THE LAND OF UNREST 387 



Dzungar was left alive, and this country became once 

 more an unhappy and depopulated land. 



This date, 1750, marks the beginning of the period 

 of Chinese ascendancy in the far western portion of her 

 Empire, under the great , Emperor Chien-lung, whose 

 great ambition was to restore Chinese prestige in Central 

 Asia. Dzungaria being depopulated, Chien-lung im- 

 ported, as colonists into the country, Solons and Sibos, 

 loyal fighting races on whom the Chinese could depend ; 

 these people were given land in the Hi Valley ; while 

 Dungans (Chinese Mohammedans) settled in consider- 

 able numbers along the northern foot-hills of the Tian 

 Shan. Chinese colonists began to recognize in Southern 

 Dzungaria and the Hi Valley a new colony where life 

 was easier than in the crowded home provinces ; while 

 criminals and outlaws found that in this direction they 

 could best escape the long arm of the law. Gradually 

 Dzungaria began to assume a respectable and almost 

 settled appearance. Towns of importance grew up, 

 and even the Torguts, after their none too pleasant 

 experiences in Russian territory, were invited to return 

 and were offered lands in which to dwell. 



All went well until disturbances and unrest amongst 

 the Chinese Mohammedans, in the provinces of Kansu 

 and Shensi, sent a wave of dissatisfied insurgents across 

 to Dzungaria. In 1864 the Mohammedans rose against 

 their rulers, the Dungan colonists captured the capital — 

 Urumchi, and killed 130,000 Chinese ; the Hi Valley 

 was also devastated, five out of its six towns were de- 

 stroyed, and Dzungaria became once more the scene of 

 bloodshed and war. For seventeen years disorder con- 

 tinued, and it was not until 1878 that the Chinese suc- 

 ceeded in crushing the revolt. In 188 1 these outlying 



