Shadi Mirza in
1869 clearly marks the difference that was considered in well-informed
official circles to have taken place in their relations with Kashgar.

We have now to consider whether the Russian Government was justified in
assuming so confidently that it had secured the permanent friendship of
the Mahomedan ruler of Eastern Turkestan. On concluding his visit at St.
Petersburg, Hadji Torah turned south, and after stopping for a brief
delay at Moscow and Odessa, he arrived in Constantinople, where he
already had many friends and connections. Without inquiring too deeply
into his actions at the Imperial City--for of them the reader will be
able to judge best by the sequel--we will here simply observe, that
having also concluded his residence on the Golden Horn, he took passage
by the Suez Canal for India, and arrived there in time to join the
mission of Sir Douglas Forsyth, then on its way to Kashgar. Hadji Torah
therefore brought to his uncle a vast amount of information concerning
the three Powers chiefly concerned in the fortunes of Kashgar--Russia,
Turkey, and England. But even before his return home, fresh
disagreements had broken out between Russia and Yakoob Beg. The year
1872 had not closed, before the Athalik Ghazi concluded some secret
negotiations that had been pending for some time with the Sultan, and
this champion of Islam appeared in a new and holier light to Asiatics as
Emir, or Ameer. He acknowledged the suzerainty of the Porte; and, not
content with this formal declaration, gave an extra significance to the
event by issuing a fresh coinage, bearing on one side the head of Abdul
Aziz. The Russians were, it can well be imagined, displeased at this
alliance between two Mahomedan states which might both be considered
hostile to their interests, and a very large party in military circles
clamoured for an expedition to be sent at once against the insolent
Mussulman. At one moment it seemed as if this bellicose party was to
gain the day, for the testimony of all the officers and merchants who
had visited Kashgar showed that each day Yakoob Beg was becoming more
formidable. Prompt measures were pressed on the government of Tashkent,
and General Kaufmann seemed half disposed to acquiesce in the proposal
to inflict summary chastisement on the Athalik Ghazi. Fortunately for
Kashgar, the Khan of Khiva had been an older offender in the eyes of the
Russians, and the Home Government peremptorily forbade any steps b