ABSTRACT
The Manas River lies in northwest Sinkiang—Chinese Turkestan—not far from the Soviet border. At a desolate army outpost overlooking the wrecked spans of the Great West Bridge that crosses the river, sixteen Chinese soldiers keep a watchful eye turned westward. The Tungans, Chinese Muslims, are the fifth group in size. Racially, they are a Chinese-Turkic mixture, but they speak the Chinese language. Sheng’s internal policies had been reasonably enlightened during the first part of his regime, and he had been unusually conciliatory toward non-Chinese groups. The agreement also guaranteed full freedom of religion, publication, assembly, and speech. Further, it promised use of both the Chinese and Turki languages by all administrative and judicial organs and in official documents. Tradition and past history confront the Chinese in Sinkiang with a tremendous handicap. The Chinese authorities are aware of the friction between military personnel and the civilian population in Sinkiang, and they are attempting to lessen it, with some success.
