istance
alone was no slight obstacle, and when added to the barrenness of the
country, which would be made more desolate by the retreating army of the
Mussulmans, an impartial observer might have hesitated to predict any
very speedy triumph for the Chinese. But besides these, there were other
impediments, of which a prudent general had to take careful cognizance.
To seize Karashar or Korla only needed a bold attack; but to subject
Kucha might have been a more arduous undertaking than was even the siege
of Manas. A delay of two months in the heart of Eastern Turkestan must
have strained the resources of the Chinese very much, and might have
ruined their whole enterprise. And even if Kucha fell there still
remained Aksu, and afterwards Ush Turfan in the north, and Maralbashi
in the south, barring the way to the vital portion of the state round
Kashgar and Yarkand. Now the death of Yakoob Beg did not remove any one
of these defences, and for a time it was believed that his son, who had
always the repute of being a good soldier, would make the best of the
very strong line of defence that he undoubtedly possessed. As a matter
of fact, the death of Yakoob Beg was an irretrievable disaster, for it
destroyed whatever cohesion and unity there were in the country. He
himself might have been unable to avert a final overthrow, but the
contest would have been made more protracted. Therefore in the months of
May and June, 1877, immediately after the death of the Athalik Ghazi, it
is strictly true to say that the Chinese reconquest of the country had
barely commenced.

The hesitation shown by the invading generals after the victory of
Turfan was at first caused by a belief in the formidableness of their
antagonist, and, when that antagonist died, by a prudent resolve to
permit the disintegrating causes that speedily manifested themselves in
Kashgaria to have full time to work in their favour. Meanwhile they
formed their plans in secret, laid in large stores of supplies from
Russian territory, and explored the little-known passes of Tekes and
Yuldus. A large number of fresh troops was received from the Calmucks
north of Chuguchak, who during the worst period of the Tungan revolt had
preserved that city for the Chinese.

But before following the forward movement of the Chinese it is necessary
to say something of the internal disturbances in Eastern Turkestan, more
especially of the rivalry of Beg Bacha and Hakim Khan for supremacy. In