was fomented by the appearance of the
new element of the Mahomedan Khokandian, and native settlers, acting in
combination with the Chinese Tungani. North of the Tian Shan the
movement received a temporary repulse; and it is necessary to say
something in explanation of the course of the Mahomedan revival in Ili
before we proceed to discuss the earlier wars of Yakoob Beg with the
Tungani. As early as 1860 serious complications had arisen in that
province, although the Chinese had always been more firmly situated
there than in Kashgar. In that year a plot was concocted to murder the
Chinese viceroy and to upset the existing government. It was discovered,
however, and fell through. There appear to have been more causes at work
in Ili to produce discontent than in the southern state, and it was not
so much a question here between Khitay and Tungani, as it was between a
people clamouring for work, for less taxation, and for payment for what
they had done, and an administration that was unable to satisfy the
demands made upon it from all sides. That last resource of a government
at its wits' ends for money, the depreciation of the current coin and
the issue of fictitious paper, was adopted by the Viceroy of Ili. The
measure, which it had been expected would lessen the difficulty, only
added fuel to the flame. The situation of affairs was becoming
desperate; the people were encouraged by the disasters of the Chinese in
the neighbouring states to increase the number of their demands; and the
Chinese officials appear to have lost their heads in the storm that was
gathering from all sides around them. They were but the effete
representatives of a system which in its vigorous days had claims to
general admiration, and they are only saved from incurring our contempt
by the possession of courage, the sole virtue left them. When the
Chinese first conquered Eastern Turkestan they brought from Kashgar a
large number of settlers, and placed them in the country round Ili. They
became known as Tarantchis, and, in the course of two or three
generations, had increased into a very numerous community. These were
always at heart disaffected to the Chinese, but, as they occupied a
very subordinate position, would probably never have thought of revolt
had not a large division of the conquerors set them the example of
insubordination. So soon as the discontent among the working classes had
assumed formidable proportions by the pecuniary embarrassmen