nan were taken by a round-about route at a great distance from the
capital to the north-west frontier town of Lanchefoo, there to prepare
for the most arduous military enterprise China had undertaken since her
conquest of Eastern Turkestan in the last century.

It is not certain when these movements began to be carried out, but
there appears to be no reason to doubt that the advanced portion of the
Chinese army had commenced its march westward before the end of the
year 1874. In the barren region between Lanchefoo and Hamil, a tract of
country some 900 miles as the crow flies, but probably nearer 1,200 by
the road followed by the Chinese, such difficulties were encountered
that one if not two winters were occupied in overcoming these
preliminary obstacles to the advance of the main force. The interval was
not passed in complete idleness at headquarters, where magazines of arms
and stores were being collected, recruits enlisted and drilled, and the
plan of campaign that was to astonish Asia, if not Europe also, was
being drawn up by the Viceroy of Kansuh in person and his able
lieutenants. At last, with the break of spring upon the desert plains of
Gobi, the Chinese army, which numbered in its entirety some 50,000 men,
set out on the long road across the desert to the more fertile regions
lying north and south of the Celestial Mountains. Of the details of this
portion of the enterprise the _Pekin Gazette_ is strangely reticent. The
most profound secrecy was observed, and, although it was known that
military events were in progress in the north-west, their object and
their extent were mysteries. After the delay experienced by the advanced
guard, which had to form fixed encampments, or rather settlements, in
the desert, and plant the corn that was to enable it to advance in the
following spring, no serious check was experienced by the Chinese until
they appeared before the walls of Urumtsi, which the Tungan leaders had
resolved to defend.

Although several officers in the service of Yakoob Beg happened to be in
the city, and several of the leading Tungani resided there, the defence
was not prolonged, and after a few days Urumtsi surrendered to the
Chinese. Many of the inhabitants had fled to the neighbouring city of
Manas, but the garrison was massacred by order of the Chinese generals.
There is no mention in this case of what fate befell those of the
inhabitants who remained.

Urumtsi surrendered towards the close of Au