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Rh chief to receive strangers unrestrained. From the earliest times the gold-fields of Khoten have been known to exist, though as yet they have never been visited by any European. The scientific researches of Dr. Stoliczka revealed to the Ameer of Kashgar the existence of rich mines of copper, lead, coal, and other hidden wealth, all which treasures the Ameer showed his wisdom in wishing to keep for his own use; and he could not be altogether unacquainted with the fact that foreigners who travel in Asia to explore too often stay to annex.

And as regards Colonel Prejevalsky and the advent of Russians in Eastern Turkestan, Yakub Beg was doubtless aware of ancient traditions, as are recorded by Mons. Gregorieff, and more lately by Howorth in his History of the Mongols. Like most other countries, Russia has had its romantic El Dorado, a land outside its borders, where it has fancied wealth and ease might be bought easily by washing gold out of a river, and which led to some adventurous journeys. This El Dorado was the country of little Bukharia, and especially the neighbourhood of Yarkand (and Khoten) reported to be rich in gold deposits.

In 1714, Prince Gagarin, Governor of Siberia, presented a report, in which he suggested that it would be possible to appropriate this country, and he suggested that a series of forts should be pushed along from the Irtish as far as Yarkand, c