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at the time of the Uzbak invasion, where he was born. In the time of Muhammad Ali Khan of Khokand, he emigrated to Khujand, and there entered a college to study for the church. After some years he was appointed to the office of Kazi at Karamma, and whilst there married a lady of the place, by whom he had a son named Muhammad Arif. He then removed to Piskat, and there married the mother of Amir Muhammad Yaktxb Khan. Muhammad Arif is now residing at Kashghar with the rank of 7ocsabay in the court of' his half-brother. About four years ago he was sent to govern the district of Sarigh Kul, but was soon recalled and has remained unemployed ever since.
The Amir has also two sisters, one of whom was married to Nar Muhammad Khan, the Governor of Tashkand, who then got his brother-in-law appointed to the charge of Akmasjid, with the rank of Koshbegi. At this place the Amir married a Kapchak lady of Juelik, and she bore him his eldest son, Beg Kuli Beg, or Beg Bacha, as he is called, in 1265 H.=1848 A.D.
The Amir was brought up in his native village; and instead of following the religious calling of his father, he was led away by the stirring events of the times, and the disordered state of the country, to seek his fortunes at the capital. And there we find him at the age of twenty-five years as a Makaram or " court chamberlain," an office of trust, in the service of' the youthful Khudayar Khan, on his elevation to the throne of Khokand in 1845 by the Kapchak chief, Musalman Kuli. It was shortly after this that Nar Muhammad, the Kapchak Governor of Tashkand, married his sister, and through his influence with the regent Mussalman Kuli, obtained for the Mal ram promotion to the rank of Koshbegi, or " lord of the family," and the office of Governor at Akmasjid. The Koshbegi held this post for five or six years, till the capture of the fort by the Russians in August 1853, and he was soon after appointed Mir or " chief" of the Kilaochi fort.
In 1858 his patron, Musalman Kuli, was executed by Khudayar in a very barbarous manner. This act roused the hostility of the Kapchak and Kirghiz against the Khan ; and espousing the cause of his elder brother, they drove Khudayar from the country, and set Mullah Khan on the throne at Khokand. Amongst the most active of the supporters of the new Khan was the Mir of Kilaochi ; and for his services he was raised to the rank of Shahciwal or " intendant," and attached to the court. Shortly after, however, he was appointed Governor of the frontier fort of Kuramma, with the rank, once more, of Koshbegi. From this, at the end of 1860, he was transferred with Kana'at Shah, the Nkyb of Khokand, to Tashkand to watch the Russians who were advancing upon Turkistan. Whilst he was on this frontier, Mullah Khan was assassinated in his bed by a plot of the nobles, and Khudayar hearing the news, at once issued from his retreat at Jizzak, and hastened to secure Tashkand. On arrival there be was welcomed and set on the throne as Khan by the Koshbegi and Nâyb, and for this service Khudayar retained Yaktzb Beg in his post as Governor of Kurarnma fort.
In the meantime Mullah Alim Kuli, Kirghiz of Osh, had set Shah Murad Khan, grandson of Sher Ali Khan, on the throne at Khokand, and marched with him against Khudayar at Tashkand. On their approach, Yaktzb Beg left Khudayar, and, joining Alim Kuli, retired with him to Kuramma, there to equip and organise their forces. From this they get out and besieged Khudayar in Tashkand ; but after a month of desultory skirmishing, failing to make any progress, they retreated to Khokand. From this shortly afterwards, Alim Kuli sent Yâkitb Beg to hold Khujand, which was threatened by Khudayar and his allies from Bukhara. On their approach, Yaktlb Beg surrendered his charge, retired to Bukhara with the returning army, and resided there some time as a bi or " noble" attached to the court of the Amir.
In 1863 the Amir Muzaffaruddin of Bukhara marched to Khokand to set his new brother-in-law, Khudayar, on the throne there against the usurper Alim Culi, and Yâ.ktzb Beg returned with his army to the scene of his former activity. On the departure of the Bukhara troops, Yâktzb Beg and some other leading men joined Alim Kuli who, having executed Sultan Murad, had set up Syad Sultan as Khan. This rival Khan at once restored Yaktib Beg to his former rank and office, and sent him to hold the fort of Kuramma ; and shortly afterwards he joined his benefactor with his contingent to aid in the capture of Khujand.
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