Evening star., 1929-11-15
REMOTE REPUBLIC
| GIVEN PROMOTION
TaiikiStan Elevated From Au-
tonomouS to Federated
Group by Soviet.

"Tajikistan, which has just been ele-
waited from the status of an autonomous
republic to a federated republic of the
Union of Socialist Soviet Republics, is
an area just Il square miles less than
that of Alabama, occupying the extreme
southeastern corner of old Russian Tur-
kestan," says a bulletin from the head
quarters of the National Geographic
Society
The new republic is in worse po-
sition than the proverbial needle in "A
haystack, for it cannot be found on any
but the most recent maps. The area
consists of bit of the old provinces
of Bokhara, Sanlarkand and Pamir of
Russian Central Asia.
Region the Cars Forgot.
"a rough outline. of Tajikistan may
be drawn by placing the point of
pencil on map of Asia about so miles
due southeast of the city of Sanarkand,
A wavy line drawn due east of this
point to the border of Chinese TurkeS-
tan is nearly the line of the northern
boundary of the republic. The eastern
boundary follows the Chinese Tur-
kestan border southwark to Afghanis-
tan. The southern border follows the
northern border of Afghanistan to
within about so miles east of the city
Of Termez. The western boundary may
be indicated by line, slightly bulging
toward the east, linking the western
ends of the north and south boundaries.
During the rule of the CZars there
was little, if any modern development
in TajikiStan. This corner of Central
Asia was seldom visited by outsiders
except explorers The highways were
mere camel tracks over which moved
long caravans, and railroads have not
penetrated the region.
Men and Boys Wear Earrings.
"Stalinabad, until recently called
Dyushambe or Dushambey, is the capi-
tai of the republic Although the in
habitantS of the city have not yet heard
the blast of a steam engine whistle,
they frequently hear the roar of air
plane motors, for the capital is stop
on the air route between TermeZ. on the
northern border of AfghaniStan, and
Kagan. near the city of Bokhara. A
new railroad, however, now is being
built from Termez to Stalinabad. and
more than 300 miles of modern high
ways bid fair to offer the caravan routes
serious competition in the more level
regions of Western Tajikistan.
There are about 100000 inhabitants
In the new republic. Both sexes wear
the traveller can distinguish the men by
their skull caps and the women by their
bright-colored shawl head coverings. At
close range the women are more easily
singled out by the bracelets. rings, neck
laces and the other trinketS they wear.
Men and boys wear earrings, not as
ornaments, but as charms against evil
spirits.
CattIemen and Farmers.
an the Summer there is an exodus
Of Talks from the lower regions to the
mountains, especially among the cattle
herdsmen, who seek new pasture. Al
most in the shade wof the glaciers of
the PamirS travellers find felt-covered
tents, which are the temporary homes
of the herdsmen. They also come upon
small settlements of houses 8 feet high,
the walls of which are built with cob
bles and little mud. The houses along
the dusty streets are similar except that
their walls are of clay With a few cob
bleS. In both regions the Talk roofing
consists of saplings and split timbers,
covered with increS of clay and layer
of sod. If there is a courtyard, it is
usually occupied by horses and camels,
but now and then the traveller may peek
through the gates into Towering gar
den spot
"The Talks are efficient agricultur-
lists, as shown by the cultivation of april
cot orchards grain fields and cotton
plantations. BY crude irrigation works,
barren, deSolate patches of land have
been developed into fine producing
areas"