Page:From Kulja, across the Tian Shan to Lob-Nor (1879).djvu/29

10 and I would refer any who are interested in the subject to Dr. Bellew's work Kashmir and Kashgar—for a full description of the country under the Ameer's rule. So long as he lived it appeared that the prestige of his successes, and the vigour of his administration would render the task of Tso Tsung Tang, the Chinese general appointed by the Court of Peking to reorganize the country, a very hopeless business. But what was denied to the half-starved, ill-disciplined forces under his command, was accomplished by the hand of an assassin. Those who were in London last year may have observed the fine manly figure of an Oriental prince, whose countenance and demeanour won for its possessor golden opinions in English society. Syud Yakub Khan, nephew and chief adviser of the late Ameer, had come to England not merely to repeat the sentiment of friendship which his uncle felt and heartily expressed towards her Majesty the Queen, but he had another object in view, viz. to bring about, if possible, an amicable understanding between the Chinese Government and his master, by which Yakub Khan might retain possession of the country he had won by his sword, at the same time, yielding allegiance to the Chinese, as sovereigns of the land. But whilst negotiations were progressing between the two parties news came of the assassination of the Ameer, and of consequent disturbances in the State of Kashgar.