62 Mussian Mission from Orenhoiirg to Bokhara, [Jan, 



is bis southern possession, and the tribes under him wander as far as 

 the 40th degree of north latitude; the determined enemies of the Tur- 

 koman tribes subject to or bordering on Persia andDaghestan.* These 

 Turkomans have rebuilt the city of Seraghs (Seerakees), a town about 

 200 verstes south-west of Mawri. 



After the conquest of Mawri, Mohammed-Rahim Khan seized Seraghs ; 

 but, not being able to retain it, made it over to his Turkomans as 

 a protection to his hereditary states. From the invasion of Persia 

 other tribes of Turkomans have been incorporated with these people, 

 who were expelled from Mangkichlak by the Kirghiz, and occupy the 

 country as far as 44° north latitude. 



The Turkomans who inhabit the shores of the Caspian have constant 

 intercourse with Russia, from whence they import wheat and flour. 

 They are determined enemies of Persia, and in 1813 sent a deputation 

 to general Ritchev (Governor General of Georgia), begging him not to 

 conclude a separate peace with Persia, as they hoped soon to gain some 

 decided success over the common enemy. 



The Khan of Khiva has succeeded in seducing the remaining tribes 

 of Turkomans from their subjection to Bukhara, whose territories they 

 now plunder to shew their attachments to their new master. 



The rapacious Mohammed-Rahim is suspected of encouraging the 

 plunder of the Bokharian and Russian caravans, and his subjects make 

 excursions into Bokhara, but in small numbers, and secretly ; their power 

 being unequal to resist that of Bokhara, which is six times more nu- 

 merous. In the year 1808 the Khan of Bokhara took Khiva, but re- 

 stored it to its prince Veledi-Nassar : he died within a short time, and 

 was succeededby Mohammed-Eahim, wholost no time in recommencing 

 his pillage of the territories of Bokhara. This he contmues to the 

 present time, returning evil for the favours conferred on his brother. 

 He likewise attacked the Kirghiz who were established on the banks 

 of the Sir, and carried off a great number of prisoners, whom he has 

 obliged to take lands under Khiva. Mohammed-Rahim has dug a num- 

 ber of canals for the purpose of irrigation, one of which extends 120 

 verstes from the point in the Amou from which it originally is drawn off. 



New Ourghendj is the most commercial of all the towns subject to 

 Khiva, and the principal mart of caravans; it however contains no 

 public caravanserais, where the merchants can dispose of their goods. 



The inhabitants of Khiva are composed of Ouzbeks, the conquerors 



* There are two proviaces of this name, it must be a district of Mazanderam,— 



Translator. 



