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0174 Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 : vol.1
Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 : vol.1 / Page 174 (Color Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000196
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the importation of the Brahma creed to this region. The other names under which R.K.

Khutan appears in Chinese writings are Iuthian, Iu-tun, Iu-siun, Hou-an-na, Khiou-tan, and Hou-tan or Hotan.

In the reign of Kao-tsung, 650-655 A.D., an expedition under Assena Cheni against the Kouei-tseu of Beshbaligh terrified all the States on the western frontier, and Fou-che-siu, the King of Khutan, went in person to the capital with a tribute-offering of three hundred camels. He was well received and granted the title of " General of the Right," whilst his son was appointed " Commander of the Cavalry of the Right." After a detention of some months he was sent back to his government, but his son and younger brothers were detained as hostages at the Imperial Court.

In 665 A.D. the Koung-youei of Kashghar and the Tibetans made a joint attack on Khutan and Sitcheou, but the places were delivered from them by the aid of the " General of the Left," whose Government was most probably, I may here note, at Almaligh on the north of the Tian-shan range. About this period envoys with tribute were sent more frequently and regularly, and in 717 A.D., the fifth year of Yuan Sung, presented, amongst other native products, a wild camel " swift as the wind." In 760 A.D. the son of the King of Khutan, who was an officer in the Emperor's palace, was made administrator of his native country. And again in 780 A.D., the first year of Kian Chang, an officer of the palace was sent to Khutan for 11c=" jade" ornaments. He made a great collection, and, loading the precious freight on camels, set out on his return, but was misled on the route, and plundered by his ruffianly Hoi-he guides. He himself managed to escape to Eu-cheu, where he died from the effects of the hardships endured on the journey. It was long after this period that these prized objects of art, hitherto only attainable by royalty and nobility, began to reach China as,articles of commerce.

In 938 A.D. the third year of Kao-tsu, of the second Tsin dynasty, the King of Khutan, Li-ching-thian, sent with his tribute red salt, native gold, li=" yak" or wild ox tails, iu=jade, and cotton-cloth. The Emperor in return sent a high court official, Kao-khiu-hoei, to notify his confirmation in the Government of " the very precious" kingdom of Khutan. He journeyed by the Chachan route, found the King dressed in the Chinese fashion, and the religion Budhism. He noted that the country produced several good kinds of wine; that the people cultivated gardens and flowers ; and that they ate rice cooked with honey. He observed, too, that there were many Tibetans in the country, and that they were always at hostilily with the natives.

In 961 A.D. the Khutan tribute included jade and crystal; and ten years later an elephant captured in war against Kashghar ; most likely, I may here note, in the war against Sultan Satoc Bughra Khan, King of Kashghar, the first notable convert

to the doctrine of Muhammad in this region, and its most violent propagandist, as will appear further on. In 1081 A.D. the tribute from Khutan comprised pearls, coral, ivory, camphor, and mercury ; all for the first time now sent, and indicating an increase of trade with India. Four years later, a live tiger, captured in the country,

accompanied the tribute for the Emperor's acceptance ; but as no body about the palace could be found to manage the savage brute, the offering was declined. Later, in 1406 A.D., during the Ming dynasty, Khutan, whose King was now entitled He-han=Kho-han=Khacan, sent Envoys with tribute; and in the annals of the reign, recording this fact, the country is described as a royal kingdom which, from the time of the Han dynasty to that of the Sung, has not ceased to be en rapport with China.

In 1420 A.D. Khutan, Haliei, and Patahechang=Badakhshan, sent horses as tribute. At this period such embassies from the extreme frontier States were of very frequent occurrence owing to the facilities they afforded for smuggling merchandize through the frontier Custom-Houses. Their real object, as a mere cloak for purposes of trade, was soon recognized by the Chinese Government, and, since the large number of foreigners entering the country in the train of the Envoys gave rise to