The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-30

gam striped two-colored stun dressing gown. the
Hesarasp gown and the Tashkent linens, as also
the brass of Khiva, are cited. The trade is with
Russia Persia and Herat, but chiefly with the first.
The tract OF Khiva which is cultivated is situate
nearly entirely upon the LETT or southern bank, OF
the Oxus. Kungrad on the west, and Pitnek, or
Pitniak IA little town on the southern bank OF the
Oxus, just above Hesarasp,) on the east, may be
taken roughly as the western and eastern extremi-
ties respectively OF this oasis Its length accord
ing to the most recent Russian authorities and
maps, is about one hundred and eighty to two
hundred miles, while its width averages about
forty to fifty miles, The irrigation which tends to
make the Khanate peculiarly fertile Is carried on
by means Of canals from the Oxus, which, for some
reason or other, irrlgate almost exclusively the
land on the southern bank OF that stream. The
position of the oasis, surrounded as 1t Is from the
north, south, east and west by wide tracts of bar
rem steppes, renders 1t peculiarly inaccessible, and
1t is this fact alone which has hitherto enabled
successive Khans OF Khiva to insult and
bid defiance to their powerful Northern foe.
According to Russian authority, NJ. veniukofr,
that part OF the Oxus which skirts Bokhara, and,
indeed extent Of $40 miles along Its banks, from
Balkh to FItnek,e q southern limit Of populated
Khiva, is sultry valley in which, while there are
towns and villages ct the ferries intersections OF
caravan routes, there are but few fixed inhab-
tants. At Charjui, point within this range, he
gives to the river Q breadth OF 235 and depth OF
four fathoms, but Is not sanguine OF IL ever be-
coming commercial highway between Europe and
India.
The distance from Khiva to Bokhara by the high
road is laid down at 90 parasangs, or perhaps 2lo
miles, In eight marches averaging not less than 20
miles each The first march OF 21 miles is througha
cultivated country rich in mulberry treesnnd within
nvrt hio orf vida fhofh
banks are barely visible at the same time. The
second march takes the traveller across the river
and the third out OF Khivan territory, through a
fair amount OF cultivation on the right bank, to the
edge OF the Tartary desert, where the Kirgz find
pasturage for their nocks The next two marches
hug the cultivated strip along the river side,
avoiding as much as possible the sandy wastes on
the left hand. From the point then attained the
caravan road is again beside the river for between
thirty and forty miles, whence begins the passage
OF the desert In earnest and this trial is undergone
for some sixty miles before the propinquity Of the
city OF Bokhara is made known by canals, Guilt
waited fields, and, finally, most grateful gardens
THE PEOPLE.
The Uzbeks, the ruling race, are thus referred to
by Wood t'Source OF the Oxus'D: =
tribe OF Tartar, or rather Scythan, origin,
which in comparatively modern era crossed the
Jaxartes and liked themselves In Trans 0xiana.
The descendants OF the ruthless Jenghiz Khan then
occupied that country, but were soon forcibly dis
possessed. Their chief, the removed Baber, after
vainy endeavouring to stem the torrent OF
invasion. yielded to its strength, and led
his forces into Hindostan, where ne estab-
lished the Moghul Empire, called after Moghul
Khan, the founder Of his line. Those
Of the disInherited nation who neither sub
mitted to the Uzbek nor accompanied their chief,
retired across the River Oxus, and In the Turke-
mans OF that locality I think we may recognize
their descendants. Though the language
OF the various hords that now roam over Central
Asia different, there IL reason TO believe that
the Huns Of antiquity are the prototypes OF them
all, whether designated Kalmuks or Kirgfz, Uzb6k
or TvrkQmaR - The Uxpeks are ssmtku- !