654 Memoir on Chinese Tartary and Khoten. [Dec. 



Chinese Tartary. — The province of Chinese Tartary contains, at 

 present, nine towns of considerable magnitude, namely, Ydrkand, 

 Kashgar, Auksu, Eela, Yengi Hissdr, Ooch Tdrfdn, and Koneh 

 Turf an, (which is sometimes called Hami,) Gdmmi, and Lopp. 



Ydrkand. — Of these, Ydrkand, from the extent of its population, 

 may be said to be the capital of the province, though, in a political 

 point of view, each of the governors and Chinese residents of those 

 towns exercises independent authority. Ydrkand is described as 

 being a flourishing and populous city. It has two forts : the prin- 

 cipal one is of large extent, but its walls are of clay ; and it is 

 uninhabited ; the other, which is rather smaller, has four gates, is 

 inhabited, and is considered by the natives as very strong, being 

 built of stone and chunam, and surrounded with a ditch. The suburbs 

 extend over a considerable space. The population of Ydrkand is 

 said to consist of about 30,000 families, as found by a census made 

 by the Chinese — each family consisting of from five to 10 persons. 

 Only 200 Chinese merchants are fixed residents ; but many other 

 traders of the same nation resort to the city — departing after a 

 temporary stay. There are also many Tungani merchants resident 

 in the place, and a number of Chinese artisans. Many natives of 

 Kashmir have settled at Ydrkand, a very few Hindus, and some 

 Shfahs, or, as they are called, worshippers of All ; but no Jews or 

 Nogai Tartars. The houses are generally one story high, and built 

 of clay, which answers the purpose sufficiently well, as very little 

 rain falls in these countries. Ydrkand boasts of numerous mosques and 

 colleges. There are two spacious bazars — one within the fort, and 

 the other in the suburbs, besides other smaller bazars in different 

 quarters of the city. Horse-flesh is sold in the butcher's shops, and 

 generally eaten : it is not considered unlawful food by the people of 

 the country, and generally sells for the same price as mutton. Kim- 

 miz is not used by the inhabitants of the towns, but by the Kalmuks, 

 and other roving tribes. The tenets of the Musalman religion do 

 not appear to be very strictly observed in Chinese Tartary ; and the 

 inhabitants seem to be much more tolerant than those of Kokan, and 

 other places in Independent Tartary. 



The Chinese government has a force stationed at Ydrkand, stated 

 to consist of about 7000 soldiers, partly Chinese, and partly Mand- 

 shus, or Mongols, of whom a portion garrison the forts ; the remain- 

 der are cantoned outside the town, much like the English troops in 

 India. The whole are under the orders of an officer, who has the 

 title* of Umbaun. There are no Tungani soldiers in Chinese Tar- 

 tary ; for, as they are Musalmans, the Chinese fear that they would, 



