rief in the extreme,
for the Athalik Ghazi himself bought up the whole of his stock of
merchandise. Viewed as a commercial speculation, this result should have
been eminently satisfactory; the Russian merchant had to experience no
loss from delay in finding a purchaser for his articles. There was,
however, another matter to be taken into consideration, and that was the
mode of payment by the purchaser. Mr. Somof received so many Chinese
coins at a value fixed by the Ameer himself, and Mr. Pupyshef, on the
return of his representative, estimated the loss at 15,000 roubles. The
Russian government took up the case of their subject, and presented a
remonstrance at Kashgar, demanding the immediate restitution of the loss
incurred by the Russian merchant. Yakoob Beg's reply to this summary
request was a model of courtesy and tact. He denied altogether that Mr.
Somof had in any way been interfered with. That gentleman was always at
perfect liberty to do what, and to go where, he pleased, and he was
quite mistaken in supposing that he, the Ameer, had purchased his goods.
The Badaulet had nothing whatever to do with trade, which he left
entirely to his subjects. He was simply a warrior and a follower of the
Prophet. He had nevertheless instituted inquiries into the matter, and
he had discovered that some of his officers, who should be punished, had
purchased the merchandise in his name, hoping thereby to obtain it at a
cheaper rate. The Athalik Ghazi expressed his regret at the occurrence,
and would be most happy to refund whatever sum the Russian government
considered their subject had lost by the transaction. A commission was
appointed at Tashkent, to inquire into all the circumstances of the
case, and after some discussion the demand of Mr. Pupyshef was reduced
from 15,000 to 12,000 roubles. The Ameer acquiesced in the decision, but
many months elapsed before Mr. Pupyshef received his money, and then it
was again in a depreciated Chinese coinage. We are justified in assuming
that this was all planned, and that the obstacles thrown in the path of
Mr. Pupyshef were part and parcel of a systematic attempt to disgust
Russian merchants with Kashgar. The Russian government, too, was
afforded no clear case for complaint, as Yakoob Beg expressed his regret
without reserve for the occurrence, all the responsibility of which he
shifted on to the shoulders of some of "his officials whom he had
ordered to be punished." He paid without a mu