lls to the north and west of the city,
commanding the main road from Aksu, the other in the environs and the
fortifications of the city itself. The Tungani were far the more
numerous, but in the quality of his main body, and in general efficiency
both of weapons and of experience among the officers, the advantage was
completely on the side of Yakoob Beg. The nucleus of his force comprised
Afghan, Khokandian, and Badakshi troops, veterans in the wars of the
two previous years. The Tungani were either the assassins of helpless
Chinese, or the fugitives of Aksu or Yangy Hissar. They were imperfectly
armed, without any organization, and without any competent leaders.
Above all, the cause they were fighting for was vague, and many of them
in their hearts sympathized more with Yakoob Beg than they did with
their own chiefs. The Kashgarian army, on the other hand, was encouraged
by a long series of brilliant achievements, and looked forward with
eagerness to the fray as the means of exalting their own religion, and
as affording them an opportunity for advancing their own personal
interests by the plunder of so rich a city as Kucha. The reinforcements
were consequently eagerly expected, and some of the more ardent spirits
demanded that they should be led without delay against the enemy. Yakoob
Beg was so far prudent that he refused to be urged into premature action
by the impetuosity of his followers, and the arrival of reinforcements
sooner than was anticipated enabled him not only to keep the excitement
of his soldiery within due bounds, but also to commence active
operations at an earlier date than had seemed possible. The Tungan
leaders, deluded by the inaction of Yakoob Beg into a belief that he was
unable to prosecute the enterprise he had undertaken, assumed the
offensive, only to be worsted in several minor engagements. The Tungan
troops were driven within the walls, and the siege was prosecuted with
the closest rigour. The garrison of Kucha was not sufficiently numerous
to guard in proper strength the wide-stretching suburbs and extensive
fortifications of the existing Kucha, and the cities that had in olden
days stood upon its site. Not many days elapsed before Yakoob Beg
perceived that the defence was confined to a limited portion of the
fortifications, and that several points were entirely neglected. He
resolved, therefore, to put an end to the slow process of a siege by
carrying the town by a general assault. With th