KHA1VITI, One of the peoples of Shan stock. dwelling on the Assam-Burmese fron tier. See SHINS.
KHAN (Pers. khan, prince, of Tatar origin). (I) A title of uncertain origin, often borne by Oriental rulers, especially in Central Asia. its earliest mention is by Gregory of Tours (5(i0) ,who designates the chief of the Huns (Avars) 'Cling rms.' Among Alollannuednus it seems to have been first used in the thirteenth century at the time of the Mongol Genghis Khan, and it per sisted down to the time of the last Oriental ruler of the Crimea, Shahin Giray (1783). Since the time of Bayazid I. (1389) and Mohammed 1. (1402), the title has been added to the other titles of the Osmanli sultans. It was not used by the Seljuks (1037-1300). Khan is also joined to a personal name so as to form a coMpusite word. In Shiite lands it means simply a man of rank, equivalent to Turkish Beg or Bey. Sonic of the titles compounded with Khan are: (1) Kha-Khan, used long before the twelfth century to designate the leader of the Tou-Kiou Turks, the Ouigurs, Mongols, Chinese (Yuen Dynasty).
and Mandshus. (2) 11-Khan ('Provincial Khan') to indicate their inferiority to the Kim Khans; used by the Mongol ruler llulagu and his successors in Persia (1256-1336). (3) Tar Khan, a subaltern prince. (4) Gur-Khan ('Uni versa] Lord'), used by the Turks of Nara-Khitay, by Tamerlane (1335-1405) and Chug Beg (1447). (5) ir-Khan, used by certain Turkish tribes. The word khanate, for the territorial divisions of Genghis Khan's empire, is a European forma tion. Consult De Laeouperie, K ban, K ha-Khan. end Other Tribes (1885).
(2) The homonym khan (Persian khanah. house) is frequently applied in translations of oriental text: and works on the East to unfur nished inns, erected either by the Government or private individuals for travelers, and for whose accommodations either no charge or a small fee is required.