Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-23
Scenes Of Confusion @ Caravans Of
Camels Come In.
HEED CALL OF THE MUZZEM
Merchants and Customers Drop
Everything and Kneel In Rows
on Rugs, Praying.

Of Tashkend, are the largest in central
Asia, and cover, twenty-four acres OF
ground. They are divided into thirty-two
streets. or aisles. each being devoted to
the sale of the same class OF articles. for
the convenience Of customers. and repre-
senting one Of the thirty-two guilds.
which comprise the whole field OF COM
merce in Turkestan. The guilds here are
similar to those In India. Turkey and
Persia. and l suppose they correspond
to those In China and japan. The num-
Der Is limited to thrty-two, for the rea-
son that the human body was supposed
by the ancients to be made up OF thirty
two semi-independent and semi-dependent
members.
Each guild has a perfect organization.
with ohicers and committees. similar 10
the ancient trade organizations or Lon
don, and exercises autocrauc authority
over al industries and mercantile enter
prises. They regulate prices and wages.
terms OF employment. the NUMBER OF ap.
prentices. rates OF interest. credits and
other conditions of manufacture. purchase
and sale, and some Of them are sub
divided into smaller classes Tor con-
venience.
The baxaars Of Bokhara furnish one OF
life. the articles Of merchandise being
quite as interesting as the men VINO
handle them. The most curious Of all are
blocks Of rose-co1ored rock salt, which
looks like pink ice; 1t is brought rom
Of the mountains. about forty miles dis
tant. There are, however, many other
odd articles for sale. and one can spend
hours. and even days. in the bazsars.
watching the manufacture and the sale
Of strengthening goods.
Protected From Sun.
AS In other native cities, the streets and
little shops are protected from the sun
and rain by roofs OF masonry, or avn
ings Of mating. 50 that the trade is con-
Quoted in q perpetual twilight. The
streets are 30 narrow that 1t is dinlcult
for two carriages to pass. 1t Is often
necessary for the drivers to climb down
from their boxer and lift the wheels as
closely as possible to the walls. so that
they can squeeze by. Blockades are
caused continually by caravans Of camels
laden with bulky bales. lines Of donkeys
bearing animate and inanimate loads: OK
carts and carriages, which often become
massed In confusion. when everybody gets
excited and begins clamoring. cursing and
gesticulating In a furious way. But the
greatest demonstrations are made when
some unlucky merchant has his counters
ing Of a clumsy camel. Then It 10 posi-
BILE to see how excited these serene and
contemplative orientals can become when
something happens to them.
tween the caravans and the horsemen.
and that takes some nerve and skill, be-
cause every few minutes there Is scamper-
ing for refuge as q squad OF Khirghi
horsemen comes galloping recklessly down
the narrow streets.
The bazaar Il not given up entirely to
trade. There are lots OF little eating
houses and kitchens, where the merchants
and their customers lunch or dine. The
cooking is done on the edge OF the side
walk. where the patrons can inspect the
process. and over open charcoal fires.
which I'LL the atmosphere with savory
| smells. Sherbet peddlers go about with
queer-looking tanks on their backs, clink-
ing glasses together to attract attention,
and in the teahouses the attendants draw
hot water from steaming samovars into
dainty little china pots, into which they
have dropped q pinch Of tea leaves Gus
them. which they purchase At the neigh
boring shops.
Does Big Business.
Bokhara Is the most important CONNER
cial center in Turkestan. and does . busi-
ness Of about So. O0O. 900 annually. carry
ing on an active trade by caravans with
China. India. Afghanistan and other
countries The merchandise that comes
by rail from Russia Is stored In large
warehouses along the railway track until
produce that is brought in by these same
camels is transferred to the railway cars
and sent westward to the Caspian sea or
northward to the great Siberian railroad
en- route to Astrakhan, Odessa. Baku,
Moscow and other Russian markets.
From China. India and Afghanistan
are brought vast quantities OF tea. silk.
earthenware, drugs. furs. mutton tallow.
camel's hair. goats hair, dye stuffs and
other raw materials, as we'll as finished
products, to be exchanged for cotton
goods. sugar, coffee. hardware and a large
variety Of other merchandise from the
factories of Moscow and other Russian
cities. AS have told you In previous
letters. the Russians are gradually rob-
bling Great Britain OF her markets In
Af9hanfstan, Cashmir and other prov
inces Of western India. but the largest
amount of goods Ii shipped across the
mountains into China
The wholesale and retail traders are
mixed In the bazaars, and every now and
then you come to wholesale khan. which
Is entered through a narrow passage be-
couple ,S Of inSpa and % ,se
behind the little retail booths. These
khans are q combination OF hotels and
freisf1t houses. There are usually one or
more large courtyards paved with stone;
MOSQUE at one side. The courtyard. dur
in~ the business hours Of the day. Is
nretty well filled with caravans Of camels
and groups Of solemn, patient. uncom-
piaining donkeys. loading or unloading.
The carneis are used for long hauls and
the donkeys for short hauls. and they
carry an infinite variety OF goods. There
are a few OK carts, with enormous wheels
seven and eight feet In diameter. and
saddle horses, equipped with queer-look-
ins Requirements and gayly decorated
brides.
Sleep With Their Goods.
Opening upon the courtyards are ware
rooms OF different sizes. which can be
rented for a day or q night. or for .
month. or any length Of time. rs sales
rooms or for storage. and the tenants
usually sleep with their goods and take
their meals at the cookhouses and cafes
In the neighborhood.
The khans are classified. some for rugs.
some for skins. each being located in the
street where that particular merchandise
helonss and when . caravan arrives with
n mixed cargo the camels are distributed
sccordingly. The patrons are mostly reg
MAR Business Is hereditary In these
Countries. and the oldest son Is expected
20 FOLLOW the trade of his father. Thus
The same families have patroniSed the
same khans for centuries, always occu-
pyinr the same rooms and doing business