CHAPTER XVI.
Kachgaria is Oriental Turkestan which is gradually being metamorphosed into Russian Turkestan.
The writers in the _New Review_ have said: "Central Asia will only be a great country when the Muscovite administration have laid hands on Tibet, or when the Russians lord it at Kachgar." Well, that is a thing half done! The piercing of the Pamir has joined the Russian railway with the Chinese line which runs from one frontier of the Celestial Empire to the other.

The capital of Kachgaria is now as much Russian as Chinese.

The Sclav race and the Yellow race have rubbed elbows and live in peace.

How long will it last?
To others leave the future; I am content with the present.
We arrive at half-past four; we leave at eleven.

The Grand Transasiatic shows itself generous.