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0299 Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 : vol.1
Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 : vol.1 / Page 299 (Color Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000196
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( 207 )

P. force, but pushed on the attack against the fort with redoubled energy; and it fell to

the vigour of his assault on the fortieth day of the siege, about the beginning of July 1x65, with a loss of 100 killed, and Hamrah Khan amongst the number ; whilst 2,000 Khitay were slaughtered without quarter, and 250 taken captive. The booty found in the fort was divided amongst the troops, and after a week Aziz Beg of the adjoining town was appointed its governor with a suitable garrison. Mir Baba HuddychI was now sent to Alim Cull to report the victory and present as offerings 100 Khitay captives, 40 4yfi4 guns, 100 silver Ycémbci — 17,200 Rs., 50 silk t war (saddle cloths), and many slave girls including nine virgins.

After securing and settling the district, Buzurg and his General returned to Kashghar and celebrated their success by a week of festivity and rejoicing. After this Yakûb Beg came out of the city, and taking up his residence in the new house built for him at Pakhtaghlic, set to press the siege of the Yangishahr which, since his departure for Yarkand, had become very slack.

Mir Baba had arrived at Marghinan with his charge when be heard of the capture of Nyaz Beg Fort by the Russians and the departure of Alim Cull from Khokand with a large army to the support of Tashkand. He accordingly hurried on with his party towards Tashkand, and had crossed the Kandir Dawau to Tilao, when he met the fugitive troops and learned of Alim Cull's death ; so he halted where he was.

At this time Beg Muhammad, Kapchak, Governor of Andijan, and Mirza Ahmad, Governor of Marghinan, both shamming sick, were at the summons of Alim Cull proceeding to the front leisurely together in carts. They had crossed the Chilchik River to Coylic when they met the fugitives from Tashkand and heard of the death of Alim Cull. They at once threw off their mask and mounting their horses hurried back to Toytappa, and there collecting the scattered troops consulted with the chiefs as to a successor to Alim Cull. Mirza Ahmad, the malingerer, proposed, and the others consented, that Beg Muhammad, his fellow malingerer, be raised to the government with the title of MingbâshI ; and he forthwith appointed his colleague, Mirza Ahmad, to the office of Parwc'nchi Both reprobates then marched to Tilao, and summoning Mir Baba with the Kashghar offerings, divided all amongst themselves and followers, and then returned to Khokand, where they joined the upstart Khuda Cull Khan.

Meanwhile, as before mentioned, Nabbi Baksh from Tashkand had summoned the aid of Bukhara, and on the restoration of Khudayar to Khokand and the flight of Khuda Cull Beg thence to Midi, these worthies deserted him and went to Gulsha with a number of others. At this place Sadie Beg, Kirghiz, persuaded Kichik Khan Tora to join him in an attack to seize Kashghar from Buzurg Khan ; and they set out on this enterprise with 1,000 men under the Kirghiz leaders Uthman, Mulla Arzti, Cosh, Khadir Ali, and others.

On arrival at Tashmalik they were joined by more Kirghiz, and took the fort of Farrash by " coup." Its governor on the part of Buzurg Khan, one Halim Ishikaghâ, escaped and fled to Yâkilb Beg with the intelligence. He at once despatched Abdulla with 100 men to attack them, and himself followed with a larger force. The advance party drove in the Kirghiz picket at the Farrash River, and Abdulla rushing at the fort put Sadie to flight in the hills, and captured many horses and prisoners, and, amongst other things left in the fort, all his musical instruments, by the strains of which his Kirghiz were encouraged to the fight. Yaknb Beg came up on the recovery of the fort, and sent letters promising life and pardon to Sadie and the Tora on condition of their coming in and submitting to Buzurg Khan.

The Kirghiz and Kapchak on this consulted together, and seeing no prospect of a career in Khokand, decided on casting in their lot with the Khoja at Kashghar ; and accordingly sent Uthman DcidkklocCh to Yakûb Beg with a tender of submission and service from all their party. He was reassured, conciliated and robed, and then sent back to bring the party in. Sadie Beg and Kichik Khan, with the other chiefs

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