ear to have prevailed between
the Russians and Chinese. The latter, flushed with their triumph, had
become arrogant, and were too fond of referring to the question of
Kuldja to be agreeable to the actual possessors of that province. On one
or two occasions these verbal disputes assumed a more dangerous aspect,
and from words the disputants proceeded to blows. Whether this collision
was magnified or not, the Russian government took no diplomatic steps
to secure reparation for injury to their subjects, and continued to wink
at, if they did not actually approve of, their merchants supplying the
Chinese. The clearest proof of this is that the moment Aksu fell a large
caravan was despatched there by Mr. Kamensky. Still there was no little
bad blood between the two people, and for a long time it was doubtful
whether Russia would preserve her attitude of neutrality until Kashgar
had been finally subdued. Beneath all this doubt, and the uncertainty of
the strength and of the ultimate intentions of China, there existed a
sentiment of dissatisfaction in the minds of the Russians at the renown
China was acquiring, as well as at the prospect of having to restore a
rich and paying province.

In short, beneath the Tungan and the Kashgarian questions there
smouldered the Kuldja question. Having now shown how well prepared the
Chinese were at every point, how well armed, and how well fed was the
tactical unit, and how Russia, although far from indifferent as to the
results, was really abetting the side of China, we may pass on to those
more active movements which proved that the Chinese generals possessed
the ability and military knowledge necessary to make full use of the
very powerful weapon which they had created, and which was capable of
accomplishing the most arduous of enterprises.

The first move was made south of the Tian Shan. So far as we know, Tso
Tsung Tang did not break up from Manas until many weeks afterwards. A
brigadier-general, by name Tang Jen-Ho, left Toksoun on the 25th of
August, 1877, with the advanced guard, to occupy the outlying villages
of Subashi and Agha Bula. He does not appear to have had under him more
than a few hundred men. A fortnight later, on the 7th of September,
Generals Tung Fuh-siang and Chang Tsun followed after him with 1,500
troops, all infantry. They advanced through Agha Bula, Kumush, and Usha
Tal to Kuhwei. At this place the troops were concentrated.

The chief duty of these detachments