KOKAND, a small territory west of Kashgar, with capital of smile name, the paternal kingdom of Baber. It was ruled by an Uzbak khan or chief of the tribe of Yuz, who claimed a lineage from Babes. It is famed for its silk. The khanate of Kokand comprises almost the entire valley of the Syr-i-Darya, the river Jaxartes, and its various confluents ; partly in consequence of the nomade half-savage hordes which form its northern popu lation, partly from its geographical position, it was among the very earliest to come into direct collision with Russia. It possesses considerable celebrity in being looked on as the capital of Afrasiab, and is historically connected with the campaigns of Chengiz and Timur ; but it is better known as the birthplace of Baber, from which he raised himself, first to the throne of Kabul, and ultimately to that of Hindustan.
Kokand is the key of Turkestan ; it is on the high road to the Chinese settlements of Kashgar, Yarkand, and Khotan, with which it carries on a considerable traffic. Also there is an open and regular communication from Yarkand to Kashmir and Ladakh.
Since 1865, Kokand has been confined to lat. 39° 40' to 42° N., long. 70° to 74° 30' E. This is an area of 30,000 square miles, and it occupies a hollow in the Tian Shan mountains, known as the valley of Ferghana. It is surrounded, except on the N.W. corner, on all sides by terraced mountains, occupied by a peaceful Uzbak popula tion, ever at the mercy of the mountain tribes. The Russians subjugated it, and it was designated the Russian Ferghana province of Turkestan.— Papers, East India, Cabool, and Afghanistan, pp. 120, 130.