The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-28
RUSSIA AND BOkHfRA.
The Gradual Absorption Of the khanate
Into the Cars Dominion.

1t was the intention Of Abdul Valid
Khan, the Emir of Bokhara. to go on a pill
grimage to Mecca this year. He prepared
q large retinue, which comprised 1000 pill
Rrirns, besides his servants. and then he in
formed the Russian Governor OF his inten-
ton. The Russian authorities. however.
for some reason. did not care TO have the
Emir leave his country: and 40 In the form
Of mild suggestion, they virtually forbade
the journey.
The Russian Governor wrote In the bland
est and politCst manner tibet In the opinion
of the Government his Eighness would do
well to postpone his pilgrimage Till some
later occasion The reason given was that
the land route from Boz hara 10 Mecca is
now extremely dangerous. for IL lies through
cities where deadly epidemic is now rag
ing. Moreover. the Governor continued.
the Hedjaz or Pilgrim Railroad. will lie open
soon and then 1t will be easy and convent, mt
for the Emir TO 60 on the pilgrimage. As
q matter Of fact the iedjaz Railroad has
been built only short distance south Of
Damascus and years are certain to elapse
before it Ia completed to Mecca,
His Highness was very much displeafed
by this letter. which he knew was practically
u COInHHIlu LOT IlIIl W az &c
called attention to the fact that In carrying
out their pious duty the Mecca pilgrims are
wholly indifferent to danger. But the
Governor was not to be moved by such
appeals; and so the Emir has sent petition
direct to the Gar at St Petersburg.
A despatch from Peshawur. India. says
that the Emir Of Bokhara is growing more
aud more dissatisfied with Russian en-
croachments upon hs power and that he
desires to 20 70 settle in the Turkish Empire.
1t IL said that the valuable jewels and other
treasures Inherited from his ancestors
would always supply him with the means OF
subsistence.
When Russia conquered Central Asia
she was very careful not TO annex the kha-
nate Of Bokhara. She he'd all the work on
hand she desired without shouldering the
responsibility Of governing 100000 fanat'-
cal Mohammedans. So she preferred to
cultivate friendly relations with the Emir.
permit him TO govern his own country and
rely make protective state OF Bokhara.
Perhaps she IN sorry now that she did not
declare outright her intention TO govern
Box hara. At any rate, she IL constantly
encroaching upon the functions Of the Emir
and Ia doing 80 with confidence because iis
oppression and excessive taxes have dts
Affected his subjects. While they are
groaning under their burdens they look
toward the Samarkand region, little north,
prosperous under Russian rule. If there is
ans re volution in Bokhara 1t will be against
the Emir and not against the Russians.
1t Ia said in Russia that before this time
the Khanate would have been completely
under Russian control " II had not been
that when the Emir attended the coronation
Of the Gar his Majesty promised him that
at long as he lived there would be no change
in the status Of Bokhara. II that promise
is kept even though the present Emir
should die, another would be allowed to
rule.
Russia, however, has as yet interfered
very little with his government, except that
she compelled the Emir TO abolish the open
sale of slaves and the native method OF
executing criminals by tying them hand
and foot and fiinging them from the top
Of the great tower Of the city Of Bokhara