New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-22
SCENES IN TURKESTAN.
EFFECT OF RUSSIAN CONTROL-EUROPEAN
DRESS IN THE KHAN'S ITAREM.


DRESS IN THE KIAN'S ITAREM.
St. Petersburg, May 3.
The ordinary approach 10 the city Of Khlva is
| 10y way Of the river Oxus. Life on board
| kayouk or native boat is not without certain
| charm The traveller spends long nights listen
ing 10 tales Of exploits in the country, and to the
| entertaining songs OF the boatmcn who chant
| the heroic achievements on the desert On either
sid, are dimly outlined the shores Of the
river. which flows noisclcssly these boundlcss
stcppos. The country whole presents the
monotony OF landscape ami climate characteristic
OF the East Under n sky half obscured by black
clouds are gaunty proiled against an atmosphere
yellow and sad the crcnclatcd walls and towers
Of the city OF Khiva. Everything one sees Is
| riournful and savage. Each house Ia fortress
4 narrow gate fankcd by turrets gives access to
the city I-pon entering one is confronted by the
ominous spcctaclc Of the gibbet, a hideous relic
OF former barbarism. The streets are vaguely
sad and dismal, and on every side are 10 DC
seen cemeteries mausoleums and tombs
The expression on the faces Of the people phs'inI
hy is one OF rcstlcssncss and discomfort ihni-
eating a nature hardened both 10 endure ana 70
innict suffering Most Of the people wear tho
khalat. "A long outer garment made oil sompfe
cloth, covering the figure from the neck TO 'he
ankles The richness OF the material corresponds
20 the wcarcI's rank or wealth. Upon the hcaa
is worn n large kalpak of lambskin, WIN us
soft and shaggy fleece uEcurled. The shlns are
often stitched and ornamented with siiK' ana
border Of castor is sometimes added TO the mantle
The palace OF the Khan is anything but I'M
posing II IL an enormous structure Of clay, with
crcat courts showing 10 traces OF the builders
ART, or Of tie lavish wealth expended upon the
dwellings of BoEhara. IL presents uniformity
NJ vcllow relieved only by the enamcllcd brich OF
the turnstylcs in the gateway. The hrat court
serves rs hall Of justice, where the Khan NOUS
trials and pronounccs sentences. At the night ~
stationed the tribunal and by the entrance Is the
exccutioners Office. In former tim"s all eNccu-
tions wcro pu'ic and took place before the "o'f
Of the palace The custom was recently abolished
and the brave cNccutioners their occupation
gone have an aif OF dissatisfaction commin3cd
with regret for the good old times
I'pon entering the palace tile entire retinue OF
servants rises and permits you 10 pass. In one
corner stands the jourkc' dressed IN ma'criai
resembling felt. reminder Of the n'ma IN his
original Ouzbcg garb. y staircase leads 10 II
vcranda above supported by rude columns here
in the open air lounge dozen Officers, hcaVy'
featured and stolid who O'er no Oh e''lon 10
the intruder Passing on TO in apartment above.
tly ulchrcm conducts Nou ill'o u vast 'P'''
court decorated with superb Turkish haneings.
In the centre burns al open lire, and before
It in Oriental posture sitS the Khan
IF Khiva. Said Mahomct KaLim Bahadour.
After being cordially greeted you are
invited TO take the seat Of honor
~ the monarch's side The Khan is large man,
stout and will built, with the bearing of man
~ fifty. The contour of his face. the intelligent
EXPRESSION of the eyes show that The Ouzbeg blood
is mixed with Persian. His hands are remarkably
white and carefully kept, displaying TO advantage
the rings set with priceless diamonds, the only
Jewels he wears His costume. like that OF the
pcople is OF black lambslin. soft and crispy curly,
consisting of several khaats suprimposed, after
the Persian fashion. The extreme dignity OF
manner alone marks the rank Of the autocratic
monarch.
In marked contrast 10 the simplicity OF the
Khan's attire is the costume Of the favorites in
tho harrm In place Of the picturesque Oriental
robe with its long flowing lines has been subst
tutcd the crinoncd and corsetrd European gown
in all its conventional unganncss. Like the
Shah Of Persia. the Khan has also introduced the
costume Of the danseuse. Any novelty in the
way of feminine costume which pleascs his fancy
Immediately becomes pcrquiste Of the harem
Seeing on one occasion robe of scarlet silk he
Immediately ordered forty robes of the same
shade from Worth, through Russian importers.
As a pleasant reminder Of the happy hours passed
in Arcadia, the .Jardin de Paris of st. Peters
burg, Said Bahadour brought back with him
one Of the pretty tsGanes TO grace the paradise
Of Mahomet For time the new Odasque will
while away the tedious hours with her pretty
cOquctrcs and charming dances.
The life Of Khan lacks diversions. The
women of the prince leave the palace only to take
an occasional ride in a closely covered conveyance
They never allowed to see a stranger, and
even their parents with difficulty obtain access
to the harem.
There is little trace OF the grandeur Of the
former civilization in Turkestan. The beautiful
mosques and mattresses now In ruin, are the only
traces OF former grandeur. Turkestan, BY reason
OF its location. has furnished the battle-ground
for the countries OF Southern Asia. The wars,
intrigues and internal conflicts that have taken
place in Turkestan have paved the way for the
conquest ny Russia. The undeniaby good result
Of the conquest was the abolition OF slavery. The
city Of Khiva is no longer the scene OF the cruel
masacres and executions for which she was once
notorious. The Khivan has proverb which is
characteristic: Three things are Indispensable
the horse, the sabre and the knife This sums
up the history Of the people.
Just what ths eject Of Russian CONQUEST VIII