Roanoke Rapids herald., 1924-01-25
A Sunny Niche in Bokhara.

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington. b. c.
Bokhara, one Of the few states of
the Federal Union of Russia which
manages to be nonsocialstic in gov
ernment, has Mohammedanism, with
its patriarchial implications, so deeply
ingrained in its people that 1t prob
ably will retain its individualistic
regime indefinitely. And Russia can
well afford to keep the Bokharans con-
tented ky necessary concessions, for
their land is a bOrderland and they
are not naturally bound closely to
Russia by either language or race.
The former khnnate of Bokhara,
now the autonomous republic" has
an area about equal to that of Utah,
but with four times the population.
During the World war its fortunes
varied. Part of the time 1t was an in
dependent khanate, showing its pre-
rogative by taking up the rails of the
Trans-Caspian railway which passed
through its territory. Several times it
was under the control of the Bolshe
vik forces.
Bokhara is very important re-
ligious center, With 364 mosques
There are more than hundred theo-
logical colleges, with small rooms for
the students surrounding paved
quadrangle from the corners of which
rise small domes surmounted by stork
nests.
Tho Nri6av cpryipa in tho RnpiStpD
in front of the emir's castle in the
city of Bokhara was and probably still
is most impressive. From the en-
trance of the ark the cobbled square
slopes down to the melon stalls and
fruit venders' shops at the lower end
from whose shelter even foreigner
could observe the ceremony. Stretch
ing down the incline from the wide
doorway was line of white-bearded
Moslems dressed in their heaviest
silks and broad silver belts, standing
oil such glossy, faded rugs as never
reach dealers hands. Fifty or sixty
feet lower down there was cross
line of other worshipers. There in the
bright sun of the market-place, form
Ing a color picture that only an East
ern sun could harmOnize, hundreds of
men bowed and knelt and rose in uni
son. The timing of their movements
was perfect. One saw broad silk clad
backs and massive white turbanS at
one instant and white boards and
erect forms the next. Larger groups
of worshipers could be seen In Sa-
markand and Delphi; but nowhere
could one see finer grouping of color.
Every Friday was Easter Sunday to
the Bokhara Moslems and the kindly
sun of the desert softened and bar-
honized the varied scene into q pleas
ing whole.
Men Of Many Races.
Not only are there varieties of color
In Bokhara, but of race as well. Per-
SLAMS, Jews, Hindoos and Armenians
mingle with the Sarts, Uzbeks, Talks
and Afghans. Tartars and Turkomans
can be seen side by side with the
Mongoian kirghizes and even Chi
nese wander through the maze of COW
cred bazaars or swing across the bril-
liantly lighted squares. If Bokhara re-
sembles a crocus or pansy bed in cSlor
effects, 1t resembles an anthropologi-
cal museum in types of nose, mouth,
cheekbones and eyes. But on all sizes
one sees the broad face, high cheeE-
homes and round head of the Tu-
ranian.
The bazaars of Bokhara are her
main charm. Even Damascus has
nothing finer. The streets are COW
cred and the lights subdued. Each
tiny sh'e, Mother Hubbard cup
board in everything but emptiness,
where the shrewd merchant sits with
his entire stock within reach, has a
rug at Its tiny front porch where the
customer can sit and smoke or drinls
tea until the bargain is complete.
One can see processes as well as
products and hours may be spent in
watching the fascinating handicrafts
of the East. The brassware is in
feror to that of Damascus, but adds
mellow glow to the long, dark ha-