396 
MINUTES OE PROCEEDINGS OF 
and built Tort Vernoe, north of the lake Issy-Kul. This is an important 
place, being at the junction of the cross roads from Semipalatinsk to 
Kashgar, and from Kokan to Ili or Kuldja. 
Then, in order more fully to secure their position, they turned westwards, 
and capturing several Kokan forts in succession, Aulietta and Turkistan 
being among the number, they thus joined their eastern to their western 
line of advance. In his circular detailing these events, Prince Gortchakoff, 
in 1865, said that “the purpose of last year's campaign was that the fortified 
lines of the frontier—the one running from China to Lake Issy-Kul, the 
other stretching from the Aral along the Sir Daria—should be united by 
fortified points, so that all our posts should be in a position for mutual 
support." 
Although in all these movements the Russians had encountered oppo¬ 
sition, and had fought numerous battles, still none of them were on any 
great scale. The numbers engaged were comparatively few, and the losses 
on the Russian side have always been trifling. 
Indeed, from the causes already mentioned—that is, want of roads and of 
supplies—the advances of Russia have always been made with small detach¬ 
ments, step by step, fortifying posts as they went. On the other hand, it is 
evident that none of the powers of Central Asia have the means of bringing 
very large, disciplined, well-armed masses into the field. 
Russia, in 1864, had thus not only left the desert behind, but found 
herself in possession of several large and flourishing cities, in a fruitful, 
well cultivated country; a country in which corn and cotton are grown in 
considerable quantities, and in which mines of the precious metals and also 
of coal exist. Kokan is at her mercy, and Bokhara hardly less so; and 
although the distances are great, the communications to the rear are com¬ 
paratively safe and easy. Envoys from Kokan visited India in 1860 and in 
1864, to ask for support, but were not successful. Tashkend had fallen in 
1865, and Khojend was captured the following year. The battle in May, 
1866, which preceded the fall of that city, is the most considerable 
that has occurred, and is called the battle of “ Irdjar." The Emir of 
Bokhara commanded in person on the occasion, and is said to have had 
21 pieces of artillery, 5000 regular infantry, and 35,000 auxiliary Kirghis, 
against 14 companies of infantry, 5 squadrons of cavalry, and 20 guns on 
the part of Russia. The fighting, however, must have been meagre, and 
the battle more a flight and massacre than anything else; the Russian loss 
being given as only 12 wounded, whilst the Emir left 1000 dead bodies on 
the field. He also lost his camp equipage and baggage, and returned to 
Samarcand with only 2000 horse and 2 guns. 
Khojend stands on the left bank of the Jaxartes, and is surrounded by a 
double line of thick high walls, said to be seven miles in circuit. It was 
taken by escalade at the end of May, after considerable resistance. 
In 1868 the Russians took another decisive step; and, after another 
battle, the ancient and important city of Sapnareand fell into their possession. 
Thus the heart of Bokhara has been reached, as well as that of Kokan, 
and although in neither case has the capital yet fallen, both may probably 
do so ere long. I may mention that in the winter of 1866, an envoy from 
Bokhara came to Calcutta to ask for assistance from England, but his 
mission was unsuccessful. 
