1840.] 



Eussian Mission from Orenbourg to Bokhara, 



71 



Chapter V. 



Khanats of Hissar, Koulab, Pamid and Badnkhchan—The GhaUrhas^ 

 Cold found in the Derwazeh r'wer — The Siah-pouches— Khanats of 

 Chersabes. — Itinerarij fiom Balkh to Caboul^ and from Bokhara to 

 Herat, 



We have now to consider the countries situated to the south and west 

 of Bokhara. We find the Mahomedan Khanats of independent tribes, 

 who profess the religion of the false prophet, and others who do not 

 believe in him, and are called by the MahomeJuns infidels; all their 

 people inbabii a mountainous country. 



The richest of these states is the Khanit of Hissar. The Khan 

 resides in the city of the same name as the province; it is siainied 

 about fifteen verstes to the west of the banks of the Saridjoui, or 

 Kafer-nihan. He is faiher-in-Iaw of the Atalik ; and the faithful 

 ally of the Khan of Bokhara. 



The town of Hi!-sar contains about 3000 hou=;es ; it is situated in a 

 well cultivated vail ev, abounding inpasturage ; almost all the iiiiiabitants 

 of this country are Ouzbeks, but a few Tadjiks are found in it, most of 

 them very rich It is said that the Ouzbeks sometimes bring millet to 

 the market; and, if they are unable to sell it, thev throw it Hway, to 

 save fht^mselves the trouble of carrying it home. They possess consi« 

 derable flocks, and are, to a certain degree, in easy circumstances. 



The towns depending on the Khan of Hissar, are Deinaon, the most 

 considerable after Hissar ; Saridjoui, Touj abik, R(^gar or Reg-ara, Ca- 

 ratagh, Dechtaband, Tehockmazar and Khodja-Tanian. At the l ist 

 place there is the tomb of a saint highly revered by the Mahomedans. 



Ramid, lOO verstes norih of Hissar, is a pretty large town ; its 

 khan commands the vservices of 10,000 men in his excursions, die of 

 the highest n:OUi»tains in the country rises near Raniid. 



Koulab, containing about 3,000 houses, is to the east of Hissar, on 

 tile road from Bidakhchan toKhokhan; it is indepf^ndent. Ail these 

 towns are inhabited by Ouzbeks, of whom a great number are agricultu- 

 rists. 



The khan of Abi-gherm is often at war with that of Hissar. 



To the south of all these towns is the Khanat of Badakhchan ; its 

 capital, which bears the same name, but which is also known by that 

 of Feizabad, is situated on the banks of the Badakhchan, which falls 

 into the Amou, It is one of the most important Khanats of this quar- 

 ter, though it furnishes no articles for commerce that I am acquainted 



