Page:From Kulja, across the Tian Shan to Lob-Nor (1879).djvu/24

Rh him the title of sovereign, which he only enjoyed for two years, and on his death Gushluk succeeded to the throne. He attacked and killed the Khan of Almalik, and ravaged the country of Kashgar. D'Ohsson says that having been brought up a Christian, he embraced Buddhism on the solicitation of his wife, a daughter of Gurkhan. Another account represents his wife as being Christian, whilst he remained a Buddhist.

Gushluk, though master of a wide empire, was unable to stand against the overwhelming force of Jinghiz Khan, whose general, Chepe Noyan, marched against Kashgar, in A.D. 1219, when Gushluk abandoned the city and fled across the Pamir to Badakshan, where he was captured and taken to Chepe, who had him beheaded. By the overthrow of Gushluk the Mongol dominion was extended over the whole country of Central Asia.

In the partition of the realm of Jinghiz Khan among his sons, the region of Eastern Turkestan, with Almahk as its capital, fell to the share of Jagatai, and his successors held it until Timur came with fire and sword, and made it part of his extensive empire. Then followed a confused period of dissensions between Mongol princes and Mongol tribes, during which we are led to believe that the civilization of Almalik and of the neighbouring cities of the valley of the Ili entirely disappeared. Regarding this city of Almalik, Colonel Yule gives the following information:—