DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0023
chap. xii. charjooee. — bazar.
7
dences, but I doubt if the subject would excite
general interest.
In the morning we moved up to Charjooee, which
in all our maps is erroneously set down on the north-
ern bank of the Oxus. The place is governed by
a Kalmuk, and is pleasantly situated on the verge of
culture and desolation, with a pretty fort that crowns
a hillock, and overlooks the town. It is said to
have resisted the arms of Timour ; but its present
condition would not impress one with any great
notions of its strength, or that conqueror's power.
The people of Charjooee do not exceed 4000 or
5000 souls; but a greater portion of its population
wander up and down the Oxus during the hot
months. We halted here for four days, since it was
the last inhabited spot of civilisation between Bok-
hara and Persia. The market day, or bazar, oc-
curred during our stay; and I proceeded along with
Ernuzzar, the Toorkmun, to see the assemblage, in
which I passed quite unnoticed. I sauntered through
the bazar, much more amused with the peeple than
the wares they were selling, which were in every
respect poor. There were knives, saddles and
bridles, cloth, and horsecloths, of native manu-
facture; but the only articles of European fabric
were a few beads, and chintz skullcaps, which latter
were purchased very readily. There were also
lanterns, ewers, and copper pots, in considerable
number; the venders of many of these retailed
their goods on horseback, and all the purchasers were
mounted. No person ever attends the bazar in
Toorkistan but on horseback ; and on the present
b 4f
7
dences, but I doubt if the subject would excite
general interest.
In the morning we moved up to Charjooee, which
in all our maps is erroneously set down on the north-
ern bank of the Oxus. The place is governed by
a Kalmuk, and is pleasantly situated on the verge of
culture and desolation, with a pretty fort that crowns
a hillock, and overlooks the town. It is said to
have resisted the arms of Timour ; but its present
condition would not impress one with any great
notions of its strength, or that conqueror's power.
The people of Charjooee do not exceed 4000 or
5000 souls; but a greater portion of its population
wander up and down the Oxus during the hot
months. We halted here for four days, since it was
the last inhabited spot of civilisation between Bok-
hara and Persia. The market day, or bazar, oc-
curred during our stay; and I proceeded along with
Ernuzzar, the Toorkmun, to see the assemblage, in
which I passed quite unnoticed. I sauntered through
the bazar, much more amused with the peeple than
the wares they were selling, which were in every
respect poor. There were knives, saddles and
bridles, cloth, and horsecloths, of native manu-
facture; but the only articles of European fabric
were a few beads, and chintz skullcaps, which latter
were purchased very readily. There were also
lanterns, ewers, and copper pots, in considerable
number; the venders of many of these retailed
their goods on horseback, and all the purchasers were
mounted. No person ever attends the bazar in
Toorkistan but on horseback ; and on the present
b 4f