National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

The people, fretting under this imposition, sent some Aktághlúc agents to Khokand P.
complaining of the violation of the trade regulations established by the Khan, and
seeking relief from the exactions of their oppressors. Alím Culí was at the time
too much taken up with his own troubles to heed their request, and meanwhile
intelligence of the Yárkand outbreak arriving, the people rose in revolt and
massacred all the Khitáy traders and residents in the city. The Ambán, without
attempting to quell the tumult in the city, shut himself up with his troops in the
Yángishahr, five miles to the south of it.
On this the Aktághlúc chiefs of Artosh called in the aid of Sadíc Beg, Kirghiz, to
restore order. He hastened down with his men, and joining them was put in posses-
sion of the city; but he and his men being more intent on plunder than on the
restoration of order were soon expelled the city by the Governor Cútlúgh Beg, acting
in the interest of the Chinese with the support of the citizens, who were already dis-
gusted at the numerous murders and horrid barbarities perpetrated on their fellow
co-religionists by the Kirghiz chief and his savages. Sadíc now was joined by the
Tungání who on the first outbreak of the rebellion had escaped from the Yángishahr
and joined the rioters, whilst a number of their less fortunate brethren were seized
and killed by the Ambán. With the aid of these troops he made several unsuccessful
attempts to seize the city held by Cútlúgh, and after three months of desultory and
ineffectual skirmishing in the suburbs he sent an envoy to Alím Culí, informing him
of the state of affairs and asking for a Khoja to come and take the country. Alím
Culí was at this time engaged in strengthening the defences of Táshkand against the
impending attack by the Russians, and in reply to the appeal of Sadíc Beg sent off
Buzurg Khan Tora, the heir of Jahángír, to recover the throne of his ancestors; but
as he could spare no troops to send with him, he appointed Yákúb Beg Koshbegi to
accompany him as General and raise what force he could.
Buzurg Khán and Yákúb Beg with Abdulla Pánsad, Muhammad Culí Shaghávol,
and Khoja Kalán Hudáychi, left Táshkand towards the end of November 1864, and
at once repaired to Khokand, there to complete the final preparations for their
enterprise. At the capital they were joined by some officers who had been left
behind by Khudáyár, and a few other adventurers, and towards the close of the year
set out for Káshghar. At Osh a few others joined and raised the number of the
whole party as it left Andijan to only 68 individuals. From Osh they took
the road of the Tirik Dawán, and in fourteen days reached Mingyol on the out-
skirts of Káshghar during the first days of the new year 1865.
Sadíc Beg, after he had sent off his envoys, repented of having asked for a Khoja,
and now sought to turn Buzurg back, hoping soon to take the city without the aid
of his weighty name, but the citizens and villagers hearing of his arrival flocked out
to welcome him. On this Sadíc raising the siege retired to Sarman, and sent forward
his brother, Kádir Beg, to welcome the Khoja, and with a proffer of his service to invite
him to the entertainment he had prepared for him. Buzurg and his party accord-
ingly came to Sarman, and next day set out for the city with the Kirghiz chief. Here
Cútkhigh Beg opened the gates to the Khoja, and surrendering the city installed him
in the Orda, or "Palace," as king amidst the acclamations of the citizens.
Buzurg Khán on thus easily gaining possession of the city committed the reins
of government to Yákúb Beg, and himself true to the character of his class at once
launched into a succession of pleasures and debaueheries. On this Sadíc finding him-
self ousted from all participation in the government became discontented, and on the
fourth day after the installation of Buzurg withdrew with his men to Yángi Hissár,
and setting up as claimant of the throne called the Kirghiz in the hills to the west
and the Pámir to rally round him. Meanwhile Yákúb Beg settled the city, and
retaining most of the old officials in their posts under Andijání supervisors,
secured the Tungání for the service of the Khoja, and raised a small force from
amongst the Andijání, Afghán, and other residents in the city. Whilst so engaged
—twenty days after the defection of Sadíc Beg, and about the beginning of