Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-02-14
Khiya and the KhIvans---The Russian
Invading Force.

Some of the circumstances of the i'm
pending contest between the Empire of
Russia and the Khanate of Khiva are
sufficiently singular to merit attention.
II seems absurd at first sight to speak of a
contest between a colossus and dwarf
especially as the Sovereign of Khiva
stands alone, and can command no al
lies, except few from among the un-
certain and feeble nOmad tribes who sur.
round his little dominion. Yet it must
not be forgotten that thirty years ago, in
the reign of the Emperor Nicholas, these
very Khivans not only repulsed but de-
stroyed Russian invading force of IL, 900
men, and purchased for themselves by
that successful resistance an immunity
from similar attacks which has lasted to
this day. There can, however, be no
doubt of the triumph of Russian STRAIT
egy and perseverance in the end; still,
there are many preliminary difficulties to
be contended with. The first of these
arises from the geographical position OF
Khiva itself. The Khanate occupies an
oasis of extremely fertile soil, highly pro
ductive and well peopled, owing all its
prosperity and its very existence, indeed
to irrigation from the river Oxus, which
passes through the heart of it, feeding and
mixed people of Touranian and Iraniar
elements, strongly welded together, moi
by sympathies of race, but by long sub
mission to hereditary government and by
fanatical adherence to the tenets of Is
lam. Khiva, the capital, consists only
according to Vambery, of "three or foul
thousand mud houses standing in differ
ent directions in the most irregular man
ner, with uneven and unwaShed walls
and surrounded by wall ten feet high
also made of mud.p But the environs ar,
rich and populous. The people are borI
horsemen, inheriting all the habits o.
their Tartar ancestors, except that they
have exchanged vagrant for an agricul
tural life; aud have become accustomed
to war as well as robbery. "The Khivar
character says Vambery, 'thougl
rough drawn, is the finest in Centra
Asia" The Uzbeks are the leading race
not only here but in the Khanate of Box
hara also. "The Khivan Uzbek betray
the mixture of his blood with the Iral
elements, for he has beard, always Il
be regarded in the Turanis as. foreign
peculiarly; but his complexion and form
Of countenance indicate very often genu
inc Tartar origin" 1t is remarkable tha
some of the finest, or, at least, most ener
getic, of races have been produced by tn,
intermixture Of Tartar blood with that o
southern and western neighbors; tn,
Turks, the Uzbeks and other hybriC
tribes in Asia, the Magyars in Europe.
1t is not, however, by their persona
qualities or their military strength tha
the Khiyans form an impediment in TIN
way of Russia. 1t is their geographical
position which renders their state Stun
bling block in the road of Muscovite con
quest, and a sort of constant annoyance
Khiva is, as we have said, an oasis SUI
rounded on all sides by desert. But thoe
portions of the desert which lie west an
north of the Khanat care within the nom
nal limits of Russia. Khiva intrudes itsel
and interoepts communication betwee
sundry outlying sections of the Gar
Asiatic provinces; and, from its centri
position, IL threatens several surrOundin
points at the same time. The chief port
OF Russia on the western shore of th
Caspian, Alexandroysk 10 the norl