CHAPTER XX
Administration—Cost to China—Unpaid officials — Squeezing—Taxes —Forced loan — " Justice " — Prisons — Paupers IrrigationSlavery—Agriculture — Industries — Minerals — Trade—Moneylenders—Transport animals—Post—Telegraph.
THE province of Chinese Turkestan is officially called Sin-Chiang (or the New Dominion), but this name is practically unknown among the inhabitants, who are content to describe themselves as natives of the several districts, Yarkand, Khotan, &c. The principal personage in the adminstration of the province is the Futai, or Governor, who is always a Chinese and has his official residence at Urumtsi. Next to him in rank are two Taotais, one of whom resides at Kulja, and the other at Kashgar, while under them there are Chow-Kuans (by Europeans commonly called Ambans), who may be regarded as district magistrates. The Taotais and Chow-Kuans are Chinese ; *but most officials of lower rank are usually natives. The principal of these are the Begs, and, in towns only, Aksakals, or heads of trades, Mohammedans, wearing Chinese dress and false pig-tails. Then come the Ming Bashis, or heads of thousands, the Yuz Bashis, or heads of hundreds, and the Oan Bashis, or heads of téns. The Bashis are men in humble position who, not being required to make any compromise with Chinese usages, wear neither Chinese dress nor pig-tails.
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