BORHAMA (honored with the title of the "Treasury of Sciences"), a famous city of Central Asia, capital of the above khanate, is situated on a plain in lat. 39' 48'11., long. 64° 26' e., in the midst of trees and gardens. It is between 8 and 9 in. in circumference, and surrounded by embattled nmd-walls, about 24 ft. high, and pierced by 11 gates, The houses, which are small, ill-lighted, and, with the exception of those belonging to the wealthy, uncomfortable inside, are built of sun-burnt bricks on a wooden frame-work; and the roofs of all are fiat. The streets are ill-pavcd and very narrow, the widest barely for the passage of a loaded camel, while others are not more than 3 or 4 ft. across. 'rite palace of the khan occupies an eminence of between 200 and 300 ft. in height in the center of the city. It is surrounded by a brick wall of 60 or 70 ft. high. The arsm, includes, besides the palace, the harem, which is quite embosorned in trees; carious public °dices, the residences of the vizier and other important state functionaries, the barracks, royal stables, etc., and three mosques. The mosques, which are said
(fabulously) to be 360 in number, necessarily form one of the greatest features of Bokhara. The most imposing one occupies a square of 300 ft., and has a cupola 100 ft. high, orna mented with blue tiles. Attached to it is a tower of about twice the height, built by from which erhninalsare hurled. 13. is celebrated as a center of learning, and has, in addition to a vast number of schools, about 80 colleges, which are attended, it is stated, by about 5000 students. As a commercial town, B. the most important in Central Asia. A canal intersects the city, but during the summer months it is often dried up, and water becomes very scarce. Pop. estimated at 70,000. See TURKESTAN.