384 DZUNGARIA 



of Dzungaria — namely, the southern borders, at the 

 foot of the Tian Shan — a district which corresponds 

 precisely to the present-day colonies of Chinese and 

 Dungans. This district was, in fact, the only portion 

 offering facilities to an agricultural people, Dzungaria 

 being divided into two zones, the northern portion for 

 nomads and the southern for agriculturists. The 

 remainder of the Uigur Kingdom was composed of the 

 rich oases of Chinese Turkestan, on the southern side of 

 the Tian Shan. 



At this particular period Turki nomadic tribes, such 

 as the Naimans, held the northern portion of Dzungaria, 

 and the Kirei were resident in the Altai. 



This state of affairs continued until the early part 

 of the twelfth century, when another immigration of 

 strangers occurred. In 1123 (according to Sir Henry 

 Howorth) a prince of the Kitan, or Liao Dynasty, 

 emigrated from China with a small band of followers. 

 Gathering, on his way through Shensi, a considerable 

 number of Turki adventurers, he travelled across the 

 confines of China to the " land of Kirghises," and settled 

 in Northern Dzungaria, where he built a town on the 

 banks of the " I mil " (Emil). The result was the origin 

 of the kingdom of the Kara-Kitai, who extended their 

 power until they embraced not only all Dzungaria, 

 but also Chinese and Russian Turkestan. The Kara- 

 Kitai became the suzerains of the Uigurs and all the 

 smaller nomadic peoples, until the Mongol avalanche 

 was set in motion and eventually destroyed them. 



Early in the thirteenth century the Mongols arose, 

 and, sweeping all Inner Asia, entirely altered the map of 

 racial-distribution. The Mongols were destroyers, not 

 organizers, in consequence of which all permanent con- 



