BOKHARA (Mongol. bukhar, church). The capital of the khanate of the same name. and one of the most important commercial centres of Central Asia, situated in a valley near the river Zerafshan, and only a few miles from the Trans Caspian Railway (Map: Asia. Central, J 2). It is irregularly built and surrounded by a high mud wall. The streets are narrow and crooked and mostly unpaved. The houses, built, as a rule, of mud or clay, are low and without windows on the streets. Bazars, both covered and open, are numerous and well stocked with Oriental wares as well as with European manufactures. Bo khara has as many mosques as streets, but only a few of them are noteworthy. The chief of them is the 7.11irghara, surmounted by a cupola 100 feet high. covered with blue tiles. Adjoining it is the high minaret which was used until 1871 for the execution of eriminals by hurling them from its top. The citadel, is situated on an artificial elevation, and contains the palace of the Ameer, the houses of the higher officials. the
jail. and the t er-cist ern ,. The city is inter sected in several directions by a canal, which is spanned by numerous bridges. Bokhara is re garded as a centre of vulture in Central Asia, and contains about sixty high ntedresses and a large number of minor ones. There are a considerable number (if manufacturing establish ments. producing silk fibres, coarse cloth, blades, and other metal articles. The commerce is car ried on to a large extent in articles of Russian mannfacture, textiles, leather articles, ete. A few miles distant from the capital, on the rail way line, is situated a small Russian settlement named Russian Bokhara, and containing about 300 inhabitants. The population of the capital is estimated at 00.000.