Russian Mission from Orenhourg to Bokhara. 



To the south and the east of Badakhclian are found the Siknans or 

 Siah-pouclies, a half wild, wandering, people. They are not Mahome* 

 dans; are clothed only in the skins of black sheep, and their name, 

 which signifies black cloihing, is derived from their dress. Their 

 country lies in the direct road from Khoulm to Peichawer. It is then 

 necessary to pass by Tchetrar, their principal town, by Koundouz, and 

 through such a mountainous country, that the roads are almost im- 

 practicable; and for that reason this road is very seldom taken. The 

 khan of Badakhclian is constantly at war with this people, and prison- 

 ers then taken are sold by the merchants of Badakhchan at Bokhara. 



There is an independent Khanat in Bokhara, Chersabes, or Chehri- 

 sebz, so called after its principal city, which is situated on a river of 

 the same name. It is the same as the Kachka, which passes by Carchi, 

 one of the largest towns of Bokhara. This river has several times pre- 

 served the independence of the Khanat of Chersabes, became, by means 

 of dams, the whole country surrounding the city and fortress may be 

 laid under water, which effectually prevents the Bokharians from 

 taking possession of it; besides this the Ouzbeks of Chersabes are 

 celebrated for their cour;Age> 



This Khanat, which iiad been joined to Bokhara by Mohammed-Ra- 

 him khan, separated itself again from it at the death of that prince. The 

 loss of this territory must have been sensibly felt by Bokhara, for it is 

 rich in various productions, and a river runs through its whole length. 

 Very good cotton and roots for dying are sent from thence to Bokhara, 

 and they receive in exchange iron, leather and other merchandize from 

 Russia. 



The khan of Chersabes can bring into the field an army, or rather 

 levee en masse, of about 20,000 men. 



The cities dependent on him, are Kitab and Douab, two fortresses, 

 Djaouz, Pitahaneh, lakabak and Outakourghan. Chersabes is besides 

 deserving of attention from the circumstance of its having been built 

 on the site of the village of Kech, the birth place of the famous Timour. 



I will now lay before the reader two routes ; one from Balkh to 

 Caboul, the other from Bokhara to Herat— and will add a few words 

 concerning the Khanats through which the roads lie, which will com- 

 prise all the information I was able to attain relative to the Khanats 

 lying round Bokhara. 



Nothing is more variable than the limits of a Khanat in Asia ; for 

 example, Balkh, which is probably the ancient Bactra, belonged to an 

 independent khan; the shah of Afghanistan dispossessed him of it 

 about fifteen years ago ; but Kilitch-atia-khan, of Balkh soon recovered 



