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Wine and dancing women are most strictly prohibited. They are of the Suní sect, and follow the observances of ABU HANIFEH; they detest Shíahs, and call them worshippers of ALI. Much smoking and drinking of kimmiz* privately does take place. Horset flesh is considered a great luxury, and often sold in the bazars.

The present KHÁN or king (for KHÁN is considered a very high title in Tartary) is named MAHOMED ALI: his father was OмÁR KHÁN; his uncle, who reigned conjointly with his father, was named AʼLIM KHÁN; their father was NAUR Buteh Khán, whose grand-father was Shurugh Be'g, who claimed his descent from CHENGÍZ KHÁN. The present KHÁN succeeded on his father's death, which happened about twelve years ago.

I shall now attempt to portray the political relation in which this state stands with reference to its neighbours, and give an account of them ;-and first of Chinese Tartary. That part which is contiguous to Kokan is the government of Káshgar, which has under it the provinces of Yárkend, Khoten, Auksú, and Turfán, (called by the Chinese Sining;) these are all Muhammedan countries, which became subject to China in 1759, in the reign of the Emperor‡ KIENLUNG. Hostilities existed some years ago betwixt Kokan and China, but after a war of some continuance, the cause of which I shall hereafter explain, peace was concluded betwixt the Kнán and the Chinese, and is likely to be permanent.

South of the KHAN's territory is the extensive and mountainous country of Karrategín, until of late ruled by sovereigns universally believed by the tradition of the country to be descended from ALEXANDER THE GREAT. On the death of the last Shah, or king, his sons disputed and fought amongst themselves for the succession, and in consequence, their kingdom fell an easy prey to the king of Derwáz, a Tájik prince, and is still under his rule these unfortunate descendants of ALEXANDER are said by my informants to be wandering about in poverty, and subsisting on the charity of the surrounding princes. Several were at Kokan, and others at Bok hára.

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Badakhshan, and the countries of Kundúz, Tash-kurghan, and Balkh are under a powerful U'sbek chief called MURAD ALI BE'G, who lately acquired Balkh, &c. from the sons of KILICH ALI KHÁN. With these states and the KHÁN of Kokan a good understanding exists.

* A spirituous liquor made from mare's milk.

Horses having any defect, disabling them from work, are fattened for this

purpose.

‡ The same Emperor to whose court Lord MACARTNEY went as Ambassador.

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BEHADUR KHÁN, son of MURÁD BE'G, is the reigning prince of Bokhára and Samarkand, and their dependencies; the last named city is at present much reduced in both size and population: there are several magnificent remains of the buildings erected by the famous TIMUR, and there is among the rest, a block of blue marble or jasper called the Kúk-Tárish, formerly used as a throne by the Tartar emperors, and said to have been brought by TIMUR from one of CHENGíz KHAN's palaces in Mongol Tartary*, which to this day is an object of great importance to the Chinese, who wish to take it to China from some superstitious ideas they connect with it, and the prosperity of the present Mantchu dynasty.

The present KHA'N of Kokan is on terms of amity with the sovereign of Bokhára.

The part of the Russian Empire which touches on this territory is dependent on the government of Orenburg and Tomsk. The boundary of the two states is defined by the river called by the U'sbeks the Kúk-Sú, or blue river, probably the Irtish.

The political relations of this state with Russia are as follows:

Much uncertainty having prevailed respecting the limits of the two nations, and disputes having constantly occurred, owing to the Cossac hordes of the one encroaching upon the Steppes occupied by those of the other, and vice versâ, about six or seven years ago envoys were deputed by Russia to the KHA'N of Kokan, to fix the limits definitively; these envoys came from Orenburg, and brought with them as presents from the emperor, (whom the U'sbeks call the AUK KHÁN, or White King,) several mirrors of very large dimensions, a musical clock, and guns and pistols. After some negociation, it was settled that the river called the Kúk-Sú, or blue river, should be the boundary between the two states, the Cossac hordes of Russia keeping to the north of it, and those of either state not to pass that river to the south or north. Beacons also were erected along the line of frontier. My informants said, however, that within the last three years the Russians have encroached upon those limits, and erected forts to the south of the river. The Khán on this account lately deputed an envoy to St. Petersburg, with an elephant and some Chinese slaves, as a present to His Czarish Majesty, of whose

* The following is an account of this wonderful block of marble or jasper, as given by BA'BER in his memoirs :-"Towards the hill of Kohik, there is a small garden, wherein is an open hall, within which is a large throne of a single block of blue jasper, about 28 or 30 feet long, and 10 or 16 broad, and 2 in height. This throne was said to have been brought from Chinese Tartary, probably from one of CHENGIZ KHAʼN's Urdús.”

arrival however no news had been received, when my informants left their country about a year ago.

With respect to the other great empire, China, which lies to the eastward of this country, a good understanding seems to have existed for many years between the two governments, until a circumstance occurred about seven or eight years ago, which led to hostilities; this was the rebellion of JEHANGÍR KHOJA of Káshgar: this person, who laid claim to the sovereignty of that country, and whose ancestors are said previous to the Chinese conquest to have held the chief authority there, having been worsted in some encounter with the Chinese, was compelled to fly the country, and take refuge with the roving hordes of Kirghiz subject to the Khán, and subsequently fell into the hands of MUHAMMED ALI, who kept him under honorable restraint at his capital. JEHANGIR having however effected his escape, made his way again to the Kirghiz encampments, and having prevailed on them to join him, invaded the Chinese territory. The sovereign of Kokan also being irritated at the bad treatment shewn to the Muhammedan subjects of Tartary by the Chinese authorities, advanced with his troops on Káshgar; surprized the Chinese general in his cantonment near that place, and cut up the Chinese army. The KнOJA also got possession of the city and fort of Kashgar; subsequently the KHA'N's cavalry over-ran the whole of Chinese Tartary, and got possession* of Yárkend, Auksú, and Khoten. JEHANGIR KHOJA however becoming jealous of the KHA'N, and suspicious of treachery, drew off his troops in a northerly direction, and a large Chinese force advancing, MUHAMMED ALI withdrew to his own country. The rebel was eventually seized by the Chinese, sent to the emperor, and cut to pieces in his presence. An envoy was then sent from Pekin, (which the U'sbeks call Baujin,) to negotiate peace, which was made on condition of the Muhammedans at Káshgar being subjected to the rule of a deputy of the KHÁN in all matters of religion, the KHA'N being allowed a share in the transit duties, and binding himself to keep the Kirghiz in subjection, and to assist the Chinese in case of any insurrection in Chinese Tartary in future; ever since which time, the two governments have been on the best terms, and a reciprocal interchange of presents takes place. The present Chinese Governor of Káshgar is a Muhammedan, called YUNIS WANG. The Chinese are said to keep a force of about twenty thousand infantry in their Muhammedan dependencies in Tartary, of which ten thousand are stationed at Káshgar. The Chinese troops are said to be stationed in separate cantonments, which the U'sbeks term Gulbaghs, outside of the towns. One of my informants had been at Káshgar, Yárkend, and *The KHA'N has hence taken the title of GHAZI or Victorious over infidels.

Khoten, with the KHAN's army; he describes Yárkend as a very beautiful large city, much like Bombay, and abounding in dancing girls, musicians, &c. They made slaves of all the Chinese they took prisoners.

The Chinese viceroy resides at Kashgar; he is generally a Mantchu* (Mantchu Tartar) appointed from Pekin, as are the governors of Turfán, Auksú, Yárkend, and Khoten; they are all however subject to the Urgarh Wang, or viceroy. These countries have been subject to China about seventy-five years. The distance from Káshgar to Pekin is estimated as two months' journey of a caravan. All these cities contain a considerable population of Chinese colonists, besides the original Muhammedan inhabitants.

The Jagathái Turki is principally spoken; but Mantchu and Chinese are also prevalent.

On the Commercial Intercourse between Kokan and the

neighbouring states.

Free intercourse is allowed by the Chinese government to subjects of Kokan resorting to Káshgar and the other Muhammedan dependencies of that empire, for purposes of commerce. Religious mendicants are also admitted; this permission is however solely extended to those countries. No one of whatever denomination would be allowed to enter China Proper under any pretence whatever, even in case of an embassy it is necessary for application to be made to the Viceroy YUNIS WANG, at Káshgar, and no one is allowed to proceed until an order be received from Pekin.

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The trade between the two countries is conducted as follows: caravans come from Southern China by way of Khoten to Yárkend and thence to Kashgar; they bring tea glued together, and formed into the shape and consistency of unbaked bricks; silk piece goods, satin, porcelain, and various other articles. Tea, however, is the principal article of import: its consumption being general throughout Central Asia, where it is made much in the same way as in Europe, excepting that butter or fat is mixed with it. The merchandize is carried chiefly on horses, from thirty to forty bricks of tea form a load for a horse. From Kashgar the U'sbek merchants bring them to Kokan, whence they are exported on camels to Bokhára. The returns are said to be made in shawls, European articles, raw silk, horses, &c. No direct intercourse exists betwixt Kokan and India, owing to the jealousy of the Chinese government. The passage through Tibet to Cashmere, &c. is interdicted. Shawls and other Indian articles are brought by the circuitous route of Kábul, Balkh, and Bokhára.

* Many are Muhammedans.

The trade with Russia is carried on by means of caravans: the Kokan merchants meet those of Bokhára at Tashkhend, and forming one body, they proceed via Turkistan through the Steppes occupied by the Cossacs, part to Omsk, and part to Orenburg. The productions of China, raw silk, camlets, and cotton yarn, are taken to Russia, and the returns are made in furs, gun barrels, and locks, cutlery, Russian leather, and other Russian manufactures. The currency of Kokan consists of gold tillas, equal to about eight rupees in value, and a small silver coin, called a tunkha, nearly equivalent to half a rupee.

The Usbeks who came to Bombay were quite ignorant of the English name and government. The only Feringís they had any idea of were the Russians. On being asked what nation they supposed was the sovereign of Hindustán, they said they thought it was like Kábul and Kandahar, under some Mussulman government; they expressed great horror at the Sikhs not allowing the Muhammedan religion to be pub. licly performed in the Panjáb. They had first of all intended to go to Delhi, and thence to Calcutta, but this circumstance prevented them. They had strong letters of recommendation from DOST MUHAMMED of Kábul to SULTAN MUHAMMED KHAN of Peshawar, &c. They were generally liberal and well-informed. The young man had read most of the Persian classics, and spoke Persian very well. They were much astonished at every thing they saw at Bombay, which they compared to the Chinese city of Yarkend. I took them a trip in the small steamer, which they considered as the work of magic, nor could I explain the effects of steam so as to remove that idea. His Majesty's ship Melville, being in the harbour, I carried them on board her. At first they could not be persuaded that it was a ship: they thought it was a wooden fortress, erected on the bottom of the sea, by some extraordinary power. Subsequently, however, when they found she actually floated, they were more astonished at what they called the great boat, for they had no word to express a ship in their language, nor had they even seen any thing larger than the ferry boats on the Oxus, and the country vessels in which they came to Bombay. Different from most Asiatics, they shewed a great deal of curiosity, and examined every thing narrowly they measured the ship by the number of paces they took, and the cannon ball by its apparent weight; but what astonished them most of all was the firing cannon with a lock like that of a gun, and ignition as produced by a percussion tube. A native having illuminated his house with gas, I took them to see it: here again they could not account for such an effect, except as produced by magic; they frequently expressed a wish that some Englishman would come to their country, and professed their readiness to assist him in penetrating even into Chinese Tartary; but they said that it would be next to impossible to enter China proper:

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