general Ma holds the post of Djentai, and Ma tidu at Kanchow, also a Mohammedan, is the commander-in-chief in Northern Kan Su.
The mullahs were of the opinion that the Dungans were originally Turks who had emigrated from Turkey to China at the instigation of the Emperor Tang. T'hey had not seen any old documents concerning this episode in their history, but said that it was dealt with in a Chinese book entitled »Tang wang chien». Like other Mohammedans, they make pilgrimages to Mecca and a »hadji», a man who has made the pilgrimage, is highly respected among them. Religious instruction is given in Turkish. — I met two Turkish merchants in Hochow. They could speak a few words of various languages, but they were unable to understand me when I spoke Chinese, Kirghiz, Russian or English. They have to employ a mullah as interpreter in order to do business.
The Djentai at Hochow, a friendly old man of 68 from Szechwan, has many scars, like most of the older Chinese warriors. A bullet struck him on the temple just above his eye during the Dungan rising and came out through his lower jaw on the other side. These frequent wounds show that the Chinese who adopts war as a profession, not only can be, but often is brave. He showed me some very badly kept types of rifles, including a Mauser made by an armourer in Hochow. I need scarcely mention what is was worth. The old fellow thought it was throwing away money to buy arms and machinery in Europe, as they could not be kept in condition in China and very soon became useless.
IIIFカラー高解像度
