to form a protection through the Kalmuk territory. With the note he sent specimens of the gold dust which had been taken to Tobolsk for sale. In consequence of this, Ivan Bukholz was ordered by the Emperor to repair to Siberia, and having collected a force of 2000 or 3000 men to proceed to build a fort near the Lake Yamish, and then, if possible, to make his way to Yarkand. Bukholz so far carried out his orders that he built a fortress on the Yamish which was viewed by the Kalmuks as an invasion of their territory, which they for the time successfully repelled; but as we know, the power of Russia gradually spread with irresistible force. In 1718 the fort of Semipalatinsk was built, and by A.D. 1720 the Russians had reached Lake Zaisan. This, says Mr. Howorth, was apparently the last attempt made by the Russians to reach the gold country of Yarkand. But this is not so. Gradually but persistently they have advanced towards the golden land. They occupy Kulja, and have brought their boundary line to the Robat Pass and Chadir Kul, within 110 miles of Kashgar, and this journey of Colonel Prejevalsky had for its object the thorough exploration of the route by the gold-fields of Khoten to Tibet, and it is not surprising that the Ameer should watch his proceedings with more than ordinary interest.
During the stay of the English Mission in Kashgar in 1873-74, good opportunity was afforded for
