898 



TURKISTAN, OR INDEPENDENT TARTARY. 



learning. Under the name of Bactria, this country has, from remote antiquity, been celebrated 

 in the annals of the east. Under the auspices of Alexander, a Greek kingdom of Bactria was 

 formed, which continued for several centuries, and even after its fall retained marked traces of 

 civilization. Under the Roman empire, when a commercial route had been opened across 

 Asia as far as China, Bactria was the great rendezvous of the caravans, before entering the 

 bleak regions of Tartary. When Asia yielded to the dreadful sway o*" the Mongol warriors, 

 Bactria lay in their route across the continent, and suffered accumulated disasters. The city 

 of Balkh is commonly called in the east, the mother of cities. 



There are several other khanats of considerable extent ; the land of the Kirghises, compris- 

 ing the central and northern parts of Tartary, is inhabited by numerous small tribes of that peo- 

 ple under distinct and independent chiefs ; and Turcomania., between the Caspian and Aral 

 seas, and the khanat of Khiva, is occupied by similar tribes of Turkmans. 



The Kirghises, retiring before the Russians, moved their flocks and tents from the pastoral 

 regions of Siberia to the steppes and wilds north of the Jaxartes and Aral, and east of the 

 Caspian. They are divided into 3 branches of hordes, called the Great, Middle, and Little 

 Horde. The Great Horde ranges to the south and east, and many of its tribes have adopted 

 the habits of those more improved districts, and acquired a fixed and peaceable character. The 

 Middle and Lesser Hordes occupy the shores of the Aral, and the tract extending from the 

 Aral to the Caspian, and in these the original nomadic character is preserved almost entire ; 

 they own in some degree the supremacy of Russia, which, however, has to resort to means of 

 conciliation and defence to keep them quiet, making annual gifts to the chiefs, and maintaining 

 a line of strong posts from the Ural to the Irtish. Still these wild tribes make occasional forays 

 into the more settled districts, and plunder or exact a ransom from the great caravans, v/hich 

 cross their territory. The wealth of the Kirghises consists in horses, goats, the large-tailed 

 sheep, and a few camels. Their tents of felt are larger and neater than those of the Calmucks. 



9. Koondooz. Between Cabul and Bucharia, to the south of the Oxus, is the little State 

 of Koondooz, ruled by a JWeer or Usbek chief, who has established his power over all the 

 neighboring districts, and is master of all the upper Oxus and its tributaries. He has reduced 

 Badakshan, and has even sacked the city of Balkh. The town of Koondooz stands in a marshy 

 and unhealthy valley, and is only visited by the Meer in winter ; it was once a large town, but 

 is now almost deserted. The long valley of Badakshan, through which the Oxus flows, is 

 celebrated all over the east for its mineral wealth, including iron, salt, sulphur, lapis lazuli, and 

 rubies. Fyzabad is the capital of Badakshan. The m.ountainous tract of Shoghnan, to the 

 west, once gave the name of Sogdiana to all this region. 



10. Inhabitants. The name of Tartar has been incorrecily applied to many of the nomade 

 tribes of northern and middle Asia. Turks is the name by which they prefer to be called, 

 and many of the tribes are not Tartars. The most common dress among the Turkish Tartars 

 is a calico robe and drawers. Red is the favorite color. Some of the dresses are trimmed 

 with wool. Garments of skins also are sometimes worn.* In a country inhabited by wan- 

 dering tribes, there are few cities, and costly habitations. Many of the tribes dwell in tents, 

 and the richer individuals in wooden houses so small, that they may be removed in wagons. 

 The Turcomans sometimes have only the shelter of caves. The food is principally drawn 

 from the herds, and from hunting. A little millet is sparingly used. Horse flesh and mutton 

 are preferred to beef and veal. There is much milk, butter, cheese, and koumiss. The man- 

 ners and customs are those of a people warlike and fierce. The Tartars have neither regular 

 employment, nor settled habitations. They remove with their flocks and herds from place to 

 place. When a Tartar would curse with emphasis, he imprecates upon his enemy a settled 

 abode, and a life of labor, like a Russian. The predatory habits of many of the tribes of this 

 region render traveling very hazardous among them. Caravans are often attacked and plun- 

 dered on their route by the Turco-Tartar hordes, and the only security in passing through this 

 country is to travel in large numbers and well armed. The Turco-Tartars are distinguished 



A late traveler gives the followinfr account. 

 " I approached (says he) a group of Tartars assembled 

 round a dead horse, which they had just skinned. A 

 young man about 18, wlio was naked, had the hide of the 

 animal thrown over his shoulder. A woman, who per- 

 formed the ofBce of tailor with great dexterity, began by 

 cutting the back of this new dress, following with her 

 Boissors the round of the neck, the fall of the shoulders. 



the semicircle which formed the sleeve, and the side of 

 the habit, which was intended to reach below the knee. 

 She proceeded in the same manner with the other parts, 

 till the cutting out was finished: the man then, who had 

 served as a mould, crouched on his hams, while the seve- 

 ral pieces were stitched together, so that in li-ss than 2 

 hours he had a good brown-bay coat, which only wanted 

 to be tanned by continual wearing." 



