TARTARY, a name given to a very extensive tract of country in Central Asia, bounded by Ara bia and Russia on the north, and the confines of China, India, and Persia on the south. It is di vided into two great portions, independent Tartary and Chinese Tartary.
Independent Tartary is bounded on the south by Balk and Khorasan in Persia, on the west by the Caspian, and on the north by the provinces of Oufa, Orenburg and Tobolsk in Asiatic Russia. The principal kingdom of Independent Tartary is Great Bucharia, which we have already described. The Khirghises occupy a great extent of territory on the north, and are divided into the Great, the Middle, and the Lesser hordes. The Great horde is esti mated at 60,000 families, and the other two at 30,000 each, so as to give a population of above half a million. They live in huts and lead a wandering life, each horde being governed by a Khan. They occupy the whole country from the north end of the Caspian to the Talkan Lake. The Uzbeck and Turcomans occupy the vast sandy desert between the Aral and the Caspian, and the country on the upper Oxus. On the Taxartes, there is a fertile
and thickly peopled territory belonging to the bey of Koukan, but very little is known of it. For far ther information respecting this part of Tartary, see AFGHANS, ARAL, BALK, BUCHARIA, CABUL, CAS PIAN SEA, SAMARCAND. See also PERSIA and RUSSIA.
Chinese Tartary embraces an immense extent of country of about 70 degrees of longitude, and 20 of latitude. It includes, on the north, Mongolia and Mandschuria; on the west, Cashgar; on the south, Thibet; and in the centre the territories of the Cal mucks or Eluths. As almost nothing is known of the present state of these hordes, we must refer our readers to the articles BUCHARIA LITTLE, Vol IV. p. 773; CALMUCKS, Vol. V. p. 174; CHINA, PERSIA, and TIIIBET. Sec also ASIA, Vol. V. p. 513; PHY SICAL GEOGRAPIIV, Vol. XVI. and RUSSIA, Vol. XVI, p. 519.