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Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

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Yaknb Beg came out to oppose them with all his force. A severe fight took place in T.S.

which the Russians lost 200 men killed, but they drove the Tashkand army back into

their fort, and were then obliged themselves to retreat on the fourth day back to

Chamkand.

Whilst this struggle was going on at the frontier, Alim Cull with Syad Sultan

Khan and a large army was hurrying up from Khokand to the support of Tâshkand,

and on his arrival there rewarded the defenders and sent the heads of the Russians

slain all over the country as trophies of their success against " the cursed Urins."

He then set to work to improve the defences and dispose his troops on the fortification.

Whilst he was thus engaged an envoy arrived from Sadie Beg, Kirghiz of Kashghar,

announcing the destruction of the Chinese rule there and the capture of the city by

himself, and asking him to send a Khoja whom he might set on the throne as king

of the country.

Alim Cull, in reply to this appeal, sent Buzurg Khan Khoja, the only son of

Jahangir Khoja., to recover the throne of his ancestors, and appointed Yaknb Beg

Koshbegi to accompany him as Bcittir-bâski " Leader of the braves," or General of

his forces, by way of securing his own interests and maintaining the Khokand

influence in the Kashghar States.

Before following the Khoja, or Tom as he is usually styled, and his General in P.

their career at Kashghar, it will be profitable first to trace out, most briefly though it

be, that rapid succession of conquests and victories which in the course of a few short

years have extended the Russian territory and rule from Alm6ti Vernoe on the

north-east to the very gates of Bukhara on the south-west; because this extension of

Christian rule and civilized government over the Muhammadan and barbarous States

of Central Asia, favoured in its success by the wild anarchy and savage despotism

rampant in those very States, whilst opening out ‘a bright future to these too-long

benighted regions, has not been without an important influence on the Islam polity of

not only Central Asia, but the whole Muhammadan world ; for since the days of the

Khalifs, Bukhara, the Cubbat-ulislam, or " Centre Prop of the Faith," has always

been considered the most sacred seat of its power and doctrine, and its decadence here

during the past decade is already attended by signs of its revival elsewhere ; in the

prime seat in fact of its origin and growth.

After the retreat of the Russians from their unsuccessful attack against Tashkand T.S.

in the latter days of October 1864, the Khokandi under Alim Cull were emboldened

to assume the offensive, and early in December invested the village of Chilik which

had been recently taken by them. A small party of Cossacks was sent to its relief

from Turkistan, but on arrival at Aycan or Ikan was cut off from succour and

surrounded by an overwhelming force of Khokandis who fought behind shields and

moveable mantlets called carâbûrci. The devoted band fought with heroic bravery,

and was nearly cut to pieces without inflicting much injury upon their assailants, and

only a small remnant, fighting their way through, effected a safe return to Turkistan Rom.

on the 18th December 1864.

With the first opening of spring the Russians again took the field to avenge Rom.

this disaster to their arms, and on the 10th May 1865 General Chernayef took the

fort of Nyazbeg, and on the 20th of the same month, in correspondence with a party

in the city who had agreed to surrender the town, camped at eight verst, or about

five miles from Tâshkand; but Alim Cull with 6,000 men and 40 guns entering

the city the same day the pre-arranged " coup " failed.

On the following morning Alim Cull with 40,000 men issued to destroy " the P.

cursed Uri s" who were only 4,000 strong. My informant, one who took an active part in the' fight, described how the eager Khokandis swarmed to the promised destruction of their entrapped foe ; how, surging in tumultuous crowds over the low ridges that broke the general level of the plain, they closed around the thickest ranks of the enemy; how, as they pressed harder and nearer, the Russian priests raised aloft the effigy of their saint, and bare-headed prayed for his intercession and