The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-07-21

How Central Asia Is being Gradually
Eaten Up by the RusEIans--NHhy Rus- !
ala 80 Easily COnquerH this Territory,

luubs huuA III u uliiBtt1luG AItlClg VI
the encroachment OF the Russians into
Central Asia, says: It is the fate Of the
Asiatics to be in perpetual Quarrels, and
thatgreatly favored the Russianschemss.
Now the Emir OF Bokharn was Mt war
with Khokan, next there would be
trouble between Khiya and Bokhara,
and again Khokan and Khiya would be
at each others ears. Unruly sons made
unpleasant family jars, and subordinate
heads OF tribes were constantly in re-
volt. Not year passed without expe-
ditions Of some sort, and frequently
there might be dozen Of them in as
many months. The ruler might go out
to Chastise refractory neighbor, leay-
ing his son or brother as regent during
his absence. Every thing would be
serene at his departure, but on his re-
turn, especially II he came back defeat.
ed, he would very likely lind the gates
Of his city closed against him, and the
regent converted into M actual ruler,
Sometimes n commander would go over
to the enemy, and sometimes the enemy
would go over to him. Assassination
was not uncommon, and occasionally an
ambitions son, tired Of Whiting for his
father to die, would administer poison
to the old gentleman, or insert knife
into his jugular vein. Every occupant
Of or heir TO throne was anxious to
achieve the fame Of Gengis.Khan or Ii.
mour, and become "World Con.
1ueror." and was rarely lastidious
about the means Of achieving it. And
80 1t went on year after year, and the
willy MuscovitG watched his opportuni.
ties, and never neglected to embrace
them too.
In 1926 there died ut Bokhara Ccity)
Emir Said, and Immediately after his
death his sou Husein assembled the
throne, and became Khan. His younger
brother Nasrullah was ambitious oil
honor, and so he caused Husein TO be
poisoned, after a reign Of less than
three months. Another brother, Omar,
came into the field as a claimant, nRtu.
rally thinking that he had as good O
right to steal throne as any body else,
NRsrullah captured Samarcand, and
then marched upon Bokhara, which lie
besieged and took. Omar fled to Kho'
kan, where he died OF cholera sooH
after. NasrullRh was determined tc
have peace, and 80 he executed in cold
blood three OF his younger brothers and
o great number OF the adherents OF his
former rivals. This was sufficient to
secure the Quiet which he so much de-
sired, and he announced that he was de.
termined to follow in the footsteps Of
his father-whom, by.the.way, lie was
suspected Of having poisoned-andmake
the happiness OF his subjects and the
strict supervision OF religious observ-
ancos the great object Of his life. He
was pious old scoundrel, and while in
lulging in the greatest atrocities he
always prated about his love OF Islnm.
ism and his reverence for the Prophet
Of God. He made his ministers faith.
full to him by helping them to amass
fortunes, but MS soon MS they had gained
sufficient amount OF this worlds goods
lie ordered them to be beheaded, and
appropriated the property to himself.
He was model family man, as ho had
q facetious practice Of numbering his
wives whenever he tired Of them, and
consequently was not regarded MS n
good catch" in the matrimonial line.
IlO kept secret police so numerous
and so wAtchful that nobody dared say
any thing against him to his most init
mate friend, and it is said TINT ut one
time man dared not even think any
thing except good Of the emir. He had
all the vices that were ever possessed
by any ruler since the days of Adam in
any country on the face OF the globe,
and the story Of his indulgenccs would
hardly be suited TO the pages OF my
modern publication. Those who Of
Tended him were burned in ovens, ilnyed
alive, flung from towers, or otherwise
disposed Of. One OF his favorite enter.
tainments was to bind victim hand
and foot, and then throw him into a
cell or box which contained many thou.
sands OF sheep.ticks. The sufIerings Of
the poor wretch would be horrible be.
yond description.
1t was while Nasrullah occupied the
throne that Russia, having absorbed the
wide region between Bokhara and the
valleys OF the Obi and Yenisei. made
her appearance on the borders Of his
territory. While occupied in the most
disgraceful proaigacy md tyranny,
Nasrullah had been constantly ut war
now with Khivn, now with Khoknn, and
now with various tribes and divisions Of
his own subjects. Though no man in
his reach dared breathe word against
him, his power had been greatly weak.
ened, and his subjects were discomfort.
ed with his rule. he had sent several
expeditions against Khokan, and though
some OF them were successful, tho ma
iority were defeated or given up through
treachery.
While one Of the expeditions was re-
turning defeated from Khokan, and
another from Khivn, Nasrulllh heard
that the Russian outposts were on the
right bank of tho Jaxartes, n river form
ing the northern boundary OF Bokhara,
and flowing into the Aral Sea. Russia
had several times attemptedt to negotiate
with him, and Ind sent ambassadors
with valuable presents, but in every
case he treated the ambassadors with
disrespect, and sometimes threw them
into prison. Two English ambassadors,
Colonel Stoddart md Captain Connolly,
went to Bokhara, and were murdered
by the emir, the former after four years
imprisonment, during which he was fire..
quently tortured, and the latter, more
fortunate, after m imprisonment Of
about a year. Stoddart was at one time
promised his freedom II he would nc.
cept Islnmism, and to save his life he
consented. But the treacherous emir
continued IN fortuna him and nm tbo