BUKHARIA, Little. This country, which is to the east of Great Bukharia, is very imperfectly known to Europeans. It lies amid deserts, and is bounded on the north by the country of the Kalmucks and Eygur; on the east by the desert of Kobi; on the south by the mountains of Thibet; and on the west by Great Bukharia. It is computed, but on no very satisfactory grounds, to extend seven hundred miles in length from east to west, and two hundred miles from north to south. It consists chiefly, according to the descriptions given of it, of one vast chain of mountains, with subordinate ridges diverging from it through sandy deserts. The plains are fertile, and among the mountains pleasant valleys are interspersed, watered by streams from the mountains. When this country was visited by the missionary Goez in 1603, it was divided into two kingdoms, Kashgar to the west, and Kalis to the east. It was previously divided into four states, with very imperfectly defined boundaries. The Mahomedan states and cities of Kokaun, Khojend, Yarkund, and Kashgar, are contained within Little Bukharia. Kokaun is a city of modern date. Khojend, which is sixty miles west by south, is a city of great renown, built on the left bank of the Seer or Jaxartes. Kashgar, about six hundred miles east of Kokaun, is a great commercial resort, containing ten thousand houses. Yarkund, which is in east longitude 78. 27. E. and in latitude 38. 19. N., is a large and flourishing place, and the country around is described as fruitful and well watered. All this country was subdued by Ghenghis Khan in the beginning of the thirteenth century, and it devolved on his second son, Yakatay Khan. In 1550 Yarkund, Kashgar, Hissar, Aksoo, Kuchar, Toorban, Eelah, and others, were under the dominion of the Moguls, the descendants of Timur. In 1683 they were subdued by the Kalmuck Tartars, whose king resided at Eelah, and appointed governors over the other cities. Previous to this revolution, the chief influence in the country was possessed by certain lords or great men, called Kaujahs, consisting of two classes, namely, the Aktaglick and Karataglick. The Kalmucks, the rulers of the country, being wasted by a plague that broke out among them, the Aktaglick Kaujahs rose up in arms against them, and after, as is probable, exterminating them, they fell upon the Karataglicks, expelled them from the kingdom, and seized on the supreme power. At this season they put to death an ambassador who chanced to arrive from the khan of Khatay, the emperor of China, Kien Long. Incensed by this insult, the Chinese monarch invaded the country with a large army. Being joined by the adverse faction of the nobility, he, after many severe conflicts, prevailed against the Aktaglicks, who were mostly destroyed; and ever since that period, which was in the year 1759, the country has remained under the dominion of the Chinese.
Mr Fraser, when he was at Mushed, conversed with many intelligent merchants, and among these with one Hussun Mervee, who had repeatedly travelled through those countries; and they all concur in the same representation of the peace and happiness which they enjoy under the active police of the Chinese government. The moment a traveller or merchant enters their dominions, an account is taken of his person, equipage, and goods, and dispatched by an express on the road through which he is
to travel. By this he is recognised, and receives permission to pass along through the guards and watchmen, who are everywhere upon duty, and so vigilant, that if a traveller loses any thing on the road, he is sure to have it restored to him; and no disorders or robberies can take place without the instant pursuit, and generally the seizure and punishment, of the culprit. This account of the exact order which prevails throughout all parts of the Chinese territories was confirmed by the account of another well-informed merchant, Selim Beg, who declared that "the moment the limits of Bukharia are passed, a most important change is to be perceived in the manners of the people, and particularly among the Eels; all is peace and tranquillity; there is neither robbery nor pilfering; and there is perfect security even for the smallest parties, or for individuals. This security increases the nearer you approach the Chinese territories, and when once within these limits all risk ceases."
The Chinese derive a revenue in these conquered countries from two sources, namely, a tax on merchandise, and a species of monthly capitation tax, to which all males exceeding the age of twelve are subjected. This tax varies with the circumstances of the individual, from a halfpenny to fifteen or sixteen shillings. To each city is attached a Mahomedan judge and two Chinese collectors, all under the control of a chief, who resides at Kashgar, with various other inferior officers. (F.)