USBEGS, or UssEks, a people of Turkish race, who, at the close of the 15th c. of the Christian era, invaded and conquered the numerous principalities into which Turkistan was at that time divided, and have ever since maintained dominion over the country. At the present day they are for the most part a settled people, occupying themselves in the cultivation of the soil and in trading, and are scattered over Russian, Independent and Chinese Turkistan. The most probable supposition regarding their origin is that they immigrated from Kiptchak (q.v.), and assumed the name of Lsbegs, from Usbeg, one of their chiefs. The Usbegs of Kliiva;Bokhara, Kbokan, and of Chinese Tur kistan differ from each other in language, manners, and Those of Khiva speak a dialect of the Turkish, are honest and generous, and destitute of the treachery and duplicity which are so characteristic of oriental civilization, are passionately fond of music and poetry, and though zealous Mohammedans, still retain many of their ancient heathen usages. They pride themselves much on the purity of.their Usbeg descent, but most of them_ show evident traces of an admixture of Iranian blood. The Usbegs of Bokhara have become largely mingled with the Tajiks, and have consequently lost many of their national characteristics. Those of Khokan are very different from the two pre vious, and are as much Kirghis, Kiptchaks, and Kalmucks as they are Usbegs; the fact that the Usbegs have been the dominant race in Turkistan for three centuries and a half.
having given the name such a prestige of nobility and good breeding, that it is generally assumed by such members of other races as settle in cities.
USE Kicip OCCUPATION is the technical name given in the law of England to the bene ficial enjoyment of premises by a tenant, who occupies the real property of another, such as houses and farms. In all cases where a person has had use and occupation of another's premises, with the assent of the owner, an action lies for the value thereof, which value corresponds to rent under an ordinary lease. Hence, where it is doubtful whether there has been a valid lease executed between the parties, the landlord can never theless recover rent under the head of use and occupation.
USEDOId, an island belonging to Prussia, lies at the mouth of the Oder, and together with the island of Wollin, shuts of the Stettiner Haff from the Baltic. It is of very irregular shape, being much indented by branches of the Haff, is 34 m. in extreme length, and 15 in. broad. Area about 148 sq.miles. On its n.e. side is the port of Swinemunde (q.v.); on the s, side is the small town of Usedom, with about 1800 inhabi tants.