1^40.] Russian Mission from Orenhourg to Bokhara. 



The territory of Tackhend produces cotton and silk; of which Turk- 

 istan has but a small portion. 



The artillery of the beg of Tackhend consists of a few small guns 

 (zumbarooks), carried on camels, like the Persians. In the neighbour- 

 hood of the town there are many villages, the principal Djiti-kendj 

 Sairam, Karaboura, Tchimglia, Ikan, inhabited by the Ouzbeks j there 

 are only a few Tadjiks and no Jews. 



I have traced the map of this part of the country from a great num- 

 ber of routes. From Turkistan to the mouths of the Sir, from Bokhara, 

 Tackhend, Khokhan, Khodjend, Ouratoupaand Samercand. From the 

 information we were able to obtain it is clear the Russian map of Central 

 Asia is very incorrect for the steppe of the Kirghiz ; it is however, far 

 superior to Arrowsmith's, which is still more so. In the constructions 

 of this map, I havenot adopted the Russian longitude and latitude of 

 Khokhan and Khodjend; I have approached nearer that assigned by 

 Arrowsmith, without having followed him as an authority. 



Khodjend stands on the bank of the Sir, and it is necessary to pass 

 through it on the road from Ouratoupa to Khokhan, This the best but 

 the longest route, a difficult and mountainous country being avoided^ 

 The desert road leads from Marghalan to Samercand. Khodjend is a 

 fortress surrounded with fields and gardens like Bokhara, 



Khokhan, situated about ten verstes from the Sir, has at least 6000 

 houses, and is little less than Bokhara. Canals from the Sir convey 

 water to the city. There are no walls round the town, but the palace is 

 fortified and has two gates built with brick. 



Khokhan has four caravanserais, where a great number of foreign 

 merchants constantly reside. All the trade between Tackhend, Kachghai' 

 and Bokhara, passes by Khokhan. The two countries are constantly at 

 war, but Bokhara is much the most powerful. Duiing the last ten years, 

 the Bokharians have taken Ouratoupa, which was formerly an inde- 

 pendent district. 



Omar Khan, the present ruler of Khokhan, succeeded his father, 

 IJ'arbouta, and lives in good intelligence with the Khan of Khiva, to 

 whom he is related, and with the chief of Badakhchan, to whose 

 daughter he is married. Marghalan, it is said, is of the s une siae as 

 Khokhan. This is a very ancient city, as are also Andidjan aud Na« 

 S^anghan. 



Och, situated at the foot of the Takht-Suleiman, is not so large. This 

 is a great place of pilgrimage ; people come to pay their devotions at 

 a small square building situated on the top of the mountain. Tradition 

 States that Solomon sacrificed a camel on this spot j where the blood is 



