Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-01-24
CENTRAL ASIA ADDS,
RED TO RAINBOW
Revolution Gains Ground in
Midst of Region Where
CoIorS Predominant.

once more the red revolution is 20
take place among the rainbow hucs
of the mud flower pot of Central Asia.
if recent London dispatches telling
that the Russian reds have taken the
capital Of the khanate of Bokhara j.
true" according to a bulletin from tn.
National Geographic Society.
"Bokhara. dusty and tawnv in tone
is nevertheless a Colorful city b"caus.
of the striking costumes of the ma o,
inhabitants. The women. clad in
somber tones and hiding their face
behind horsehair wells. which rcsem
BILE window screening, avail them
selves of protective coloration which
enables them TO move like shadow
about the ancient city. But the FOX
hara male. be he Usbeg. Sart. Persia
or Talk. utilizes all the colors ano
tints of the solar spectrum in h
costume.
"Bokhara is an important religion
center. 1t has 364 mosques. with .
practically unknown railway ruuniu
south to the Afghan frontier. its loon
ton in the midst of Central Asia gin,
it a strategic Importance that is ltti.
appreciated.
Fortunes Have Varied.
"The khanate of Bokhara has "a
area about equal to that of l tai
| but with four times the populatio'
Since the outbreak of the war ~
fortunes have varied. Part of
time it has been an independea
khanate. showing its provocative hs
taking up the rails of the Transca
plan railway. which passed throug
its territory. Several times il r.
been under the control of the DO
shevik forces. The amir had a ui'-
turesque army of about 1000 50
diers. many of whom careless
| lounged along the stone passaeewa
which leads up 10 the arr, or castle.
on this incline, in front Of IL.
royal residence. formerly there va
enacted every Friday morning GER
| mony impressive in its dignity am
dazzling in its color effects. Hu~
| dreds of solemn mullahs. clad j.
bright silk robes of stick cand
| stripes or gorgeous golden suns
| purple fields. belted with silver an.
with buckles as large as salad plat
gathered here in impressive rows. esq.
| with priceless prayer rug beneath Ia
| feet
These were not the dashing typ
which once made Mohammedanism d.
power from Mecca to Gibraltar. bu
the ceremonialisis. whose religion
thing of dignity and prosperity
founded on trade rather than a life
the saddle. In unison they bow low
that only broad backs can be seen. h"i
moment later all are erect WI
their spotless white turbans the mo
prominent feature in scene so colot
full that only an oriental sun coul
harmopiZe II.
"Bokhara is architecturally uniu
pressive. but nowhere are there NOR
attractive oriental baZaars. Bras,
smiths vie with goldsmiths to add nh
CLINT of glowing metal to the hail
light of the covered souks. and Their
the makers OF peculiar Bokhara cap
display their brightly colored ware
the edges glistening with soft fur
from Siberia.
Camels Used in Traffic.
IN spite of the branch railwa:
which runs from old Bokhara, witt
it's mud walls. to Kagan or New Boz
hara, on the Central Asian line. muc
of the traffic in the dusty city OF I'll
Usbegs still is borne on the backs
lazy-footed, philosophic camels. calm
ly chewing away in spite of the Pc
litical changes. which mean little
their nomad lives.
"Bokhara has given its name to OF
of the loveliest of rugs, but thes
crea tons of the Turkeman looms an,
really produced farther west, an
their main market is Merv, Nhenc,
another railway crawls south II
KuShka, beyond the northern from
tier of AfghaniStan- During tho
months to come the Bokhara- Terme :.
and Merv-kushka railways are likely
to attract more attention than the
lazy life of the Moslem city of Box
hara. where fat mullahs drone out
ceremonial prayers in the registrar. or
public square Bokhara is second
only to Baku, across the Caspian. ~
-Turanian center, and statesmen
around the world are wonde~in =
what political plots are being hatche.l
beside its stagnant pools and in its
shadowy baZaars."