and above 20 degrees in the parallel of 40° N. lat., or more than 1,040 British miles; and we may venture to extend its breadth in the eastern part as far S. as 35° N. lat., to the northern base of the Kwanglung, the frontier of Tibet. Its general breadth in the N.W. part is from 38° to 44° N., and in the S.E. part from 35° or 36° to 44° N. lat.; but this, it must be remembered, includes the Great Desert, or Shamo, of which Marco Polo has given such a fearful picture. The whole may include a surface of 500,000 British square miles.

Historical Notice.] The history of this region in early times may be said to be unknown, as the ancients knew little or nothing either of the country or its inhabitants, but classed it as a Scythian region to the W. of Serica. In times more modern, all we know is, that it was successively subjected to such of the nomadic hordes as were, for their short and uncertain hour, lords of the military ascendant, and the Eluth Kalmucks were its last masters. When the domination of the Eluth khan, Taidshas, was annihilated by the superior power of China in 1759, Bukharia fell into the hands of the victors.

Physical Aspect.] On this we can say but little; but, if we may judge from the course of the rivers, the country seems to decline towards the N.E., and the celebrated lake of Lop is the lowest level. N. of this lake, the country rises towards the mountains of Alak; and to the E. it rises again towards Hami, which in its turn is separated from the Desert by a range of mountains.

Mountains.] Little Bukharia, including the Desert, is every where surrounded by lofty mountain-ranges,-as the Alak Tagh, the Mooz Tagh, the Beloor, and the range that connects the Bogdo with the Kwanglung. All these enclose a very lofty plateau, next, perhaps, to that of Tibet in elevation.-The northern chain of Alak has various appellations. It is called, in the Kirghisian language, Alak Oola, or the Speckled mountains;' the Musart mountains by Pallas; and by the Chinese, TeenShan, or the Celestial mountains,' or 'Mountains of heaven,' from their vast elevation; and also Ta-seue-shan, or 'Great snowy mountains ;' while by Remusat it is called the chain of Hami, or Khamoul, because it extends from the W. of Khashghar eastward to the N. of Kamoul. The Teen-Shan, or Alak mountains, are spoken of by the Chinese geographers in terms of astonishment, for their height, and their icy, luminous glory; as being covered with eternal snow and glaciers; piercing the clouds; reaching to heaven; presenting an appearance of long chains, or spiral peaks, with cragged breaks, deep gulfs, valleys, and ravines, which prove these mountains to be the dragon-ancestors of all other mountains in the world. This chain is said to be volcanic; and the mountains of Beshbaligh, in 46° N. lat. and 78° 36′ E. long., and those of Toorfaun, in 43° 30′ N. and 89° 36′, are represented as constantly emitting flame and smoke. The Alak is connected with the Great Bogdo, and runs S. to the Desert, on the E. of Hami, and on the W. it is connected with the Kynder Tau and the Thsoungling. This western range is also called Thsoung-Shan, or 'Onion mountains,' as some suppose, from the abundance of plants of the allium species which are found upon it. But Remusat remarks, that the Chinese term, thsoung, is ambiguous, and signifies both an onion and the pale blue colour, and therefore chooses to call them the Blue mountains, as the more natural interpretation o the name. We have already described them in our account of Western Toorkistaun.-On the S. are the Mooz Tagler, or 'Icy mountains,' called

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Jese mountains are of the evation, the term Thsoung,' is a very appropriate de azure of the high renight which lies upon distant, that, before these sumasse passed. Such as are not ser can have no idea of that ne highest sammits of the earth. med of their prodigious elevaeights and distances, it would conether by its form or situation, is caedit aut this species of celestial light most a segon of perpetual serenity, and

the Mamtains of heaven. The Mooz dewy E fun where it joins the Bemontier of Sechain in China, in 100° E. 5 degrees, or more than 1,500 British use nga dhe them frontier of Tibet, santren. As in stands on a mach higher base evation may be pressed to equal at least,

ers of this region have their rise in the southmi the Besor, as the river of Khashghar win 41' 31' N. lat. and 71° E. long. by Wad

led Koks, where it is separated by an insance of the Seehoon or lavaries. It runs first Jummins, and then generally E. by S. to Khashghar, sa mies by the caravan route, and thence runs E.

reind. This latter stream rises (says Goes) 20 us Yarchand, in the mountain Con-Sangui-Kasch, or the same with the Karangoui Tagh of Sherefeddin, Tagler. This river is called Melescha by Strahlenby the Chinese, and runs N.E. and falls into the lake 600 miles to the E.N.E. of Yarchund. The third river aver of Khotan, which rises to the S.W. of that city, as the Ta-li-mou, and consists of three branches, namor white jasper river;' Kara-kasch, or black jasYoschil-kasch, or green jasper river;-all which meet arua N.E.; but whether it joins the Ta-li-mou, or is

, is uncertain. Of the other rivers of this region we gether, than that they are either lost in lakes, or absands of the desert.

This elevated plateau abounds in lakes towards its eastern it is a remarkable feature of its physical geography, that es which originate in it run out of it, but are all abor lost in the desert.-The Lopoo lake is the common all the large rivers that water this region. We know

, than that it is a large salt lake, and seems to be e sea of Sin, mentioned by Edrisi in his imperfect and aphy of the country of the Turks.-E. of this, in the riami, is the lake called Parkol or Barkol, seemingly surwith mountains, and which lies to the N.W. of Hami. Of wer lakes, their names may be seen in the Jesuits' maps of Bukand Tibet.

Deserts.] More than one-half of this region is composed of sandy and sterile deserts, towards the S. and S.E. It is here that the Great Kobi or Shamo commences, to the E. of the province of Khashghar, and runs E. and N.E. as far as the mountains of Siolki on the confines of Mandshooria.

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Climate.] Like the other plateaus or uplands of Central Asia, the temperature is extremely cold, especially towards the mountains. So great is the cold in the province of Toorfaun, that the ambassadors of Sharokh Mirza, in their journey from Samarcand to Peking, found the water covered with ice two inches thick, falls of snow and rain were frequent, and all this at the time of the summer-solstice, which rendered their journey extremely fatiguing and unpleasant. The tract to the N.W. of this, on the Ili, where the Chinese commandant resides, is called in Canton Colo, or the cold country;' and thither the bankrupt Hong merchants are banished as a punishment for insolvency. The Chinese armies lately sent to crush the revolt of the Mohammedans of Khashghar suffered severely from the rigour of the climate, and were arrested in their progress at Hami, through the inclemency of the season The temperature seems to be mildest, as might be expected, in the centre of the country.

Soil and Produce.] Of these little can be said; and what has been said on this head is inconsistent and contradictory. The truth seems to be, that the soil and produce vary exceedingly in different places from the difference of temperature and supply of water, and can be best described in our account of its different provinces.

Divisions.] Chinese Toorkistaun may be conveniently divided into the four large districts of Khashghar, Aksoo, Toorfaun, and Khamil or Hami. All these provinces are superintended by a Chinese governor, who resides at Eelah, and holds rule over the following places of importance: Eelah, Khashghar, Yarkund, Khotan, Karakash, Gumma, Toorfaun, Elchi, Karria, Kargalik, Yenghi-Hissar, and Wooshik. The following are said to be the eight great Mohammedan cities of this region: Khashghar, Yarkund, Harashar, Koochay or Outchi, Aksoo, Khotan, and Yinkeshar or Yingkishshaur; but the lack of geographical information is so great, that even neither Joles Klaproth, with all his boasted store of Chinese geography, nor his friend Remusat, have been able to supply the void. Klaproth has been forced to eke out his description from the Jehan Nooma of Hajy Khalifa and the Takwimal-Beladan of Abulfeda.

1st. Province of Khashghar.] This is the most western division of Chinese Toorkistaun, and is now comprehended in the district of Yarkund, which also includes that of Khotan. Khashghar, the capital, was for many ages the seat of an independent prince, in later times the residence of the Karakitayan khans, and subsequently that of Jagatay khan and his successors, till subdued in 1683 by the Eluths. It is situated, according to the Jesuits' maps of 1760, in 39° 25′ N. lat. and 76° 0′ 45′′ E. of Greenwich, on the banks of a river which derives its name from the city, and

was a place of great celebrity both as a royal city and a commercial entrêpot. It was, however, completely destroyed by the Mirza Abubeker; but was again rebuilt by his orders. Before the late rebellion of 1826 and 1827, this city was supposed to equal Amritsir, the capital of Runjet Singh, in size, containing 10,000 houses, and being crowded with population and thronged with strangers. Khasghar is called Ordukend, or the City of the horde,' by Abulfeda, and Hasikar in the Jesuits' map; and Kih-shi-ko-urk by the Chinese.

Yarkund.] This is the largest and most commercial city in all Chinese Toorkistaun. It is situated in 38° 19′ N. lat. and 78° 27′ 45′′ E. long. This city also was destroyed by Mirza Abubeker, but again rebuilt and restored to prosperity and population by the hand which destroyed it. As he found the air and water of the place agreed with his constitution, he made it the place of his residence, had water conducted into the town, adorned it with splendid buildings, surrounded it with walls thirty cubits high, and planted 1200 gardens in its vicinity. Yarkund was in 1812 defended by a stone and mud wall with five gates, and had ten colleges supported by donations in land. The city is much larger than Khashghar; the houses are of stone cemented with mud, and are filled with balconies. It is under a Mussulman chief, who regulates its civic economy, and is called the Hakim, and two Chinese collectors called Ambans,—all under the command of the chief who resides at Khashghar. There are above 40,000 individuals who pay poll-tax in Yarkund and its environs. The inhabitants of these two cities are chiefly mechanics, merchants, and moollahs. There are no servants in these cities, but slaves imported from Badakshaun and Kaufireestaun. Many of the inhabitants are afflicted with the large glandular swelling in the throat called goitre. Yarkund is 360 li or 124 British miles S.E. of Khashghar.

Khotan, &c.] For three days' journey to the S.E. of Yarkund, the country is filled with rivers, trees, and gardens. Six days' journey farther on is the celebrated city of Khotan, but, except the stations, there is no habitation on the whole road. Khotan 12 is the capital of a populous and fertile district, 1000 li, or nigh 350 B. miles in circumference, according to a Chinese description of the western countries, published at Peking in 1777. It is bounded on the W. by very high mountains and chains, which it is impossible to cross, and to the E. it has nothing but sandy deserts and marshy grounds, which extend nearly as far as the Sing-soo-hee lake (near the source of the Whang-Ho). The country is bad, and governed by two superior officers, dependent on the commandant of Yarkund. It contains the following six cities, Khotian, Yooroong-kash, Karakash, Tsura, Karia, and Takhoobooee. Each of these cities has its hakim, and form what is called the council of Khotan.-To the S. of Khotan, 20 days' journey, is Western Tibet, and 700 li, or 240 B. miles N.W., is Yarkund. The country is flat, and consists of well-watered fields. It is in fact an oasis in the Buckharian desert. According to Marco Polo, who visited this place, the district is eight days' journey in extent, and produces cotton, flax, hemp, vines, and other useful plants, besides melons and fruits of va rious kinds. The men are employed in agriculture, and the women are engaged in domestic economy and commerce. They also raise silk-worms the mountain-silk is most esteemed. Khotan is called Cotan by Marco 19 The site of Kotan has been variously placed in modern maps. D'Anville has placed it 330 W. of Peking, or upwards of 83o E. long, and 37° N. lat. Thompson in nearly 76° E. long., and Dr Morrison, in his view of China, in 35° 36′ N. and 34o W.

Polo, and Hotom by the Jesuits; and the river on which it stands Hotomnisolon-Khateen by Bentink, Chotun by Strahlenberg, and Koton and Khoton by the Orientals. Hence some have been led to believe that it is the same with the Mandshoorian word khotun or hotun signifying a city, and that it was built by the Karakitayans, a Mandshoor tribe, who ruled this region in the 12th century. But this is altogether a mistake, as Khotan existed many centuries before the Karakitayans were even heard of, and the name is no other than a corruption of the Shanscrit name Koustanna, the Breast of the Earth.' It was founded by a colony of Hindoos long before the birth of Christ. It is called by the Chinese Kiusatanna and Juthean, which are mere corruptions of the Shanscrit name. At present it is named Khoteyan Ilitchi by the Chinese. According to Morrison's view of China, Khotan contained a population of 13,642 families, and 44,650 individuals. Khotan was not only a Hindoo colony, but also a colony of Hindoo Boodhists, as Boodhism was established there before the birth of Christ, and continued to be the prevailing system till the Mohammedan Turks conquered all the cities of Little Bukharia. It was a flourishing wealthy city in the second century of the Christian era, when it contained a population of 32,000 families, 83,000 persons, and more than 50,000 soldiers. It was a great resort of the Boodhists from all quarters, who brought thither their sacred books and the traditions of their faith. All the environs were covered with Boodhist temples and monasteries, in one of which 3000 rahans were lodged, who lived in common, and the city was adorned with a prodigious number of statues of Boodha and his priests.-To the W. of the city, in the fourth century, as we are told by the Chinese writers, under the Tang dynasty, was a great monastery called the New Temple, which was 80 years in building, and three kings successively overlooked the work. It was 250 feet in height, and adorned with paintings and inscriptions engraved in metal, covered over with gold and silver, and enriched with all sorts of precious ornaments. It was terminated by a tower, and a saloon was constructed for Boodha, the beams of which were of the most precious wood. The columns, the gates, the windows, and screens were covered over with plates of gold. Close by the side of this monastery were small cells, for the Boodhist monks, which also were beautiful and very richly ornamented. But the system of Mohammed has long supplanted the Boodhist creed of Khotan, and the temples, monasteries, and palaces, are now in ruins, if even these remain. But Khotan has always been celebrated for its jasper or yu, as the Chinese call it; of this, three kinds are brought down by as many rivers, during the annual floods, white, green, and black.

Province of Auksoo.] This province lies to the N.E. of Kashghar and of Peking, or 82° 27′ E. of Greenwich, in which Mr Remusat seems fully to acquiesce. Klaproth, on the contrary, who can let no opportunity of displaying British ignorance pass, says that Morrison's statement is wholly unworthy of credit, and was not taken from the Itoundohee, but from the notes accompanying a small planisphere in one sheet, published at Peking in 1795, with which the missionaries, members of the mathematical tribunal at Peking, had nothing to do. By Strahlenberg, in his map, it is placed in nigh 40° N. lat. and 84° E. long., the most erroneous of all the positions hitherto assigned Khotan, except by Rennel, who placed it in 40° N. and 75° E. long., or 41° 27′ W. of Peking. Its true position, as determined in the great map of the Jesuits, in 1760, is 37° N. lat. and 35° 52′ long. W. of Peking, or 80° 35′ 30' E. of Greenwich. This position agrees with that of Sir George Staunton's Chinese map of the seat of the late war in Western Tartary, a copy of which is lodged in the India-house. From what we have stated of the great disagreement amongst our best modern geographers, respecting the position of Khotan, it may be safely inferred that our ignorance of the geography of Chinese Toorkistaun is deplorably great, and not likely to be soon re