BOKHARA, bo-Kii'-ra, or BUKHARA. A Rus sian protectorate in Central Asia, bounded by lInssian Turkestan on the north, the Pamir region on the east, Afghanistan on the south, and the Russian Trans-Caspian Territory and Khiva on the west (Map: Asia, Central, J 2). It lies approximately between latitudes 37° and 42° N. and longitudes 62° and 72° E. The extent of its area cannot he ascertained with accuracy, owing to the unsettled state of some of the boun dary lines. General estimates vary from 80,000 to 93,000 square miles.
A considerable extent of the country consists of desert land and steppes, interspersed with fruitful oases. The eastern part is very moun tainous. The most fertile and cultivated regions are found along the rivers. The chief river is the Amu Darya, which forms the southern boundary and flows close to the western boundary, and with its tributaries drains a large part of the country. The Scrafshan flows through the northwestern part, losing itself in the sands a short distance from the Amu Darya. The climate is warm and generally healthful. The summers are hot, and the winters very cold, with considerable snowfall. The rainfall is very scant, and occurs mostly in the spring.
Agriculture forms the chief occupation, and according to current estimates about 10 per cent, of the total area is under cultivation. The dry climate of Bokhara makes it necessary to utilize almost all the smaller rivers for irriga tion. The chief agricultural products are wheat, rice, barley, tobacco. lucerne, flax, cotton, and dye plants. There are also produced large quantities of fruit, including several varieties of grapes, peaches. apricots, and nuts. Silk-culture is car ried on. Cattle-raising has always been one of the most important occupations of Bokhara, the native sheep being especially known for the wool used extensively in Russia for sheep skin coats. Horses, goats, and camels are also raised in large numbers. The manufactur ing industries of Bokhara are chiefly confined to the production of textiles, and are carried on on a very small scale and by the most primitive methods. The chief products are cotton and woolen fabrics. silk, coarse cloth, and a kind of felt called koRhina, leather goods, including footwear and saddles. and small metal products,
such as knives, locks. etc. The mineral industry is as yet undeveloped, although Bokhara is sup posed to he very rich in minerals. The chief minerals worked are salt and gold, the latter worked by the Russians in Safet-Darya.
The foreign commerce of Bokhara is quite im portant, owing to its central location. and Bok hara, the capital, although it has lost a consider able portion of its commercial importance and splendor. is still considered an important seat of commerce in Central Asia. The trade is chiefly with Russia, India, and Persia, and is carried on mostly by means of caravan routes and the Trans-Caspian Railway, as the wagon-roads of Bokhara are very few and in poor condition. The annual trade with Russia is estimated at about 810,000,000, and the entire foreign trade of Bokhara at about $15,000,000. The 'rrans Caspian Railway, which runs through Bokhara for about 186 miles, has had a very good effect on the commerce of the country, which has consider ably advanced under the protection of Russia. Bokhara, the capital, is connected by telegraph with Tashkent. In its form of government, Bo khara is an absolute monarchy. the Ameer being invested with unlimited powers. The immediate administration is in the hands of several high officials. each at the head of a separate depart ment. For purposes of administration, Bokha ra is divided into several districts, administered by beks, who are obliged to turn in a certain sum of money every year into the treasury of the Ameer, in addition to suitable gifts, con sisting mostly of cattle and other products. 'the beks are not paid by the Government, but are expected to get their share out of the taxes collected by them. The army consists of a regular force and a militia, and is recruited chiefly from volunteers; but in case of a holy war, every Mussulman capable of bearing arms is liable to military service. The standing army is estimated all the way from 15,000 to 30,000 men. There are about 20 guns, mostly made of copper, and the regular army is, to a certain extent, organized after European fashion.