The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-02
VI.


We scarcely need to say that samarksnd Is a
town OF extraordinary interest. from the anti
ouarian point Of view, closely connected as II is
with the history OF Alexander the Great. We
first hear Of It az Maracanda, the capital Of Sog-
diana, which. at the time OF Its capture by
Alexander. was a large and fourishing city.
Here he made his headquarters while he was
subduing the mountain tribes and during the
celebrated expedition against the Scythians
across the syr Dsria. This river wa mistaken
by the Macedonians for the Don: Alex ander
thought he had made the circuit Of Asia and had
returned TO Europe. n mistake which was imita-
ted by subsequent ge~ographers out Of compli-
ment to the great condueror.
II was In Samarkand that Alexander killed his
friend Cytus in a drunken At. In the neighbor-
hood OF this city legends OF Islander Dull
karnian (the "two-honed- az he was calledl
abound. and the city OF Alexandria, which he
founded In this region. Is usually placed at
HodJent. Many OF the petty princes In the
mountain countries OF the upper Okus claim
descent from him. but very little remains OF the
Greek culture which he introduced. The dy-
nastes which he founded in central Asia lasted
until about 1870 B. c.. when a nomad tribe known
as the Yuetchi became masters Of Samarkand
and apparently we're still in possession OF II
Nhths III ~ ~ 80 ~ A'b Ns'hbfs
Mohammedanism. There we're some Christians
In the city at the time. and for many years after
ward Samarkand was a Christian see and had
a bishop. Notwithstanding the subsequent
conauests OF the city by Persians. Turks. and
eventually by GenghiZ Khan, the Christians were
still a lourishing community in the middle Of
the thirteenth century. and Marco Polo, though
he did not personally visit the place, tell us
that a Church Of 81. John the Baptist vet ex-
listed. When Tamerlane overthrow the dy-
nasty Of Genehiz he made Samarkand his cap
ital, and his tomb remains In a fairly good
state OF preservation, constituting one OF the
most interesting sights in this memorable city.
The great Baber. afterward Emperor OF India.
made Samarkand a favorite resort. and his me-
moirs. written in the year 1897. contain a glowing
description OF It's beauties. and especially OF the
gardens. mosques and palaces. An ambassador
from King Henry Of CASTLE also gives an ac-
count OF the magnihcence of the place, but from
his time onward little Is known OF 1t until its
capture by the Russians in 1906. When and
how the Christian community and religion dis
appeared We do not know. but there are no
vestiges OF q Christian church. Asmall modern
one has been built since the Russian occupation.
Most OF the beautiful mosques and other build
ings in Samarkand now in decay, among which
should be named tho splendid MedressH or. col
iege built by a wife OF Tamerlane. bear dis
tinot evidence Of Persian influence. and the
Persian lion adorns many Of the interiors.
In enumerating the historic towns Of central
Asia which have recently fallen int the hands
Of Russia our author does not overlook Turkes-
tan. the town which has given It's name to the
province. originally a stronghold OF khokand
and celebrated as containing the finest and
most revered mosque In the whole region. It was
Ions a placg OF pilgrimage for people Of the high