army
well supplied. Nothing was more absurd than the picture drawn by some
over-wise observer of this army, as consisting of soldiers fantastically
garbed in the guise of dragons and other hideous appearances. All that
belonged to an old-world theory. The army of Eastern Turkestan was as
widely different from all previous Chinese armies in Central Asia as it
well could be; and in all essentials closely resembled that of an
European power. Its remarkable triumphs were chiefly attributable to
the thoroughness with which China had in this instance adapted herself
to Western notions.

With the flight of Beg Kuli Beg to Tashkent closed the career of the
house of the Athalik Ghazi in Kashgar. Whatever turn events may take in
this portion of Central Asia, whatever schemes there may be formed in
Khokand, or elsewhere, of challenging anew the Chinese domination, it
will not be round the banner of Kuli Beg that the ousted Khokandian
officials will rally. By his flight in the hour of danger, by the
hesitation which marked all his movements, and by the murder of his
brother in cold blood, this prince, of whom much at one time was
expected, has irretrievably ruined both his career and his reputation.
If on any future occasion Russia should seek to play the part played of
old by Khans of Khokand in the internal history of Kashgar, it will not
be Kuli Beg whom they will put forward as their puppet. His old rival,
Hakim Khan, stands a much better chance than he, more especially if it
be true that he is the representative of the Khojas, being the son of
Buzurg Khan, as many have asserted. But the fact remains clear, that all
the dreams of Yakoob Beg of founding a personal dynasty in Eastern
Turkestan are now dispelled beyond all prospect of realization.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE CHINESE FACTOR IN THE CENTRAL ASIAN QUESTION.

The overthrow of the Tungani, and the reconquest of Kashgaria, have not
completed the task that lay before Chinese generals and soldiers in
Central Asia. Great and remarkable as those triumphs were, the Chinese
are not satisfied with them, because there yet remains more work to be
done. They have restored to the Emperor Tian Shan Nan Lu, but so long as
the Russians hold Kuldja, Tian Shan Pe Lu is only half won back.
Moreover, so long as a great military power is domiciled in Kuldja,
China's hold on the country west of Aksu must be only on sufferance. As
of old, the Chinese so often reconquered Kashgar, when it