64 



JRusstan Mission from Orenhourg to Bokhara. [Jan. 



At Koukertli water must be carried, for the distance "between that 

 place and the cultivated lands at Bokhara, which extends to forty verstes 

 of that city; indifferent water is procurable at Tcharkoucha. The 

 route along the banks of the river has less sand, and is much better, 

 but increases the length by 150 verstes. 



The Khanat of Khokhan lies to the east and north-east of Bokhara; 

 this country has been greatly increased since Tackhend was added to it 

 in 1805, and Turkistan, and all the adjacent cities. It is bounded on 

 the east by deserts, or the Sir-deria; on the south Kachghar-divani ; 

 on the east Ala-tagh ; on the north Kazakli-djoulak and Sousak; on 

 the south Och and Takht-Suleiman are its frontier towns. The Ak-raesd- 

 jid, on the Sir, is very well known by this name, which was given it on 

 account of an ancient mosque situated there, of which the ruins alone 

 are now to be seen. All the caravans from Bokhara to Petropavlosvk 

 pass through this country. I have been told that the Isoun tribe, be- 

 longing to the great horde, frequents this neighbourhood. 100 verstes to 

 the east of the Ak-mesdjid is Kazaklu-djoulak, a small town upon the 

 Sir. In the distance may be seen the northern extremity of the Ala- 

 tagh — this chain of mountains in separating from the Sir loses itself in 

 the steppe and bears the name of Cara-tagh, from the neighbourhood of 

 Turkistan. 



Turkistan is defended by a fort, with a ditch of about fifteen feet 

 wide, which can be filled with w^ater. The Karatchik river runs about 

 five verstes from the town, and irrigates tlie fields. The town has 

 twenty-two wells, and about 1000 mud houses ; it has the appearance 

 of decay. 



The tomb of Kara-Ahmed-khodja, one of the most revered Maho- 

 medan saints of Turkistan, is situated near a Mesdjid which bears his 

 name ; in which there is an immense pot, at least twelve feet in diame- 

 ter, resting on a stand of cast iron. The rich people dress food for the 

 poor in this utensil, which is distributed on certain days in the year. 



The population of Turkistan is composed principally of Kirghiz and 

 a few Ouzbeks. 



Tackhend, has at least 3000 houses, and is surrounded with a mud 

 wall falling into decay; as are likewise the houses. The buildings, 

 though intended to resemble those of Bokhara, are much inferior both in 

 construction and materials. There are ten schools on the same footing 

 as those of Bokhara. Canals from the Tchirtchik, which runs about 

 twenty verstes to the south of Tackhend, supply the city with water, 

 and irrigate the lands about it. 



