The Times publishes a very important paper by M. Rayevski,
a Russian who has lived two years at Tashkend. He main- tains that all the sovereigns, aristocracy, and people of the Khanates are heartily hostile to Russia, mainly on religious grounds. M. Rayevski makes of this hostility a reason for conquerors, but fails to see how greatly it adds to the difficulties of the conquest. One of its effects has been to spread among the Mussulmans of India an idea that Russia, which is always hostile to the Sultan, and which does not in Central Asia scruple to seize mosques for military purposes, is at war with Mohammedanism as a creed. In that case Indian Mussulmans would stand heartily, as against Russia, with the British, and to attempt an invasion would be to hurl armies into a lake of fire. With genuine Mussulman feeling in our favour, the Indian Government mild reply to Russian menaces by blows which would terminate the Russian Empire in Asia, possibly for ever, and certaiely for a eentury. An English Resident at Samarcand, with the Calcutta. Treasury and the sympathy of all Mussulmans behind him, would be the most dangerous opponent Russia ever had. Of course it is possible to exaggerate religious feeling, but it is an element in the question which should not be overlooked.
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