Two years later a more serious movement began, in
consequence of the Khan wishing to impose additional
taxes on the Kara-Kirghese. This revolt also was
quelled, but by the beginning of 1874 the general
feelings of the Kipchaks and Kirghese were turned
against Khudaiar, and the insurgents proposed to
Nasir-ud-din, son of Khudaiar, that he should reign
over them, and lead them to fight the “ infidels,” with
whom his father had entered into alliance.
Nasir-ud-din agreed to the silly proposal, whereupon
a general insurrection broke out in 1875 against
Khudaiar, who, on the 24th July, escaped to the
Russians for protection, whereupon the supporters of
Nasir-ud-din hastened to the capital, raised their
nominee to be Khan, and declared a religious war
with the Russians, the result being that in a few
weeks the Khanate was wiped out of existence. In
the spring of 1876 Khokand was formally annexed to
the Empire, under the name of Ferghana, but the turbulent
nomads in the mountains had not yet sufficiently
learned the necessity of submission, and, therefore, the
Alai expedition was sent into the mountains, under
Skobeleffi and the country completely subjugated. It
was but six years after these events that I entered
Ferghana and its ancient capital, and to the description
of my journey there I shall now proceed.
C H A P T E R X X X V .
F R OM K H O JE N D TO K H O K A N D .
Hospitality o f Khojend Nachalnik.— Stations to Khokand.— Surrounding
mountains and their minerals.— Sand barkhans.— Native buildings.
— Arrival at Khokand.— Lodging in summer residence of Tim Bek.
— M. Ushakoff our host.— Oriental “ politeness.” - Visit to Synagogue.—
Information concerning Jews of Khokand and Bokhara.
— The bazaar : its jewellery, ewers, and furs.— Khokand trade.-—
View from medresse of Murad Bek.— A puppet-show.— Inspection
of hospital and Khan’ s palace.— Distribution of Scriptures.BVisit
to native merchant.— Ferghana communications, and routes to
Kashgar and India.
IT was pleasant to find, when arriving at Khojend
on the afternoon of Friday, September 22nd,
that our coming was expected by the Nachalnik, who
immediately gave orders for the preparation of dinner.
Whilst waiting I felt unusually tired and sleepy, though
I know not why, for we had been travelling only
40 hours, which was nothing in comparison with the
nights upon nights spent in the tarantass north of
Tashkend; but I suppose my training had been somewhat
demoralized by sleeping in a bed, and the
comparative comforts we had enjoyed at the capital.
Dinner over, the Colonel gave us a basket of splendid
fruit, and then, preceded by two djiguitts. mounted his
horse to see us off. Thus escorted through the bazaar,
the natives were all politeness and attention, each rising,