use. From this circumstance, we have formed the conclusion that every subject of the 'Badaulet' of High Dignity, if only he be not lazy, can live without want. We could not but turn our attention likewise to the exact fulfilment by the subjects of the ' Badaulet ' of all the ordinances and orders imposed upon them. This was done with the same exactitude in villages, the most removed from the town of Koorlia, as though the ' Badaulet ' himself were there present.

" In conclusion, after making this long journey through his dominions, we are still more assured that the 'Badaulet' of High Dignity has not only created for himself a vast sovereignty, but that he possesses the power of wisely ruling it."

This speech Second Captain Soonargooloff translated by periods, whereupon Yakoob Bek said in reply that we were his dear guests ; that he had nothing to hide from us ; that he had only one wish, and that was to preserve the friendship of the Governor-General of Turkestan ; that he was a humble individual, and must rely upon the Russians.

I then, in the name of General Aide- de-Camp Von Kaufmann, thanked Yakoob Bek for the good reception which he had given to our famous traveller Mons. Prjevalski, and I officially requested that he would, in the future, afford him all possible assistance. Finally, on rising to take leave, I expressed the hope that this occasion of the arrival of a Russian Embassy would strengthen our friendship with the people of Kashgaria — a friendship which had not been interrupted for so many years.

During the interview, Yakoob Bek deported himself simply and kindly, without that exaggerated importance (with which, for example, his son, Bek Kooli Bek, received us in Kashgar). He himself arranged the dishes spread out before us on the ' dastar-khan,' offered them to us, and hastened the servants by remarking that we were displeased.

Some days afterwards, Zaman-Khan-Effendi came to us. He was entrusted by Yakoob Bek with the conduct of preliminary negotiations. Our surprise was very great when it appeared that Zaman Khan could speak Russian beautifully, and that he was well educated. (We conversed with him about England, with which country he appeared to have no sympathies, and

INTRODUCTION.

about European affairs. He evinced very correct notions, and displayed an acquaintance with the situation of affairs in Tunis, Algeria and Egypt).1 He conveyed to us some details about his past, from which we gathered that he was an exile from the Caucasus ; that he had received his education in Russia ; and that for some political reason or another he had been obliged to fly to Constantinople. Thence, three years later, Zaman Khan had come to Kashgar, and from that time he had been with Yakoob Bek in the capacity of trusted Councillor. Zaman Khan has strong sympathies towards the Russians, and has, in fact, shewn the bent of his feelings by deeds. It was only by his influence that Colonel Prjevalski was allowed to go to Lob-Nor. Prior to the arrival of Zaman Khan in Koorlia our traveller remained in that town under a sort of honourable arrest. Zaman Khan himself offered to accompany Prjevalski to Lob-Nor, and afterwards, in his letters to me, our friend expressed his hearty thanks to Zaman Khan for his true friendship and co-operation in all the difficult circumstances under which the expedition was placed. Notwithstanding,however,my great faith in Zaman Khan, I did not consider it possible to open negotiations with him relative to the establishment of a border line, and so I demanded a personal interview with the ' Badaulet.' After several visits from Zaman Khan, in which he, amongst other things, several times repeated that Yakoob Bek had disconnected himself from the English, as he well understood what sort of people they were ; that he had not paid attention to them when they sought to sow enmity between the Russians and himself; and that he now understood the advantage of depending on the Russians alone.