RUSSIAN TURKESTAN. This region embraces the territories of Ferghana, Samarkand, Semi ryetchensk, and Syr-Darya (Nap: Asia, F 4). Total area, about 411,500 square miles; total population, about 4,888,200. Together with the Transcaspian province and a portion of the Pamir, it constitutes the general government of Russian Turkestan. It is bordered by the ter ritory of the Steppes on the north, Sungaria and Chinese Turkestan on the east, Bokhara and Khiva on the south, and Khiva and the Sea of Aral on the west. The western and northern parts are flat and sandy: the southeastern part is mountainous. In the west and north are the great deserts of Kizil-kmn, Mujun-kum, and Kara-kmn. In the northeast is the extensive Lake Balkhash. The mountains of the south be long to the three systems of the Hissar. the Alai, and Tian Shan, and form a wild Alpine-like dis trict, interspersed with fertile valleys. The Karatau chain stretches northwest and divides the territory into two parts. There are numer ous oases. The Syr-Darya, rising on the central mountain border, flows west through the centre of Ferghana, then northwest along the southwest ern side of the Karatau, finally reaching the Sea of Ara]. The Ili, an affluent of Lake Balkhash, is the chief river in the East. It flows northwest through the centre of Semiryetchensk. These streams have numerous tributaries. The south ern section of Russian Turkestan is subject to earthquakes. The climate is continental. The summers are hot and dry and the winters com paratively severe and accompanied by destruc tive snowstorms. The flora in the west belongs to the Aral Sea district, in the east to the mid Asiatic region. The fauna, though essentially of the Central Asiatic type, comprises many tropi cal representatives, among them the tiger. Salt, coal, and asphalt are obtained, and precious stones are exported.
Numerous irrigation canals tap the rivers and provide agricultural conditions which would otherwise be impossible. This is especially true
in the southern part of the country, where the bulk of the population is located. The staple crops are wheat, rice. millet, and oats. Cotton is a promising crop in Ferghana. Rice and cocoon silk are also produced in noteworthy quantities. Various kinds of fruit. including the grape, thrive. Stoek-raising, however. is the leading occupation. Great numbers of sheep are reared. There are upward of 1.000,000 camels and over 2,000,000 horses in the country. The domestic industries are widespread, and some of the native products, such as carpets and rugs, are highly valued in Europe. The manufacturing industries properly so called are in their infancy. The exports consist chiefly of raw products, which go largely to Russia. The Transcaspian Railway has been a great pacificator in Russian Turkestan. It reached Samarkand in 1SSS and at present extends to Tashkent and Andijan. From Tashkent a line is building northwest to Oren burg on the European frontier, and other lines are in contemplation. While the general admin istration is intrusted to Russian officials, the na tives suffer little interference, and taxation is scarcely more than nominal. Public education is almost entirely in the hands of the native re ligious bodies, although the Russian Government has shown considerable concern for the instruc tion of the natives. Turkestan forms one educa tional district. and had, in 1898, 125 schools with 5560 pupils. The inhabitants are almost wholly Mohammedans. The Kirghizes form about 36 per cent., the Sarts 24 per cent., and the Usbegs and Kiptchaks together 19 per cent. The Rus sians, therefore, constitute but a small element. The leading cities are Tashkent, the capital, Khokand, Namangan, and Samarkand. Andijan was ruined by an earthquake in 1902.