tunate moment,
for June brought us tidings of reverses round Turfan, and July did not
pass away without the intelligence of the death of the Athalik Ghazi
himself.

There had, before the receipt of this definite intelligence, been absurd
rumours of the part Yakoob Beg was resolved to play in Central Asia as
the ally of the Porte, while he, poor man, was opposing with despair,
and at the cost of his life, a relentless and irresistible foe. Such is
the irony of circumstance! The vanquished in Asia was by some freak of
imagination converted in Europe into the arbiter of a great question,
and the guide of all those peoples of either Turkestan who chafe at the
bit because of Russian rule. But in reality, with the return of Sir
Douglas Forsyth, our relations with Kashgar, which at one time promised
to have been most cordial, languished for want of a motive. No amount of
admiration would suffice to make us permanently guarantee Kashgar
against Russia, for the bare facts concerning the intervening country at
once chilled the sympathy at our hearts. The Grim Pass, and the road
lined with desiccated travellers and animals, effaced the bright picture
of the orchards of Kashgar and the busy streets of Yarkand. There was a
sigh of profound relief, that would not be suppressed, when Sir Douglas
Forsyth's report made the fact clear, that wherever else India might be
menaced she was safe, at least, from attack north of Cashmere. It is
true that there is a feasible route from Khoten to Ruduk, and thence to
India; but Yakoob Beg did not hold it, and its consideration was
considered to be beside the question. In fact, after 1874, we
entertained much the same opinion towards Kashgar and Yakoob Beg that we
did towards Poland and Kosciusko; and we were beginning to reconcile
ourselves to a Russian installation in that state, when the returning
Chinese made us reflect more deeply on Central Asian matters, and
discover that after all has been said against the assertion there exists
a third, and hitherto neglected, great Power in Central Asia. There was
never anything save a kindly feeling between the two countries, and all
who could admire bravery and justice and hospitality and frank courtesy
were attached to the individual who had proved that he possessed all
these attributes in no mean degree. But there was no deeper sympathy
than this, or rather there was no stronger connecting link. The Indian
government felt that it would be championing