422 Mr. Bell on the growing power of Russia. 
the choice of a lesser evil.) Whether is it better, on the whole, 
that the political power of Russia should so far preponderate, as 
to annihilate the Mohamedan states of Europe and Asia,—swallow 
up the independent nomadic states of Toorkistan, and put an end 
to the great Asiatic slave trade? or that the political state of things 
should continue on the old footing, and the power of Russia be 
kept in check, having arrived at its ne plus ultra? I think there 
is no candid person but will prefer the former to the latter ; for, 
on the continuance of the old political status quo, no amelioration 
will ever take place, or indeed can, in the state of Asia. On that 
supposition no ray of light, of whatever kind, will ever be permit- 
ted to irradiate the moral or political gloom of regions lying in the 
shadow of death, but ignorance must still be allowed to brood, with 
raven wing, over the benighted inhabitants. But on the former 
supposition, the power and influence of Mohamedan despotism be- 
ing removed, Christianity and civilization, with all their concomi- 
tant blessings, will at least not be hindered as at present from en- 
tering these darkened abodes, and the unhappy natives at least 
enjoy the chance (if the expression be allowable) of merging from 
their present state. 
It is one consolation seldom enjoyed in perusing Asiatic history, 
that the inhabitants of Kokan, an Usbeck khanate on the upper 
Sihoon, differ widely from their plnndering brethren of Khyvah 
and Bokhara, in that they neither make slaves, nor sell them, nor 
possess them ; they neither plunder nor steal, and that amongst 
them the traveller is perfectly safe. 
The Russians will probably be soon in close contact with Central 
Asia on the north-west and western-sides, if they succeed in their 
intended scheme of reducing the whele of the Usbeck khanates ; 
but as the Chinese government always keeps a diligent look-out, it 
will take good care to prevent all occasion of quarrel between their 
Kalmuck subjects and the Russian Tartars, and so give no pre- 
tence for Russia to intermeddle. The Mchamedans of Kashghar, 
it is true, do not love the Chinese government ; for, indeed, they 
love no government but one of their own faith, and have raised 
more than one rebellion in Kashghar ; but they have hitherto been 
quelled. It has been asserted that these rebellions, and particu- 
‘larly the last, under a chief who styled himself Jehan Ghir, have 
been fomented by Russian agents, employed for that purpose un- 
der disguise at Yarkund ; and Mr. Moorcroft mentions one at that 
place by whose intrigues he was prevented from reaching Yarkund. 
The surmise may be fact; but it is impossible, in the dearth of 
all communications from these regions, to say whether it be true or 
false. But it is not probable that the Mohamedans of Kashghar 
will prefer the Russian yoke to the Chinese ; and the knowledge 
of their conquests over the most of Mohamedan states will irritate 
them still more against these declared enemies of the faith of the 
prophet. But it is impossible to speculate on dark futurities ; 
and it will probably be a long time ere the Russians set foot, as 3 
