BUCHAIUA, (LITTLE,) a country of Asia, formerly called the kingdom of Cashgar, and supposed to be the Serica of Ptolemy, and the Scythia extra Intaunt of the ancients. It received the name of " Little," not from its being less extensive than Great Bucharia, but from its being much inferior to that country, both with regard to its soil, its climate, its population, and the number of its cities. It is almost surrounded with mountains and deserts. On the west, it is separated from Great Bu charia by the mountains of Belur ; on the north, from Soongaria and the Calmuck Tartars by the Altaian mountains ; on the east, from the empire of China and the Elms of Kokonor by the desert of Cobi ; and from Tibet, on the south, by the mountains of Mus Tag. It extends about 1000 British miles in length, and its great est breadth is nearly 500 ; being comprehended between S6 and 44 degrees of north latitude, and 70 and 88 de grees of east longitude. This country, when visited by Gocz, was divided into two kingdoms ; that of Cashgar on the west, and Chialish on the east ; but these states compose only the northern and western parts of Little Buchaiia ; and the southern parts contain several large provinces, such as Kotcn and Karia, the former of which is represented by Strahlemberg as an independent kingdom. Whatever is said, however, concerning the geography of this part of Asia, must be received with very great allowance ; for neither its extent, its divi sions, nor its population, nor even the names of its ci ties, and the sources and course of its rivers, have ever been ascertained with any degree of accuracy. Its principal rivers are, Yarkand, which is represented as issuing from Loch-nor Lakc, and passing through the deserts, nearly in a straight line of not less than 500 English miles, and supplying several branches, as the Koten, Orankash, Sac.; the Chaidu, which proceeds from the same lake ; and the Karia, which has its source in a lake in the desert of Sultus.
From the general elevation of the land, and its lofty mountains, rising from the midst of sandy deserts, this country resembles a sea interspersed with rocks and islands ; and though the climate is much colder in win ter than might be expected from its latitude, yet, in summer, the heat is so concentrated by the surround ing mountains, that out of doors it can scarcely be en dured. The soil is in general barren, though inter spersed with some fertile vallies, which produce cot ton, hemp, flax, and various kinds of fruits ; and the mountains are rich in gold and silver mines, but both tl e Calmucks and Buchars arc equally ignorant of the Iliad of working them, and content themselves with tiering the gold dust which is washed down by the rs, and with which they carry on a trade with India, China, and Siberia. This country also abounds with diamonds and other precious stones, but as the inhabi tants have not the art of cutting or polishing them, they are sold in their rough state. The Calmucks, who wan der about this country, live in tents, and almost entirely upon the produce of their cattle (See CALMUCKS) ; and the Buchars, who compose the greatest part of its popu lation, inhabit the cities, and employ themselves in trade and merchandise. These differ very little from the in
habitants of Great Bucharia. Their manners, their dress, and their appearance, arc nearly the same, except that the former are rather of a darker hue, arising pro bably from the reflected heat of the sandy deserts ; and the women wear a greater profusion of ornaments, and dye their nails with henna. Their habitations are gene rally built of stone ; and their furniture consists chiefly of trunks plated with iron, which are ranged along the walls, and covered, during the day, with mattrasses, which at night arc removed and used as beds. They use neither tables nor chairs, but sit cross-legged on the ground, and eat their meat, which is placed upon a cloth, with their fingers or wooden ladles. Their food consists chiefly of small cakes, composed of minced meat, which will keep a long time, and of which they make a very palatable soup during their long journics in the deserts ; and their principal beverage is tea, xvhich they prepare with milk, butter, and salt. Though the prevailing religion of the country be Mahoinetanism, et the Cal mueks, who are represented as plunged in the grossest idolatry, allow the greatest toleration ; and no person .ifirers on account of his opinions. The Buchars, however, are very superstitious. Both sexes carry about with them prayers written by their priests, which they keep in a small purse in the form of relics. In sickness, the occupation of the physician is increly to read to the patient a sentence from some book, to breath on him several times, and to wave across his face a knife, which is supposed to cut the root of tha disorder. When dead, the priest lays the Koran on his breast, and recites sonic prayers, immediately be fore the body is interred. Though polygamy is consid ered by the Buchars as unlawful,'yet it very generally prevails. Their wives are purchased from the father, so that daughters are in this country a real treasure. All intercourse, however, between the betrothed couple is prohibited from the signing of the contract to the celebration of the marriage ; and they arc even forbid den to sec one another during the performance of the ceremony. The Buchars are rather a poll e and bene volent people, never intermeddling with the affairs of war or conquest, but paying quietly the annual tribute demanded of them by their conquerors. Their principal commercial intercourse is with China, where they car ry gold dust, musk, rough diamonds, and precious stones, which they exchange for tea, tobacco, and Euro pean cloths. They also export these articles to Persia, and sometimes as far as Tobolsk in Siberia. The only coin they have is the Kopcik, which is made of copper, and weighs about a third of an ounce ; but all considera ble sums are paid in gold or silver, which they weigh, after the manner of the Chinese and their other neigh bours.