THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
397 
The advanced posts of Russia on the eastern side are now pushed forward 
to the crests of the Tian Shan range, and are looking down upon Chinese 
Tartary, as I have already explained, and the Russians are now negociating 
for a trading factory at Kashgar. 
With regard to Khiva we know and hear less than of the two other 
khanates, nor does Russia appear as yet to have touched that principality in 
any vital degree. She is believed, however, to be forcing her way up the 
great river Oxus; and the latest accounts state that an expedition is about 
to leave the Bay of Balkan, on the eastern shores of the Caspian, and to 
establish a new route due east to the Oxus. The object is stated to be, 
to facilitate trade with Bokhara; and no doubt, if successful, it will be far 
shorter than the present lines of communication; but, on the other hand, 
the difficulties and dangers of crossing a great arid desert, deficient in food 
and water, and thinly inhabited by hostile wandering tribes, must be very 
great. If it can be accomplished, it will completely take Khiva in flank, 
and there is no power in that principality which will enable it to hold out 
for any length of time. 
I think that what I have said will have served to explain the great progress 
which Russia has made southwards, more especially within the last few years, 
and the comparative ease with which her advances have been made. 
Before proceeding further, may I ask your attention for a moment to the 
map, and to what may be called the geographical approximation of England 
and Russia in the East; and here again I will quote a sentence from that 
excellent article in the “ Quarterly — 
“ While England, in taking possession of the line of the Indus from the seaboard 
to Peshawur, has penetrated on one side nearly 1000 miles into the ‘ debatable 
land ’ of former days; Russia, on the other side, by incorporating the great 
Kirghis Steppe into the empire, and substituting the Jaxartes for the Siberian line 
of forts as her southern frontier, has made a stride of corresponding dimensions to 
meet us; so that instead of the two empires being divided by half the continent of 
Asia as of old, there is now intervening between their political frontiers a mere 
narrow slip of territory, a few hundred miles across, occupied either by tribes torn 
by internecine war, or nationalities in the last stage of decrepitude, and traversed 
by military routes in all directions. 5s 
The shortest distance between us, as the crow flies, may be about 
400 miles. 
Russia has now several roads by which she may advance in a southerly 
direction. On the eastern side there are two passes, one near the Pamir 
Steppe and another above Aksu, by wffiich she can descend into the plains 
of Chinese Tartary and so approach Cashmere ; but the difficulties of any 
further progress towards India in this direction, appear almost insuperable, 
owing to the obstacles presented by the Himalayan ranges. 
There is also a track over the Pamir Steppe from Kokan, which, as it 
descends the southern slopes, bifurcates—one branch as I have mentioned 
running into Cashmere through the Gilgit Yalley, the other leading westward 
to Cabul. 
These, however, I imagine are quite unfit for the march of any considerable 
force. 
Erom Samarcand and Bokhara there is a road across the Oxus to Balkh 
[vol. vi.] 52 
