660 Memoir on Chinese Tartary and Khoten. [Dec. 



held it in possession, without any attempt being made, either by the 

 Kalmuks to regain their lost authority, or by the natives, to assert 

 their independence. Subsequently, however, the Chinese began to 

 oppress the people to such a degree, as to excite much discontent, 

 and a general feeling of dislike towards them. Taking advantage 

 of this state of things, Ai Khojeh, a descendent of the ancient 

 princes of the country, and a Syed of noble family, to whom the 

 Kalmuks, as well as the whole of the Muhammedan population, were 

 much attached, headed a rebellion against the Chinese, and opposed 

 them with various success for some time ; but was, at length, forced 

 to retire before their superior number. The Chinese are said to 

 have made a cruel use of the advantage they had gained, and mas- 

 sacred the Muhammedans in every quarter where the least resistance 

 was appi'ehended. 



Ai Khojeh, and his followers, finding it impossible to continue 

 the contest, fled to Badakshdn ; but the prince of that country betray- 

 ed him, and gave him up to the Chinese, who put him to death. In 

 retribution for this treachery, his country, the people of Ydrkand 

 believe, has been visited with the miseries that have since befallen 

 it, and fell an easy prey to Muhammed Murad Beg, of Kunduz, who 

 some years ago invaded and conquered it. When Ai Khojeh was 

 thus delivered into the hands of the Chinese, his son, and his grand- 

 son, Jehangi'r Khojeh, fled to Andejdn. Some years afterwards, Ai 

 Khojeh's son died, leaving his son Jehangir Khojeh, then a youth, 

 under the care of the Khan of Kokan. About 10 or 11 years ago, 

 observing how unpopular the Chinese had become, he formed a plan 

 for regaining the possessions of his forefathers. Having succeeded 

 in bringing over to his cause Eesa Bahadur, one of the influential 

 men of Andejdn, who joined him with a large body of the Khirgiz, 

 and being supported also in his attempt by the Khan of Kokan, who 

 sent a force of about 8000 horse to assist him ; he advanced into 

 Chinese Tartary, and attacked the Chinese in their cantonment at 

 Kashgar. The Chinese, and Yunis Waug, who was then the Usbek 

 hakim of Kashgar, took refuge in the fort ; but the "Chinese apprehend- 

 ing that this chief and the Muhammedans would join Jehangir, put 

 Yunis Waug, and many of the inhabitants, to death. This inhuman 

 proceeding, however, failed of its object ; for it did not deter the rest 

 of the inhabitants, who were Musalmans, from going over to Jehan- 

 gir ; who, thus strengthened, attacked the fort, and carried it by 

 storm : the Chinese, who were taken by surprise, being either driven 

 out, or cut to pieces. 



