Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1295

 RUSSIAN DEPENDENCIES TN ASIA 1243

Bokhara produces corn, fruit, silk, tobacco, cotton, and hemp ; and breed' goats, sheep, horses, and camels. Gold, salt, alum, and sulphur are the chief minerals found in the country.

The yearly imports of greon tea, mostly from India, are said to amount to 1, 125 tons. The imports from India also include indigo, Dacca muslins, drugs, shawls, and kincobs. Bokhara exports raw silk to India, the quantity exported in one year being estimated at 34 tons. By the treaty of 1873 all merchandise belonging to Kussian traders, .whether imported or exported, pavs a duty of 2£ per cent, ad valorem. "So other tax or import duty can be levied on Russian goods, which are also exempt from all transit duty.

The Russian Trans-Caspian Railway runs through Bokhara from Charjui, on the Oxus, to a station within a few miles of the capital, and theuce to Tashkent ; the distance from Charjui to the Russian frontier station of Katty Kurghan being about 186 miles. There is steam navigation on the Oxus.

There is a telegraph line from Tashkent to Bokhara, the capital.

Russian paper roubles are current everywhere. The Bokhara silver tenga is valued at 5rf.

Books of Reference concerning Bokhara.

Bailey (F. M), " A Visit to Bokhara in 1919,' in the Gtoyraphifl J»um*l for February. 1951.

Cutmoh (Hon. G.), Russia in Central Asia. 1889. [Contains ample Bibliography.)— The Pamirs and the source of the Oxus. London, 1897.

'iouiithambarof (3.1, Bukhara (in Russian J. Askhabad, 1913.

Le Metturier ( Col. A.), From London to Bokhara, 1389.

O'Donocau(E), The Merv Oasis. 2 vols. London, 1889.

Olaften (O.). The Emir of Bokhara and his Country. London, 1911.

ra'mbtri. History of Bokhara. London. 167S.

KHIVA. A State in Central Asia, lying between N. latitude 43* 40' and 40*, and E. longitude 57* and 62° 20'. Bounded on the north by the Aral Sea, ou the east by the river Oxus, on the south and west by the Russian Trans - Caspian province.

Russian relations with the Khanate of Khiva — an TJsbeg State, founded, like that of Bokhara, on the ruins of Tamerlane's Central Asian Empire- date from the beginning of the 18th century, when, according to Russian writers, the Khivan Khans first acknowledged the Tsar's supremacy. In 1872, on the pretext that the Khivans had aided the rebellious Kirghiz, an expedi- tion advanced to the capital, bombarded the fortifications, and compelled the Khan to sign a treaty which puts the Khanate under Russian control. A war indemnity of al>out 274,000*. was also exacted. This heavy obligation, still being liquidated by yearly instalments, has frequently involved the Khan in disputes with his subjects, and Russian troops have more than once crossed the frontier to afford him aid and support.

A Soviet Government is at present (May. 1921) in power.

Area, 24,000 square miles: population estimated at 646,000, including 400,000 nomad Turcomans. Chief towns— Khiva, 4,000-5,000 ; New Urg*nj. 3,000 ; Hazar Asp, and Kungrad.

The religion is Mahomedan. Army, about 2,000 men.

The chief commercial products are cotton and silk.

Books of Reference concerning Khiva

Abbott(J.). Narrative of a Journey from Herat to Khiva. London, 18S4.

Bumaby (Col.), A Ride to Khiva. London, 1884.

QonlithambaroJT (6.), Khiva [in Russian]. Askhabad. 1913.

MacGahan (J A.), Campaigning on the Oxus and the Fall of Khiva. Loudon, 1874.

Rectus (E.), Nonvelle Geographie uni verselle. L'Asie Rnsse. 1881.

Boeca (F. de), De l'AJai a 1'Amou-Daria. Paris, 1896.

Wood (H), The Shores of the Lake Aral. London. 1878.