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0167 Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 : vol.1
Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 : vol.1 / Page 167 (Color Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000196
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( 109 )

B.F.H.   Some years later-139 B.C.—the Emperor Wooti, of the Han dynasty, sent an

Envoy to the Great Yuchi for the purpose of arranging a combined movement against the Hiungnu, the common enemy of both. But at the time of his arrival, the Yuchi, being pressed by the Ussun tribe, were urged forward to the invasion of Saghd, and Tahia—the country of the Dahee—and they carried the Chinese Envoy, Chang Kian, along with them.

On this new ground the Yuchi gradually made good their stand, and—about 126 B.C.—having overthrown the decaying Greek Bactrian kingdom, drove out the Saka across the Oxus and the mountains beyond into the country drained by the Kabul river, and, establishing themselves in their place, soon spread over the province that has since been named, after their tribal appellation, Tokhâristân; which includes Balkh, Cundûz, Hiss6r, Bolor, Wakhân, and Badakhshân.

The Envoy, Chang Kian, after a detention of ten years effected his release, and returned to China after an absence of 16 years, during which he experienced a variety of remarkable and perilous adventures, with only two survivors of the original company of 100 with which he set out. His return was welcomed with rejoicings, and, on account of the knowledge he had acquired of the western nations, he was raised to high rank, and, with Hou Kiuping as General, entrusted with the conduct of an expedition against the Hiungnu who were at that time-123-121 B.C.contesting the possession of the several little States from Khâmil round by Kâshghar to Khutan against the Ouigour or Uyghiir who, since 200 B.C., had, under the name of Kuisse, taken possession of the country from the direction of Khâmil.

The expedition failed, and Chang Kian was reduced from his high position to the ranks. But during this campaign his troops first saw the golden statue of Budha which was worshiped by the King of Hieai-to or Kartchou, and which was destined hereafter to be the means of introducing the new faith into China. The statue was taken and carried to the Emperor, and afterwards served as the model for others when the doctrine of Budha gained a footing in the country, as will be mentioned further on.

Wooti, though at first unsuccessful, prosecuted the war against the Hiungnu, and materially checked their career. His successor, Chaouti, followed the same policy, and finally broke their power by a singal defeat. This disaster was followed by dissensions and anarchy amongst the tribes, whilst a plague and famine coming in the wake of their protracted warfare completed the reduction of the turbulent Hiungnu, who in 60 B.C. passed under subjection to the Chinese.

   Y.C.   They subsequently, however, rebelled and for a season recovered their former
independence, but were again subdued in 83 A.D., and, following this, the whole country was annexed to China by-94 A.D.—the capture of Kâshghar. These successes were achieved by the celebrated soldier Panchao who from this crossed the mountains of Bolor, attacked the Yuchi or Tokhâri, killed their King, and a few years later pushed his arms as far as the Caspian ; for in 102 A.D. he sent an expedition thus far westward under Kanyng in the vain-glorious attempt to conquer the Roman Empire.

From this time forward till the period of the Arab conquest, the history of this region belongs to that of the Chinese Empire.

Whilst the Chinese were thus engaged in subjugating the territory of Kashghar, the Great Yuchi, relieved from the pressure of their old enemies, consolidated their power in their new possessions, and during the century of their settlement in Saghd and Tâhia became a very numerous and powerful nation with their capital at Bukhârâ.

   N.   This ancient city is said to have been built by Afrâsyâb on the site of a former
marsh formed by floods from the M6saf River, and the country around to have been settled by tribes originally coming from Turkistan under a Chief named Abrawy. He settled the country, built Bekand as his capital, and Dabosy as his