BOOK I.GENERAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR ON PART OF CENTRAL ASIA.Notice regarding the Map of Central Asia147CHAPTER I.AN ACCOUNT OF THE KINGDOM OF BOKHARA.Limits and Extent.—Natural and political Divisions.—Physical Geography: Face of the Country.—Climateand Phenomena.—Rivers.—Mountains.—Mineral Productions.—Vegetable.—Necessaries of Life.—Fruits and Wines.—Domestic Animals.—Wild Animals.—Birds.—Silk Worms.—Diseases: Guinea Worm.—Cities and Towns.—Population of the Kingdom153-185CHAP. II.THE RIVER OXUS, OR AMOO; WITH SOME NOTICE OF THE SEA OF ARAL.Source and Course of the Oxus.—Sea of Aral.—Capabilities of the Oxus.—Depth, Current, and Slope.—Inundation.—Freezing.—Craft on the Oxus.—Mode of navigating them.—Wood of the Oxus.—Political and commercial Advantages of the River186-199CHAP. III.ON THE VALLEY OF THE OXUS, ETC.Sketch of the Countries upon it.—Koondooz.—Budukhshan.—Ruby Mines.—Lapis Lazuli.—Mountain Districts North of Budukhshan.—Their Language.—Pamere.—Singular Animal, the Rass.—Chitral.—Gilgit.—Iskardo.—Their Language.—Kaffirs.—Their Descent from Alexander questioned.—Their Customs200-213CHAP. IV.ON THE REPUTED DESCENDANTS ALEXANDER THE GREAT.Traditions regarding them.—Actual Condition of these reputed Descendants.—Examination of their Claims.—Conjectures214-219CHAP. V.ON THE SOURCES OF THE INDUS.Interest attached to the Subject.—Received Opinions.—Their Error.—Description of the Shyook, the great Head of the Indus.—The Western Branch.—Country enclosed by both.—Name of Cashgar misapplied.—Errors pointed out220-226CHAP. VI.NOTICE OF YARKUND, AND ITS INTERCOURSE WITH PEKIN, BOKHARA, AND TIBET.Chinese Province of Yarkund.—Sketch of its History.—Mode of governing it by the Chinese.—Singular Mode of communicating with Pekin.—Inhabitants.—Kalmuks, curious Customs.—Anecdote of the Chinese Police.—Country between Yarkund and Tibet.—Communications with Bokhara.—Notice of Kokan227-237CHAP. VII.ON THE MOUNTAINS OF HINDOO KOOSH.Range so called.—Height.—General Features.—Productions.—Formation of the Rocks.—True Mountain of Hindoo Koosh238-248CHAP. VIII.TOORKMANIA, OR THE COUNTRY OF THE TOORKMUNS.Toorkmania: Country so called.—Nature of it and the Toorkmuns.—Origin of the Toorkmuns.—Tribes.—Language.—Accountof Merve.—General Characteristics of the People of Toorkmania249-261CHAP. IX.ON THE INROADS OF THE TATARS, WITH A NOTICE OF THE TRIBES IN TOORKISTAN.Invasions of the Tatars sketched.—Sources from whence they sprung, investigated.—Exaggerated Numbers.—Probabilities of Success in modern Times.—Only two great tribes, Toorks and Mundshoors.—Appearance of Tatars.—Physiognomy.—Chaghtye and Uzbeks.—Kalmuks.—Kuzzaks and Kirgizzes.—Citizens of Toorkistan.—Tatar and Magi Religion.—Concluding Observations262-270CHAP. X.ON THE HORSES OF TOORKISTAN.Toorkmun Horse.—Tradition of its Lineage.—Mode of Feeding.—Varieties of the Toorkmun Horse.—Extent of the Trade.—Great Characteristics of this noble Animal271-277
BOOK I.GENERAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR ON PART OF CENTRAL ASIA.
BOOK I.
GENERAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR ON PART OF CENTRAL ASIA.