238 THROUGH ASIA 
The dao tai’s sphere of authority is therefore less ex- 
tensive than the spheres of his colleagues ; but within 
his own sphere his actual authority is in several respects 
superior to theirs, seeing that he enjoys the power to 
check and regulate their action, as well as to make repre- 
sentations to the central government, if he considers them 
lacking in the performance of their duty. 1 he position 
he occupies is in many ways similar to that which was 
occupied by the Russian provincial procurators in the time 
of the Empress Catharine II. ; but with this fundamental 
difference, that, whereas the functions of the Russian 
procurators were limited to protesting, the Chinese dao 
tai possesses, under certain circumstances, the power to 
command. 
My friend Shang, Dao Tai of Kashgar, exercised 
authority over a very extensive region, stretching north- 
eastwards towards the boundary of the procuratorship 
of Ak-su, and embracing Kashgar, Maral-bashi, Yarkand, 
Khotan, Keriya, and Cherchen. His duties are princi- 
pally civil ; but they also extend into the domain of 
military affairs, in that he acts as paymaster to the troops 
and inspector of commissariat. The district of Sarik-kol, 
on the Eastern Pamirs, is administered, like the similar 
frontier districts of the Russian and Afghan Pamirs, by 
military officers. The Dao Tai of Kashgar is able to 
exercise a certain measure of influence upon the conduct 
of affairs in Sarik-kol ; for he is authorised to give advice 
and furnish intelligence, but is not allowed to issue direct 
commands. 
When a young man, Shang was nothing more than a 
simple clerk to a mandarin ; but having distinguished 
himself at the time of the first revolt in Dzungaria (1864), 
he rapidly mounted the ladder of promotion, till he attained 
his present high position. Although no Adonis, he was 
from top to toe a thoroughly high - principled gentle- 
man. On ordinary days he was wont to flit his saffron 
yellow body about in a little blue cart; but for ceremonious 
occasions and functions of high solemnity he came out in 
magnificent attire, namely a robe of blue and black silk, in 
