. Yakoob Beg did not shrink
certainly in its application; but when he had accomplished the task he
had set himself to bring about he discovered that the cost had been so
great that the state, both in population and in wealth, was at a lower
point than it had ever been before. But in the earlier days of 1866 no
doubt crossed his mind on this latter point. It must be remembered that,
strange to say, the great success of Yakoob Beg in Kashgar had alienated
the sympathy of the government of Khokand from his cause; and, although
this may be explained by the antipathy of Khudayar Khan, now firmly
seated on the throne, who could not entertain any amity for a subject
who had on several occasions deserted his cause, it is impossible to
attribute to that sentiment alone a fact which must have had some deeper
and less personal explanation. At all stages of the history of these
petty princes of Asia are we met by the spectacle of mutual jealousy and
recrimination, whenever any one of themselves seemed about to exalt
himself above his fellows, either by the success of his arms or by the
beneficence of his rule. Rarely, indeed, had any of them shown that he
possessed more than ordinary ability or courage; but, whenever the
phenomenon did appear, he was at once proclaimed by his neighbours to be
a dangerous innovation, and as such to be thwarted and opposed. The
practice has come down to our own day, and during the long wars that
Russia has waged in Asia we have never beheld two states, no matter how
insignificant, combine to oppose the common foe. The Khokandians have
never aided the Bokhariots or the Khivans, nor have the Afghans or the
Kashgari the Khokandians. They have kept the ring, so to speak, as each
of them has gone down singly before the prowess of the Muscovite, in a
manner that ought to excite the admiration of all those who preserve the
memories of the traditional honours of the prize ring; but, as their own
existence has been the penalty, it is questionable whether their
conduct, inspired by regard for no law of chivalry, but simply by mutual
antipathy, has been very prudent. Over such petty jealousies had Yakoob
Beg to triumph before he could hope to complete his dream of an united
Kashgaria. His path was beset with difficulties. In satisfying himself
with too little he might imperil what he had secured, but in attempting
too much he might jeopardize everything he had won. Under such
circumstances the boldest man might h