and the task of Central Asian conquest had begun. He alone has survived four or five civil wars, which aimed chiefly at his destruction, and the feuds of Kirghiz and Kipchak. He has escaped assassination and death at the hands of open enemies when every other member of his house has been less fortunate. And although he can scarcely hope to witness the decadence and fall of Russia's power, he may live long enough to see its curtailment.

In twelve years after the capture of Tchimkent Russia had absorbed the whole of Khokand, and, despite the valour of the Khokandians, her domination. seems to be nowhere so secure as it is there. Tashkent has become the metropolis of a mighty empire, and its admirable position fully justifies the selection. But in the mountains of Ferghana, and along the banks of the Naryn, travellers say that there exists the remembrance of independence that is now lost. A powerful caste, and an ambitious and capable race, have been overthrown. The Kipchak is apparently as subdued as the Kirghiz, and from neither is it possible to expect any formidable resistance. But they have lost their career, Russia has deprived them of their supremacy, and it is not in human nature to suppose that they love their masters any better than the Mahratta loves us. They, too, are in a worse position than the Mahratta, for they cannot play at those martial exercises which still, perhaps, in India afford relief to the warlike sentiments of a bold people. Russia's rule in Khokand is secure to almost all intents and purposes; but should ever the opportunity offer for

striking a blow for freedom, not a Khokandian would be backward in manifesting his actual hostility to Russia. The people of Khokand must live upon their aspirations. The day of emancipation now appears far distant, impossible of arrival. Yet it may come, and a bold and prudent people can prepare in quiet for the dangers and the duties of that time.

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CHAPTER VII.

RUSSIA'S RELATIONS WITH BOKHARA.

BOKHARA had for many years been in close intercourse with Russia by means of the caravan trade that was carried on between the two States. In fact, until the Russians laid siege to Tashkent there had been marked cordiality between the two countries. The Ameer of Bokhara had always been on good terms with Russia, and the extent of that alliance is proved by nothing more strongly than by the position M. de Boutinieff occupied at the Court of the tyrant Nasrullah when compared with that of the unfortunate Stoddart. That entente cordiale stood every test until the Ameer Mozaffur Eddin perceived that Khokand, which he regarded as his legitimate prey, was slipping from his hands into those of the great northern Power. The siege of Tashkent, which could be very conveniently attacked from the Bokharan town of Chinaz, brought home to the mind of the Ameer the fact that Russia was about to secure that to which he considered himself to be entitled. Hence arose that dubious attitude

in 1865, which was to become more pronounced as events progressed.

General Tchernaieff's prompt advance upon the Syr Darya, and capture of the ferry at Chinaz, averted the danger that was then imminent from a Bokharan intervention. But after Tashkent had surrendered, this Russian success did not prevent the Ameer revealing his hostility. An embassy, composed of Messrs. Struve, son of the distinguished astronomer, Tatarinof, and Glukhoffsky, and other officers, was sent by Russia to Bokhara, with the intention of discovering what was the feeling which the Ameer entertained towards Russia. The Ameer's reply was to throw several of them into prison. Before Khokand, therefore, was more than half conquered, Russia's relations with Bokhara had changed from friendship to hostility.

In January 1866 Tchernaieff crossed the Syr Darya, and advanced from Chinaz upon Jizakh. But his force was very weak, and he found that Jizakh was stronger than he had expected, and that the Ameer had assembled a considerable army for the defence of his dominions. Mozaffur at the same time pretended to be disposed to yield to the Russian demands, which Tchernaieff was weak enough to credit. He was consequently compelled or induced to retreat, and the Russian envoys still remained imprisoned.

When Mozaffur Eddin interfered, in 1864, in the affairs of Khokand, and placed Khudayar again on the throne, he retained possession of the important town of Khodjent in the southern portion of the State, on the banks of the Syr Darya. The Russians coveted

this highly important position, and were by no means disposed to admit the justice of Bokhara's claim over a town which should so clearly belong to Khokand as Khodjent. General Tchernaieff had been replaced by General Romanoffsky, in consequence of the retreat from Jizakh, and it became his successor's immediate task to repair that disaster, and effectually to curb the hostility of Bokhara. In April 1866 Romanoffsky was already moving down upon Khodjent, and was collecting at Chinaz a large supply of provisions, etc., which had been sent up the river by water from Kazala. In that month he routed a considerable body of Bokharan cavalry, and in May had advanced across the Syr Darya to encounter the main army of the Ameer.

The Russian army with which this important campaign was commenced certainly did not number more than four thousand men, with an artillery of twenty guns. It was, however, well supplied with rockets in addition. The two armies came face to face on the plain of Irjar on the 20th of May, and a battle was immediately commenced. The Bokharan army is computed to have numbered forty thousand men, with twenty-one guns; but it is only fair to state that of these barely five thousand were regular Bokharan troops. Such confidence was there at this time in the valour and efficiency of the Bokharan army, that the Ameer had already announced his intention of retaking Tashkent. Von Helwald has stated that this army was armed with excellent English weapons, but this is one of those sweeping statements in which this