28 
HISTORY OF THE KHOJAS OF EASTERN TURKISTAN. 
After these events the Russian vision of an Eldorado in Yarqand 
appears to have been dispelled, for no farther attempt was made to reach 
Eastern Turkistan. Indeed the limits they were compelled to confine 
themselves to in 1720, have not been greatly overstepped even to the pre¬ 
sent day ; so that the historical role of the Qalmaqs, during their short 
period of power, was not alone to draw the Chinese forward into Zungharia, 
but to keep the Russians back within the boundaries of Siberia. 
