FERGHANA, fer-giVrth. A territory (ablest) of Russian Turkestan, Central Asia„ situated between East Turk,,:hm n. the Pamir. ItokLara. and the of Russian Turkestan (Slap: Asia. Ci 5). Its area is approximately 35,500 swin•e nines. With the exception of the central portion. which forms the valley of the Upper Sir-Daria, the surface of Fe•ghana consists both of mountains and steppes. The Alai and Trans Alai :Mountains traverse it in the south. The larger part of the country is barren and un fit for cultivation. The climate is hot and the rainfall insufficient. The chief rivers cure the Sir-Daria and the Kizil-Su. Lucke Kara Kul is situated in Ferghana. The agricultural land is found mostly along the Sir-Daria, when cereals and fruit are raised to some extent. Silk, fur which Ferghana was especially known, is still cultivated, being greatly favored by the Government. The region is rich in minerals, including coal, lead, graphite, and petroleum. The last is exploited to sonic extent. The manu facturing industries of Ferghana are of consid erable importance, although most of them are carried on as house industries. In 1893 there were over 70 large industrial establishments with an annual output valued at more than $4,000,000.
The leading manufactures are cotton, leather, silk, rugs, etc. The trade is chiefly with Russia, Bukhara, and East Turkestan. In 1895 the total value of the trade amounted to over $16.000,000. There are over 130 miles of railway line in the territory, connecting it with Samarkand and Bukhara.
The population of the territory in 1897 was 1.560,400, of whom the larger part were Sarts, and the rest Kirghizes. Tajiks, Russians, Jews, etc. The capital is Khokand. Ferghana con stituted a part of the Sogdiana of the Greeks. It was invaded by the Arabs during the eighth century, and was under the rule of the Samanids for two centuries thereafter. Conquered succes sively by a number of Oriental rulers. including Timur, the country obtained its independence at the end of the eighteenth century, when it was known as the Khanate of Kokand. ur Khokand, the territory of the khanate being then consider ably larger than the present territory of Fer ghana. Internal dissensions gave' the Russians an opportunity for interference. and in 1S76 the khanate was annexed to Russia under the name of Ferghana.