600 Notes relative to Iskdrdoh, [Nov. 



Kalmaks, as well as five or six other extensive tracts of territory 

 formerly belonged to the Turkmans. A long time ago the Emperor of 

 China invaded these places with a large army, and seized them from the 

 Khojan, who was then in possession of the government, and exercis- 

 ed both a temporal and spiritual authority over his people. In the 

 course of the war, many of the Turkman chiefs, as well as the Khojan 

 himself, fell into the hands of the Chinese, and were put to death ; 

 while the rest of the royal family, among which was the eldest son of 

 the Khojan, who took the title of his father, sought an asylum with 

 the ruler of Indajan, where they remained waiting a favorable oppor- 

 tunity to recover their country. The Emperor of China offered 700 

 Zambus, (silver ingots, weighing about 150 Rs. each,) to the Indajan 

 chief, if he would prevent the escape of the Khojans. About three years 

 ago, when the Khojan was still at Indajan, the Chinese force stationed 

 on the frontier was withdrawn towards the Kara Khatai country. 

 When the Khojan heard of the departure of these troops, the ruler 

 of Indajan let him loose, and the Khojan collecting a party to Kirkpiz, 

 whence he sent a man to Kashghar, to ascertain the disposition of the 

 people, they replied that the Chinese force had gone to Kara Khatai, 

 and he had only to come and possess himself of the whole country. 

 According to their invitation, the Khojan marched towards Kashghar, 

 where, no sooner had the Khojan made his appearance, than the 

 people declared in his favor, and rose against the ^Chinese, about 8000 

 of whom were sacrificed to their fury. The Aubu or Chinese governor 

 of the province destroyed himself by gun-powder. As soon as the 

 news of the occupation of Kashghar by the Khojan reached the ear 

 of the governor of Yarqand, he announced the event to the Emperor, 

 by means of lighted balloons, which were set off and repeated at 

 every stage, until the information reached its destination. The 

 Emperor returned a reply in the same way. This mode of conveying 

 intelligence was never adopted by the Chinese authorities. The 

 Khojan succeeded in recovering Yarqand and Khotan, and every one 

 who was suspected of being in the interest of the Chinese was imme- 

 diately killed ; but the Khojan met with some resistance in his attempt 

 to occupy Axu, Ilah, and the Kalmak territory, in consequence of the 

 presence in them of the Chinese garrisons, and their vicinity to each 

 other. Reinforcements were sent also from China to Kashghar, and 

 after the lapse of a year, the Chinese succeeded in dispossessing the 

 Khojan of his acquisitions; and making a prisoner of him, they confined 

 him in a cage, and led him captive to the Emperor. His fate is not 

 exactly known ; some say that he who has been carried into captivity 



