elity of scarce five
hundred men, he triumphed over every obstacle, and rose omnipotent over
the petty jealousies and dissensions of those who sought to crush him.
Buzurg Khan seized the moment of this disaster to draw off into a
separate camp with a large body of troops and all the Kirghiz, and it is
very possible, as has been asserted, that he instigated the successful
Tungan _coup_. There is no evidence that he did, and I am personally of
opinion that it originated among the Tungani themselves, and that Buzurg
Khan only rejoiced at its occurrence, as he would have done at any other
reverse to Yakoob. The position now was as follows:--In the citadel were
the victorious Tungani, and in the town they shared the distribution of
power with the townspeople. Outside in one part was Buzurg Khan, with a
force that was equivocal in its sympathies, and that might at any moment
become hostile, to Yakoob Beg; and in another part was Yakoob Beg
himself and his attenuated following. Affairs could not look less
hopeful, and if the three parties could have accommodated their own
differences for but the short space of twenty-four hours, Yakoob Beg
must infallibly have been destroyed: as it was, they did nothing with an
enemy like Yakoob Beg in their proximity, and permitted him to redeem
all he had lost by his too great credulity in the good faith of his
brother Mussulmans. Let us now see how he saved himself. The first point
to do was to restore the courage and self-confidence of his own
soldiers, and to do that, it was necessary to strike a sharp blow that
was sure of success. The fort could not be taken by a _coup de main_,
but the city, large and straggling, presented a more inviting aspect for
such an attempt. Abdulla, the Murat of the army of Kashgar, with the
most determined intrepidity, carried it by assault, although here again
he attacked without awaiting the arrival of the other contingents. Like
Edward Bruce,

"Such was his wonted reckless mood,
Yet desperate valour oft made good,
Even by its daring, venture rude,
Where prudence might have failed."

This achievement put an end to the rejoicings among the Tungani, and
compelled them to recognize what a terribly energetic and enterprising
foe they had to deal with. But, at this moment, a severe mishap occurred
which almost neutralized the advantage thus gained. Buzurg Khan, unable
either to crush Yakoob Beg or to enjoy the indulgences to which he had
en