a name given by geographers and historians to a considerable extent of territory in Asia, lying between Russia and China, and including a great variety of nations, now chiefly dependent on these two empires. The whole country is usually divided into Western Tartary, and Eastern or Chinese Tartary, of which the former includes Western Turkestan, Kharifin, and Great Bucharia; while the latter comprehends the country of the Monguls and the Mandshours, now both subject to Russia, and Little Bucharia. The geography of several parts of this extensive tract has already been considered under the articles BUCHARIA, CHINA, and RUSSIA, and we shall here confine ourselves to that which is now commonly known by the name of Independent Tartary, by which we understand that extent of country now possessed by the Kirghizes, and the Ufbeck Tartars, including the Kharifin, and Great and Little Bucharia.
Independent Tartary thus defined, extends from the Caspian sea on the west to the mountains of Belur on the east, a space of about 870 British miles, and from the mountains of Gaur in the south, to the southern boundaries of the Russian empire on the north, including nearly 1500 British miles. About half of this extent is occupied by the Kirghizes to the north, and the Ufbecks to the south.
The country of the Kirghizes is separated from Siberia by the great steppe or desert of Iffim, an extensive plain intersected by a river of the same name, and abounding with lakes of salt and bitter waters. Even the soil of this steppe is in many places impregnated with salt and nitre, though in several spots the soil is by no means unfruitful. There are no towns, as the inhabitants dwell wholly in tents.
The Kirghizes have been long divided into three principal hordes, called the great, middle, and lesser. Of these, the two latter are now regarded as subjects of the Russian empire, though they seem by no means to be dependent on that power. The great horde, defended by mountains on the south and east, are properly independent. This last horde is supposed to contain about 60,000 families, while the lesser and middle hordes are said to comprehend each about half that number. The whole population is computed at about 500,000.
The Kirghizes have gradually moved from the east towards the west. Their manners are described at considerable length by Pallas. Their tents are of a sort of felt; their drink kumis, made of acidulated mare's milk. The great horde is considered as the source of the other two. Being settled near the mountains of Alak, or Ala Tau, this horde has been called the Alatian Kirghizes. They lead a wandering life, from the borders of the Upper Sirr, near Tashkund, to the steppe of Iffim. Each horde has its particular khan; but the middle horde, when Pallas visited this country, was contented with a prince, who seemed to acknowledge the khan of the lesser horde; and in 1777, this khan was called Nor-Hali, an equitable prince. Their features are Tartaric, with flat nose and small eyes, but not oblique like those of the Monguls and Chinese. They have horses, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats. Some individuals of the middle horde, it is said, had 10,000 horses, 300 camels, 4000 cattle, 20,000 sheep, and upwards of 2000 goats; while in the lesser horde were proprietors of 5000 horses, and a proportional number of the other animals. Their dromedaries furnish a considerable quantity of woolly hair, sold to the Russians and Bucharians, being annually clipped like that of sheep. Their chief food is mutton; and the lamb is so exquisite, that it is sent from Orenburg to St Petersburg for the tables of the palace. The lamb skins are the most celebrated next to those of Bucharia; but the wool of the sheep is coarse, and used only for domestic purposes, for felt and thick cloths. The steppes supply them with objects of the chase, wolves, foxes, marmots, antelopes, &c. In the southern and eastern mountains are found wild sheep, the ox of Tibet, which seems to delight in snowy alps; with chalcas, tigers, and wild asses.
As the Kirghizes regard each other as brethren, they are obliged to employ slaves who are captives taken in their incursions. Their dress consists of close vests, large trousers, and pointed boots. The ladies adorn their heads with the necks of herons, disposed like horns. They appear to be Mahometans, but have a more relaxed creed.
The Kirghizes carry on some trade with Russia. The chief traffic is at Orenburg, and wholly by exchange; but the middle horde proceed to Omsk. About 150,000 sheep are annually brought to Orenburg, with horses, cattle, lamb skins, camels wool, and sometimes slaves. slaves. In return they take manufactured articles, chiefly clothes and furniture. From Bucharia, Khiva, and Talikund, they receive arms and coats-of-mail, which Ruffia refuses, in return for camels and cattle. They are extremely fond of the Kalmuk women, who long retain their charms; and often marry them if they will adopt the Mahometan religion. They have an annual festival in honour of the dead. About the beginning of the 17th century this people, who were formerly Shamanians, became children of circumcision, by the exertions of the priests of Turkistan.
The country of the Uibek Tartars includes Kharifm and part of Great Bucharia. The former of these extends from the river Gihon to the Caspian sea, and is bounded on the north and east by vast deserts. Its length is about 400 British miles, and its breadth rather less than 350. The chief town is Khiva, besides which there are five walled cities or towns, within half a day's journey of each other. The khan is absolute, and independent of any but the high priest, or lama, by whom he is controlled. The Kievinski Tartars differ little from the Kirghifies, but surpass even them in treachery. Their manners are nearly the same, except that the Kirghifies live in tents, while the others inhabit cities and villages. Their only trade is with Bokhara and Persia; whither they carry cattle, furs, and hides, which they procure from the Kirghifies and Turkoman Tartars. The place itself produces little more than cotton, lamb furs, of a bad quality, and some raw silk; part of which they manufacture. The town of Khiva stands on a rising ground, with three gates, and a strong thick wall of earth much higher than the houses, with turrets at small distances, and a broad deep ditch full of water. It occupies a large space, and commands a pleasant prospect; but the houses are built with mud, having flat roofs covered with earth. It is 17 days journey from the Caspian sea, and 33 from Orenburg, allowing 40 versts to the day's journey.
The people of Khiva bring to Orenburg large quantities of raw cotton; but the coasts of the Caspian are held by some remains of Turkomans in the north, and by Uibeks in the south. A considerable trade is carried on with Mangulhak. As the merchants of Khiva brought gold and gems to Astrakan, probably from the two Bucharias, it was suggested to Peter the Great that these products were found in Kharifm, in consequence of which he attempted a settlement. But the Russians, to the number of 3000, were cut off by the Uibeks.
Great Bucharia, by far the most important part of Independent Tartary, extends for about 700 British miles in length from north to south, by a medial breadth of about 350, being bounded on the north by the mountains of Argun, and divided from Kharifm and Corazan by the river Amu, and extensive deserts, while on the south and east it has for its boundaries the mountains of Gaur and of Beber.
The chief city of Great Bucharia is Samarcand, on the southern bank of the river Sogd. The other places of note are Bokhara on the same river, Balk on the river Dehafh, Zauf, and Kotlan.
The face of the country presents a great variety, abounding with rivers, hills, and mountains, but being in general deficient in wood. Near the rivers the soil is very productive, the grass sometimes exceeding the height of a man; and in some parts much industry is shown in the cultivation of rice and other grain.
The rivers are, the Amu and Sirr. Besides the sea of Aral, already described under that head, there are several considerable lakes, particularly that of Palkati, Tengis, or Balcafh, being about 140 miles long by 70 broad.
"In all the regions of the earth (says Sir William Ouefley), there is not a more flourishing or a more delightful country than this, especially the district of Bokhara. If a person stand on the Kohendis (or ancient castle) of Bokhara, and cast his eyes around, he shall not see anything but beautiful and luxuriant verdure on every side of the country; so that he would imagine the green of the earth and the azure of the heavens were united; and as there are green fields in every quarter, so there are villas interperforcd among the green fields. The Sogd, for eight days journey, is all delightful country, affording fine prospects, and full of gardens and orchards, and villages, corn fields, and villas, running frcams, reservoirs, and fountains, both on the right hand and on the left. You pass from corn fields into rich meadows and pasture lands; and the straits of Sogd are the finest in the world."
The religion of the Uibeks and Bucharians is the Mahometan of the Sunni sect, and the government of the khans is despotic. There are no accounts to be met with of the state of the population, but it is believed that on any emergency they could muster an army of 100,000. The revenue of these fertile provinces is not certainly known, though that of Corafan is said to amount to half a million sterling annually, and it is probable that the revenue of Great Bucharia is at least equal to that of Corafan.
Besides the caravans to Persia, Hindostan, and China, some trade is carried on with the Russians; the Bucharian merchants not only furnishing their own products, but others from the eastern countries to which they trade.
The manners and customs of the Uibeks are similar to those of the other Tartars; but they are supposed to be the most spirited and industrious of these barbarians. Though many reside in tents in the summer, yet in winter they inhabit the towns and villages. They are accustomed to make sudden inroads into the Persian provinces. The native Bucharians are comparatively fair, and correspond in form and features with those of Little Bucharia. The Bucharians never bear arms. The Uibeks, on the contrary, are no strangers to the use of the musket, and it is said that even their women are not averse to warfare. The language is Turkish, but that of the Bucharians has never been investigated, though it be probably a dialect of the Persian. Their literature would furnish an ample theme, Samarcard having been a celebrated school of oriental science, cultivated even by monarchs, as Ulug Beg and others.
"Such are the generosity and liberality of the inhabitants, that no one (says Sir William Ouefley) turns aside from the rites of hospitality; so that a person contemplating them in this light, would imagine that all the families of the land were but one house. When a traveller arrives there, every person endeavours to attract him to himself, that he may have opportunities of performing kind offices for the stranger; and the best proof of their hospitable and generous disposition is that every peasant, though possessing but a bare sufficiency, allots a portion of his cottage for the reception of a guest. On the arrival of a stranger they contend one with another for the pleasure of taking him to their home, and entertaining him. Thus, in acts of hospitality, they exceed their incomes. I happened once to be in Sogd, and there I saw a certain palace, or great building, the doors of which were fastened back with nails against the walls. I asked the reason of this, and they informed me that it was a hundred years and more since those doors had been shut, all that time they had continued open day and night; strangers might arrive there at the most unseasonable hours, or in any numbers, for the master of the house had provided everything necessary both for the men and for their beasts; and he appeared with a delighted and joyful countenance when the guests tarried a while."
For a more particular account of the manners and customs of the Tartars, see the articles BUKHARIA and KALMUKS; Pallas's Travels in the Southern Provinces of the Russian Empire, and Tooke's View of the Russian Empire. An account of the Bashkirs, also a tribe of wandering Tartars, and of the Tartars of the Crimea, has been given under RUSSIA.
We cannot here enter on the history of Tartary. The most interesting parts of it will be found under the articles CHINA and MOGUL, and we may refer those who wish for a more detailed account to the 4th volume of the Modern Universal History, and to the Asiatic Researches.
Krim Tartary. See CRIMEA.