A Chequered History. 



about their further migration in the fourth century of our era, 

 when they fell under Turkish sway. Following in their wake 

 were the Uighurs, a tribe of Turkish origin, who were succeeded 

 by the Kara Khidans, the latter in their turn being subdued 

 by the Mongols in the 13th century under their famous leader 

 Jenghiz Khan. The latter extended his conquests far and wide, 

 embracing within their limits a large portion of the great Asiatic 

 continent. At this period of its chequered career the Hi Valley 

 comprised, in addition to the territory along the river, the province 

 of Dzungaria, which at the close of the reign of Jenghiz Khan was 

 in possession of three sections of the Mongol race, who founded 

 an aUiance and were known as " Oirat," a term signifying " con- 

 federates." The events following on this alliance, which was con- 

 cluded towards the end of the 14th century, tended to consolidate 

 great power in the hands of the Oirat, until the middle of the 

 15th century, when they overcame the Chinese in a desperate 

 struggle that had been of long duration. Soon after this event 

 the power and fame of the Oirat began to decay and their influence 

 became of little account. 



We now pass to the close of the 17th century, when internal 

 strife caused sections of the confederacy to secede from the alliance. 

 Dzungaria at this time was the scene of constant warfare until 

 the advent of a chief of one branch of the Oirat who secured the 

 aid of China in his efforts to assume the sovereignty of Dzun- 

 garia, and, being successful, thought to establish himself there 

 as an independent ruler. This was contrary to Chinese intentions, 

 and on his becoming discontented and raising the standard of 

 rebellion against Celestial suzerainty he was completely defeated 

 and fied to Russian territory in the year 1755. At this time 

 Chinese power was at a high level, and the reigning Emperor 

 had included within his dominions Eastern Chinese Turkistan 

 and Kashgaria, and with the object of consolidating his hold 

 upon Dzungaria put to the sword in the year 1756 the entire 

 population, comprising some 600,000 souls. The total depopu- 

 lation thus brought about necessitated other inhabitants being 



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