то

or Mandshur dynasty, the chief wars of the Chinese have been with those Mongnls called Kalkas, who dwell towards the rivers Kerlon and Tula. These tribes being at length subdued, and the family of the Kaldan or sovereign, extinguished or forgotten, a new vicinity, produced as usual, a new enmity, and the Chinese arms were directed more to the west. The throne of the Eluts was contested by Debatchi, (called by the Chinese Taoua-tsi,) and by another chief nam ed Amoursana. The latter was forced to withdraw, and seek refuge in the Chinese court at Geho. The kings of the Eluts used to reside on the river Ili, where a city has since been built by the Chinese; and though chosen as a place of exile, was greatly increasing in population.

Kien-Long, the Chinese emperor, wished to avoid a distant and expensive war against the Kalmuks of Soongaria, also called Eluts by the Chinese, but being irritated by the disrespectful conduct of Debatchi, he

the advice of all his councils. In tho beginning of 1755 Amoursana proceeded at the head of a Chinese army against Debatchi, who was taken prisoner, and sent to the court of Pekin, where he soon after died. Amoursana was named king of the Eluts or Kalmuks under the protection of China; but, speedily revolting, he attacked the Chinese stations on the Ili, destroyed the forts and redoubts, and having slain the two Chinese generals Panti and Aiongan, he pitched his camp before Palikoun, one of the chief towns of the Eluts, which wac strongly garrisoned by the Chinese. This town is probably the Bulugan of the Russian maps, about sixty miles north-west from the lake Barkol.

Other Chinese generals were equally unfortunate; but the garrison of Barkol was reinforced, and checked the progress of the enemy. Thi» seems clearly to be the town of Barkol, or Ortic, on the east of the lake of Barkol. At length, in 1757, the emperor was fortunate in appointing

a general of real skill, named Tchaohoei, and the dissentions of the Kal muks contributed to their destruction. The Chinese lieutenant-general, Fout£ was also a man of distinguished courage and enterprize: and Amoursana was soon forced to retire into Siberia, where he died. Numbers of the Kalmuks took refuge among the P'ourouts or Buruts, a part of the Kirguses; others among the Tanguts towards Tibet, and among the Torgnts or more western Kalmuks. KienLong divided the country of the Elnts among several chieftains, who were bound to the court by homage and titles.

The country of Little Bucharia, styled by the Chinese Hoa-men, or Hoei-pou, that is, the bord of Mabometant, had been subject to the Kalmuks of Soongaria. During the course of the war, the Mahometan chiefs of Yerquen, or Yarcand, and Hashar, or Cashgar, (princes called by the Chinese the Greater and the Lesser Ho-tchom,) ungrateful for fayours received from Kien-Long, had ■lain a Chinese officer and one hundred cavalry. The Chinese general, Tchao-hoei, advanced against the Ho-tchoms, who being defeated retired to Ycrquen, which surrendered; and was speedily followed by Hashar. "Besides Hashar and Ycrquen, they likewise became masters of seventeen other towns large and small, and of sixteen thousand villages or hamlets, Jn the district of Hashar were reckoned about sixty thousand families! without comprising those who had followed the rebels, and about twelve thousand five hundred people exiles in the country on the Ili. Hashar was little more than ten (probably of two hundred and fifty to the de gree) in circuit, and only contained two thousand rive hundred families. To the east of Hashar were situated Ouchei and Aksou. Between this last town and Hashar were three towns, PoYsonpat-hotchil, Poï-inké, Entorchc; and two large villages, Peserguen and Arvouat, inhabited by about six thousand families. To the west of Hashar were the Buruts of Ertchi-yen, (probably Adjian;) and between the two, the towns of Paha

ertouchl, Opil, Tajamelik; and the villages of Saïram and Tokousak, which, however, were only computed at two thousand two hundred families. To the south of Hashar, before arriving at Yerquen, are situated two towns, Inkatsar-han, Kalik; and two hamlets, Tosohoun and Karalkar: the four containing about four thou sand four hundred families. Finally to the north of Hashar, are the Buruts, properly so called, to whose country one passes by the town of Arkoui, and the village of Horhan, which may contain nearly eight hundred families. On a general computation, the Mahometans depending on Hashar, were about sixteen thousand families, estimated at one hundred thousand heads, as is proved by the public registers."

There were fifteen degrees of magistracy, among which the chief wis that of Akim or governor of the city, his lieutenant the Hichehan; the Hatsse, or judge of criminal affairs; and the Marab, or collector of the taxes. The letter of Tchao-hoei to the emperor, 13th September 1759, presents further particulars. Chinese garrisons were established even in small posts, as Opil, Tajamelik, Tchik, Entorché, and Paï-soupath.

Meanwhile Fouté pursued the fu gitive Ho-tchoms, or Mahometan chieftains, whom he defeated at Atchour, whence they fled towards Badakshan, and arrived at Poulok-kol. Foutu continued the pursuit to the great range of mountains (BelurTag ;) and lcirnt from a native that the enemy had passed, and arrived near Badakshan, but had still a very high mountain to ascend, situated between two lakes, that on the side being called Poloun-kol, and that on the other side Ifil-kol. Beyond the former is a high mountain, whence Badakshan may be descried. Foute pursued the Mahometans again, defeated them amidst the mountains, and summoned the governor of Badakshan to surrender the Mahometan princes. One had died in battle, but the head of the other was sent to Pekinj and the Chinese general retired satisfied with his success*.