DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0311
CHAP. VIII.
MILITARY FORCE.
295
From Balkh the crown receives nothing; the re-
venue is said to have declined with its population,
and the scanty returns from it, amounting to 20,000
tillas, are granted to the chief, Eshan Khoju, who
protects it. Both Balkh and Jizzak are late acqui-
sitions to the kingdom. As far as an opinion can be
formed on such subjects, I am led to believe that the
net land revenue of this kingdom amounts to about
thirty-six lacs of rupees, or double that which is re-
ceived into the royal treasury, since about half the
land is enjoyed by the church. All the names men-
tioned in the enumeration of the revenue are
market-towns or places, except the five " tomuns"
of Samarcand. These are old names. The idea
which we have of towns and villages must be re-
ceived with considerable qualification in Toorkistan.
A bazar, or market-place, is sometimes a small vil-
lage, and the inhabitants, instead of living in it, re-
side in " robats," at a distance, visiting it on market-
days from a circuit of ten or fifteen miles.
The military force of Bokhara is levied from the
different districts of the kingdom, and has no dis-
cipline. It consists of about 20,000 horse and 4000
infantry, with forty-one pieces of artillery. There
are likewise a description of troops, called " eeljaree"
or militia, formed of dependents and servants of the
government, which amount to about 50,000 horse,
10,000 of which are from Balkh and the countries
south of the Oxus. It might be further increased
by levies among the Toorkmuns ; but the services
of that tribe can only be commanded by the indi-
vidual who can enforce them. These troops are
u 4
MILITARY FORCE.
295
From Balkh the crown receives nothing; the re-
venue is said to have declined with its population,
and the scanty returns from it, amounting to 20,000
tillas, are granted to the chief, Eshan Khoju, who
protects it. Both Balkh and Jizzak are late acqui-
sitions to the kingdom. As far as an opinion can be
formed on such subjects, I am led to believe that the
net land revenue of this kingdom amounts to about
thirty-six lacs of rupees, or double that which is re-
ceived into the royal treasury, since about half the
land is enjoyed by the church. All the names men-
tioned in the enumeration of the revenue are
market-towns or places, except the five " tomuns"
of Samarcand. These are old names. The idea
which we have of towns and villages must be re-
ceived with considerable qualification in Toorkistan.
A bazar, or market-place, is sometimes a small vil-
lage, and the inhabitants, instead of living in it, re-
side in " robats," at a distance, visiting it on market-
days from a circuit of ten or fifteen miles.
The military force of Bokhara is levied from the
different districts of the kingdom, and has no dis-
cipline. It consists of about 20,000 horse and 4000
infantry, with forty-one pieces of artillery. There
are likewise a description of troops, called " eeljaree"
or militia, formed of dependents and servants of the
government, which amount to about 50,000 horse,
10,000 of which are from Balkh and the countries
south of the Oxus. It might be further increased
by levies among the Toorkmuns ; but the services
of that tribe can only be commanded by the indi-
vidual who can enforce them. These troops are
u 4