DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0160
KINGDOM OF BOKHARA.
BOOK I.
Khooloom. In the vicinity of Durwaz, the sands
are most productive. The lapis lazuli cliffs, which
overhang the river in Budukhshan, are also said to
be interveined with gold; but, from the specimens
which I have seen, it appears to be mica. All the
other metals, such as silver, iron, and copper, are
imported from Russia. Sal ammoniac (noushadur)
is found in its native state among the hills near
Juzzak. I know of no other mineral productions
in the kingdom but the salt deposits. In Hissar,
salt is found in hills, not unlike the formations in
the salt range of the Punjab. On the plains it is
dug out in masses, and, when washed, is ready for
the market. There is a bed of salt, about five
miles in circumference, called Khwaju Hunfee, two
miles from the Oxus, below Charjooee, on the right
bank of the river. The salt is imperfectly crystal-
lised, black, and very inferior ; a camel load of
500lbs. sells for a quarter of a tilla in Bokhara.*
The vegetable productions of this country are
more abundant. The different trees will be best
known by the names of the fruit after noticed.
The wood used for house-building is the poplar,
which grows every where. The cotton plant is
extensively cultivated, and exported both in a raw
and manufactured state. Hemp is reared, but the
people are ignorant of its use in manufactures.
They extract oil from the seeds of the plant, as
also the intoxicating drug called " bang," and give
the stalks to cattle. I have been informed that
About three shillings.
BOOK I.
Khooloom. In the vicinity of Durwaz, the sands
are most productive. The lapis lazuli cliffs, which
overhang the river in Budukhshan, are also said to
be interveined with gold; but, from the specimens
which I have seen, it appears to be mica. All the
other metals, such as silver, iron, and copper, are
imported from Russia. Sal ammoniac (noushadur)
is found in its native state among the hills near
Juzzak. I know of no other mineral productions
in the kingdom but the salt deposits. In Hissar,
salt is found in hills, not unlike the formations in
the salt range of the Punjab. On the plains it is
dug out in masses, and, when washed, is ready for
the market. There is a bed of salt, about five
miles in circumference, called Khwaju Hunfee, two
miles from the Oxus, below Charjooee, on the right
bank of the river. The salt is imperfectly crystal-
lised, black, and very inferior ; a camel load of
500lbs. sells for a quarter of a tilla in Bokhara.*
The vegetable productions of this country are
more abundant. The different trees will be best
known by the names of the fruit after noticed.
The wood used for house-building is the poplar,
which grows every where. The cotton plant is
extensively cultivated, and exported both in a raw
and manufactured state. Hemp is reared, but the
people are ignorant of its use in manufactures.
They extract oil from the seeds of the plant, as
also the intoxicating drug called " bang," and give
the stalks to cattle. I have been informed that
About three shillings.