Page:England & Russia in Central Asia,Vol-I.djvu/120

 100 of a sufficiently large force to annex Bokhara, or to coerce an Ameer of Cabul; but on its own resources it could never dream of attacking India, or even of establishing itself in Cabul. It is too weak numerically, and therefore we have to consider how it can be strengthened.

It is strange, in our eyes, seeing what use we have made of the fighting-material that abounds in India, to discover that Russia has done nothing in a similar direction in Central Asia. She rules over warlike races to whom the noise of battle is by nature as the breath of their nostrils — Kirghiz and Kipchak, Usbeg and Turkman; but although there exist these numerous sources whence an army of native troops could be derived, Russia has not availed herself of their services. There is no native army in Central Asia. The Russian and the Cossack are the military races of Turkestan, and in the hands of the dominant power rests all the superiority of military strength. A few exceptions are to be found where natives have been permitted to join the Russian service, and, strictly speaking, there is no law which prevents a Khokandi, or a Samarcandi, becoming a Russian soldier. But if he does desire to become one, and some do, he must join a Russian regiment, and become a Russian individual. In the course of time, should Russia's rule remain strong and assured in Central Asia, it is conceivable that, without a native army proper having been established, the majority of the Russian soldiers in the Turkestan territorial army will be natives of Central Asia. In those days Cen-