134 ADVANCE OF CHINESE. 



decided measures. The governor of Kan-su resided 

 at Djung-ling, while a Dungan akhun ruled at 

 Si-ning.^ 



At length the authorities at Peking determined 

 to resort to more energetic measures, and accordingly 

 despatched a new army of 25,000 men to the scene 

 of action. Their chief object was to capture Si-ning, 

 an important commercial city with a large popula- 

 tion. Advancing in echelons, the Chinese troops only 

 arrived in Kan-su by the month of June 1872, and 

 quartered themselves in the towns of Nim-pi and 

 Ou-yam-pu, about thirty miles from Si-ning. Here 

 they passed two months in complete idleness, merely 

 pillaging the neighbouring country, and giving the 

 Mahommedans time to assemble 70,000 men in 

 Si-ning. Not till September did they advance against 

 this town, and take up their position beneath its 

 walls, within Avhich the defenders had as usual re- 

 tired. Four European field-pieces, brought from 

 Peking, struck terror into the insurgents. Each of 

 these guns was drawn by six mules caparisoned in 

 silk, and none durst approach them under fear of 

 immediate death. They were furnished with grape 

 shot and small shells, which were of the greatest 

 service to the Chinese. 



At the assault of the town, some of these shells 

 burst in the streets, and created a panic among the 

 defenders. To make matters worse, one of them 

 which had not exploded on falling suddenly burst 



' It is said that the loss of Si-ning was net reported at Peking until 

 three years afterwards. 



